University of Central Lancashire

Faculty Member, School of Forensic and Investigative Sciencch

Other Affiliations: Scientific Research Center - Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies
Scientific Research Center - Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, The Ivan Rakovec Institute of Palaeontology
University of Cambridge, Archaeology

Lecturer in Archaeology

About

My research focuses on three main themes: traditional and scientific methods in zooarchaeology, colonial activity within European contexts and wider European influences within the 'global landscape'.

My research has used butchery analysis (with the benefit of professional and ethnographic actualistic experience) to investigate agency within the human-animal relationship. More recently, I have employed geometric morphometrics (GMM) as a mechanism for identifying and distinguishing animal populations. This has centred on the movement of Bronze Age horse populations in Eurasia addressing how technologies, ideas and ultimately people are trans-located. A similar approach is also being applied in a wholly different setting to investigate how humans interacted with cave bears within a variety of spatio-temporal environments.

The second theme addresses issues of technology, trade and socio-economic attitudes within a number of colonial contexts in Europe. Methodologically, this theme has depended on data from faunal samples and my own experimental research. The key aim is to improve our understanding of the varying processes of colonialism and how this can be addressed through bio-archaeology and material culture. I have researched these questions within Romano-British and medieval contexts in Britain and Italy.

My third research area addresses European influences on global landscape change and is positioned within the dynamic of Imperialism and colonial activity. I address environmental changes as a consequence of land and resource exploitation. This theme centres on the movement of peoples and material cultures, specifically within the contexts of slavery and Diaspora. My work has focused on key sites in Mauritius and is based on a systematic programme of excavation and environmental sampling. The underlying aims are to better understand the transition from slavery to indentured labour following abolition, the extent and diversity of trade in the region and the environmental consequences of intense, monoculture, agriculture.

To a greater or lesser extent, each of these areas relies on a theoretical framework that explores the human-animal / human-environment paradigm. This approach explores the intrinsic and dynamic interactions that occur within both economic and cultural spheres. I have also relied heavily on the use of modern analogy to drive the experimental aspects of my research and I am keen to explore issues of knowledge acquisition and dissemination.

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