The Overdressed Archeologist

My name is Dr. Sasja van der Vaart-Verschoof, though many people know me as The Overdressed Archeologist. I am an internationally award-winning archaeologist specialised in later prehistory, but archaeology is only the beginning of what I do. As someone with a diverse skill set and more interests than I can reasonably count, my work sits at the crossroads of research, creativity, and communication. I am a freelance archaeologist and material specialist, and I also regularly work as a curator, editor, translator, graphic designer, bookmaker, and communication professional — all connected by a deep passion for the past and storytelling.

My work life moves between collaborating with museums on exhibitions, collection research, and public engagement, and developing communication strategies, branding, and social media campaigns for various cultural and commercial organizations. Whether working with museums, scholars, or businesses, I focus on translating complex ideas into clear, engaging stories and making archaeology more accessible to wider audiences. As a native speaker of both Dutch and English, I specialise in editing, translating, and designing archaeological publications — from articles and theses to full monographs — and regularly collaborate with Sidestone Press on book design and production.

While my freelance work pays the bills, I also pursue a diverse range of academic research projects funded through collaborations with universities and museums at home and abroad. My current research focuses on Iron Age mortuary practices and mobility, Late Bronze Age hoards, prehistoric textiles, Doggerland, and the relationship between professional archaeologists and citizen scientists, exploring how we can work together more effectively to study and preserve our shared heritage. And yes, I am always at risk of developing entirely new archaeological obsessions along the way.

And as this website will quickly reveal, I occasionally model too. I firmly believe that being a scholar has nothing to do with how one dresses or conforming to outdated expectations of what academia should look like. Archaeology — and academia more broadly — does not have to be beige, dusty, or joyless. I decided a long time ago to pursue my career my way, and to prove that you can absolutely be taken seriously as a scholar while staying true to yourself. For me, that happens to include heels and lipstick. I firmly believe that archaeology and academia can be rigorous and intellectual while still being creative, stylish, human, and engaging.

Intrigued? Whether you are looking for an archaeologist, editor, curator, speaker, researcher, or someone to help bring a project to life creatively and strategically — please get in touch! I am always open to new collaborations, interesting ideas, and the occasional wonderfully unexpected opportunity. Feel free to explore the website, follow me on Facebook or Instagram, or contact me via email at Sasja@vanderVaart-Verschoof.com.

PS – I am in the process of giving this website a much-needed update, so please bear with me if there are any missing links or wonky layouts!