A native of South Yorkshire, after studying at the University of Manchester (1966-72) Michael J. Jones spent almost all his professional career in the city of Lincoln, becoming Director of the city's archaeology team in 1980 and City Archaeologist in 2000. He has particular knowledge of Roman military and urban archaeology, and later developed expertise in the archaeology of the early Christian church and its international context. His job demanded also that sites of prehistoric to post-medieval date were explored, and that the results were made available not only to academic audiences but also to the wider public and schoolchildren. He has won awards for his work from the Society of Antiquaries of London, the University of Lincoln, and Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, where he is currently an Honorary Associate Professor. He has written a number of books and archaeological reports, as well as countless articles on the city's archaeology and related matters. He has served on a number of local and national bodies, notably the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, of which he has been President.