Peter J. Reynolds graduated in classics from Trinity College, Dublin. From 1969-72 he was responsible for setting up a research project in iron age studies at the Avoncroft Museum of Buildings in Bromsgrove. In 1972 he was invited to become the Director of the Butser Ancient Farm Research Project. He gained a PhD from Leicester University in 1978 for his work on the underground storage of grain. He travelled widely in Europe, Africa and America studying comparative ethnography as well as lecturing on experimental archaeology as a major research tool for the future. He is the author of several books and numerous specialist papers on prehistoric agriculture.