Not wishing to enter the legal profession, he focused on archaeology, working as an amateur in the field and authoring academic papers, some of which saw publication in national journals.[2] Without a single qualification in archaeology, aged 25 he was appointed an assistant lecturer at Reading University.[2] He was a lecturer in archaeology from 1971 to 1984, Reader in Archaeology from 1984 to 1987, and Professor of Archaeology from 1987 to 2013.[3] In 1999 and 2000 he led the excavation of Tomnaverie stone circle which showed that, contrary to expectation, the internal ring cairn was constructed before the stone circle and was possibly designed to accommodate the later circle.[4] He retired from full-time academia in 2013, and was appointed emeritus professor.[5]
Personal life
In 1976, Bradley married Katherine Bowden.[3] She is a history teacher by profession.[2] They do not have any children.[2]