Brian Leslie

Brian Leslie is a Senior Archaeologist, and the General Manager of Ember Archaeology. He manages a diverse team of dedicated professional archaeologists working throughout western Canada. He has permit holding status in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and has worked as a professional consulting archaeologist in 2008-2015 before joining Tree Time Services Inc. in April of 2016. Since then, he has gained extensive CRM experience in the Plains, Boreal, Parkland, and Lower Foothills natural sub-regions of Alberta. Brian specializes in directing large scale mitigative excavations (100+ m²), and has excavated archaeological sites from Moose Jaw to Grande Prairie for Oil and Gas projects. In short, Brian feels right at home in the wilderness of Canada.

Prior to becoming an archaeologist, Brian worked for the Government of Alberta as a Type 1 Wildfire Fighter for 3 years, and a Type 1 Crew Leader for another 3 years. This experience added to Brian’s extensive bush-craft skills, as he learned how to lead crews through adverse conditions in ever-changing environments. Brian received his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Alberta in 2007, and completed his Master of Arts at the same institution in 2011. During this time, Brian focused on the archaeology of human skeletal remains, and specialized in using chemical analysis to investigate the movement of people in the past. After completing his first field school at Bodo, AB, Brian spent four field seasons volunteering on the excavation of an ancient city in Northern Greece. He also spent one field season supervising a crew, and two seasons directing a team of 40+ student archaeologists in the excavation of a rural Roman villa and cemetery.

Brian’s extensive experience and archaeological training make him a well-rounded Senior Archaeologist and Manager. When he’s not wandering through the forest, or digging large square holes, Brian enjoys spending time with his family, reading, testing field gear, playing games, blogging, travelling, and snowboarding.