An Orcadian with a love of ancient history celebrated nine years of hard work yesterday after gaining a PHD in Archaeology from Aberdeen University.
Naomi Dempsey has had a busy time during the course of her studies, both getting married in 2013 and working as an environmental officer for a fishing company.
During her degree course, she specialised in Mesolithic Archaeology from the Stone Age.
Whilst completing research into this subject, she opted to take part in an excavation where she discovered the oldest dated site in Orkney.
The 36-year-old said: “We were up on the Isle of Stronsay to look at a lithic scatter – lots of small pieces of stone.
“It was a great experience but it was extremely wet and cold.”
Mrs Dempsey was exhilarated after graduating and added: “It feels amazing to finish, because it has been a long time coming.”
“It is such a relief to get it all done, because no one can take it away from me now.”
She spent a year in Aberdeen at the start of her degree, then moved to Orkney where she now lives with her husband Keith, who was with her to celebrate her graduation yesterday.
She will now continue her work with Cooke Aquaculture.
Islander celebrates nine years of hard work by picking up PHD
