Feb 22 Michael Grierson Jarrett (often known as Mike Jarrett) was a distinguished British archaeologist whose scholarship significantly advanced the understanding of Roman Britain. Specialising in Roman military history, Jarrett conducted influential research on auxiliary units and the structure of the Roman army in Britain. His study of inscriptions and archaeological evidence helped clarify the organisation, deployment, and cultural composition of Roman forces across Wales and the wider western provinces. Through both fieldwork and academic publication, he contributed to a deeper appreciation of how Roman occupation shaped the social and cultural landscape of Britain.
Beyond his academic achievements, Jarrett was also an early and courageous gay activist at a time when homosexuality was still criminalised and heavily stigmatised in the United Kingdom. His willingness to live openly and to support the emerging movement for gay rights placed him among a generation that helped lay the groundwork for later legal and social reforms. Balancing scholarship with quiet activism, Jarrett exemplified intellectual rigour and personal integrity. His legacy endures not only in the study of Roman archaeology but also in the broader struggle for equality and dignity for gay men in Britain.
