Oliver Gilkes has worked as a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Italy, Albania and Libya. He currently works for the University of East Anglia and is involved in a number of projects in  Albania, as Jeremy Seal acknowledges in the article for the Daily Telegraph, below:

"Much of the credit must fall to archaeology tour specialist Andante – one of only two British operators currently featuring the country – and its guide lecturer, Butrint-based archaeologist Oliver Gilkes, who is steeped in Albanian culture and history. Gilkes took us to barely visited sites like the hillside fortifications in the Selo Valley, the domed monastery church at Mesopotam, and the remarkably preserved theatre at Hadrianopolis.

He also showed a knack for turning up memorable cameos from Albanian life, leading us to the restaurant in the Greek-speaking village of Terihat just as a gathering of 30 family and friends, arranged in exact order of seniority, joined in a haunting polyphonic chant to celebrate the 80th birthday of the village man at the table head."

2011 Tours

Bare Bones Rome Mon 28 Mar – Sat 2 April 2011

Albania Tue 19 - Wed 27 April 2011

Bare Bones Etruscans Sun 4 – Sat 10 Sept

Albania Tue 4 – Wed 12 October 2011

2012 Tours

Bare Bones Rome Mon 13 - Sat 18 February

Albania Tue 17 - Wed 25 April

Bare Bones Albania Mon 7 - Mon 14 May

Albania Tue 2 - Tue 10 October

Rome and Ravenna Mon 22 - Wed 31 October

Rome at Christmas Sun 23 - Fri 28 December