David Keys presentation: Bio Filmography Publications Books Services

1. DAVID KEYS -­‐ BIO
David Keys has worked in journalism (staff and freelance; newspapers, magazines, radio and TV) for more than 45
years. Initially writing for the Guardian, Telegraph, Observer and Sunday Times– and, for the past two and a half
decades, for The Independent (as its Archaeology Correspondent), he is currently also responsible for writing most of
the major news stories in BBC History Magazine.
He has wide experience, having specialized in a broad variety of subjects –home affairs (especially race relations) in
the 1970s, foreign affairs and international trade (especially in the developing world) in the 1970s and 80s, aviation
and international trade in the 1980s and archaeology/history/ international politics after 1986. In the 1970s and 80s he
contributed frequently to publications such as Africa Confidential and Middle East Economic Digest and worked for ten
years (specializing in aviation and trade) for International Freighting Weekly. He also wrote regularly on heritage for
British Airways High Life magazine.
Over the years he has brought together his life-­‐long passion for history with his broad experience of modern
international politics and trade.
Over the decades he has reported from critical regions around the world –from areas like Lebanon, Yemen, Uganda
and Ethiopia to emerging economic powers like China and Brazil. In total he has researched in or reported from more
than 40 countries. He reported from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere in the mid to late 70s and 80s and was the
first reporter to fly into Uganda after Amin left in 1979.
He has visited more than a thousand archaeological and historical sites in 60 countries (including hundreds in Britain) -­‐
and has originated and/or acted as consultant on 32 TV documentaries (for BBC, Channel Four and US broadcasters)

2. FILMOGRAPHY
Samurai: Back from the Dead
The series that investigates the remains of legendary fighting men examines
the contents of a gruesome grave in Japan: thousands of skeletons that could
unlock the mysteries of the Samurai.
Crusaders: Back from the Dead
The series that investigates the remains of legendary fighting men examines
the only known Crusader battle site with complete skeletons, to reveal how
these men lived, fought and died.
Nelson's Navy: Back from the Dead
Using cutting-­‐edge forensic techniques on the skeletons of long-­‐dead
warriors, this series examines the lives and deaths of historical soldiers. This
episode looks at Nelson's navy.
Spying on Hitler's Army –Secret recordings
This powerful docu-­‐drama tells the story of one of World War Two’s last
secrets –an audacious British intelligence operation to listen in on the private
conversations of 10,000 German POWs without their ever knowing they were
being overheard.

3. PUBLICATIONS
He has also written frequently on history/archaeology for a number of foreign daily papers
including Die Welt, La Stampa, ABC, etc and was a contributing editor for Archaeology magazine
in the US for some years. He also contributes to various popular UK and other magazines
(including BBC History for which he does most of the news coverage) -­‐ always on
history/archaeology.
As well as covering ancient and medieval history, Mr. Keys also writes on key aspects of modern
history (he is currently writing a series about the long-­‐term causes of the world’s current
conflicts and crises etc – 70 so far). He is also a columnist for Tribune Media Services.

4. BOOKS
So far published in seven languages -­‐ Catastrophe, an Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World -­‐
was much acclaimed by academia and dealt with 6th/7th century AD archaeology/history (especially the
relationship between climate change and history).
✥‘this excitingly interdisciplinary work with thoroughly analyzed
data…has revisionist claims to make about the ancient past…its
claims are…surprising and interesting’
-­‐ The Guardian
✥ Malcolm W. Browne insisted that "this book must be taken seriously,
if only as a reminder that survival in a world threatened by real dangers
hangs by a very slender thread”
-­‐ The New York Times
✥‘If you are remotely interested in Global Warming, then this
book…is essential reading…Impressive’
-­‐ Irish Independent
✥ ‘An impressive amount of evidence…very good’
-­‐ Daily Telegraph

5. SERVICES
Journalism: News and feature writing
on history, archaeology, heritage,
cultural travel – and historical
background to international political
crises.
TV documentaries & Feature Film
Creation, origination, research and
presenting. (Back from the Dead 3 part
series, Spying on Hitler's Army, What lies
beneath 2 part series on Stonehenge.
PR Consultancy: Designing PR strategies
and training personnel in PR techniques
Education: lectures available on research
methods, mind mapping and writing skills
Picture Library: photos, engravings of
historical/archaeological /heritage interest
2014/15 Social Media Stats:
Over 1 million social media interactions in 2015 alone
Retweets: 50k 100k + 50k +
Favorites: 140k
Impressions: 500K
Retweets: 10k 25k + 15k +
Favorites: 32k
Impressions: 700K
150 +
Articles
6 x Docs