The team

Mike Weeks

Mike Weeks heads the Extreme Archaeology access team and is responsible for the safety and training of the archaeologists and the production crew in a variety of highly dangerous situations – ranging from the racing tidal estuary of the River Wye at Chepstow to the collapsing tunnels in the mines at Parys Mountain, Anglesey.

Born in Bristol in 1975, Mike is one of Britain's top rock climbers, with many national and international first ascents under his belt. He has a wealth of experience in surviving extreme conditions, and has extensive skills in caving, kayaking, wilderness travel, snowboarding, diving and even martial arts. He started climbing with the opening of the Bristol climbing centre in March 1992 and within six months had dropped out of his studies to climb full time.

Since then, he has lived, travelled and climbed in many far-flung destinations of the globe and now runs his own extreme sports management and consultation company, X1 Sports. The team archaeologists are full of praise for his abilities, saying they always feel safe in his large hands – although Meg Watters says it's sometimes hard to follow the hand and foot holds pointed out by a man who is a full foot taller than you!

Bean Sopwith

Bean Sopwith is a key member of the delivery team, responsible for training the archaeologists and crew in advanced climbing and rigging skills.

She graduated from Oxford University with a degree in modern history, but she was already mixing her studies with skiing and other sporting activities. Since then, her passion for extreme sports has set her on an unusual career path – that of a professional stunt woman.

She has spent the last three years travelling the world in search of rock, snow, surf – and, most recently, air, due to her new-found passion for free fall sky diving.

Trevor Massiah

Born in Bristol in 1965, Trevor Massiah is a highly experienced member of the Extreme Archaeology access team. He has spent 21 years climbing, sea kayaking, caving and mountaineering, and has climbed all over the world. Some of his climbing trips have seen him putting up new routes in such far-flung locations as China, India, Thailand and Australia.

As a professional rock climbing guide and instructor, Trevor has devoted 15 years to training and motivating groups of inner city kids, London businessmen, elite athletes and just about anyone seeking specialised expertise in the outdoor world. As Britain's most accomplished black climber, he has also inspired dozens of black youths to take up a sport they would never otherwise have considered.