Raksha Dave

Raksha Dave is a British field archaeologist, broadcaster and author who has become one of the most recognisable public voices in archaeology today. As President of the Council for British Archaeology, she plays a leading role in shaping how heritage is understood, shared and protected across the UK. Known for combining academic expertise with engaging storytelling, Raksha makes the past accessible to wide audiences. She is hired as a speaker for her ability to connect history with modern questions about identity, representation and why inclusive heritage matters.

After graduating from the UCL Institute of Archaeology, Raksha built her career through hands-on fieldwork in the UK and internationally, including research excavations in Puerto Rico, Texas and at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey. Her archaeological expertise spans prehistory to the Second World War, and she has worked on some of the capital’s most significant multi-period sites. Alongside excavation, she developed experience in heritage leadership and public engagement, helping bridge the gap between academic research and community understanding.

Raksha became widely known after joining Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’ in 2003, where she remained a key member of the team for a decade and helped excavate more than 100 sites, including Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the D-Day defences in Normandy. Her broadcasting career has since flourished, with presenting roles on ‘Digging for Britain’, ‘Sandi Toksvig’s Hidden Wonders’ and numerous history documentaries for the BBC and Channel 5. She is a BAFTA member in recognition of her contribution to factual television and an award-winning children’s author of ‘Lessons From Our Ancestors’, with a second book due in 2026.

Raksha is hired as a speaker because she brings authority, warmth and purpose to conversations about heritage and inclusion. A passionate advocate for public archaeology, she works with museums, cultural bodies and community organisations to widen participation and challenge traditional narratives about who history belongs to. Her talks inspire audiences to see the past as diverse, shared and deeply relevant, encouraging organisations to think more inclusively about culture, education and collective identity.