Barry Taylor

Dr. Barry Taylor is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Chester, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. He leads the undergraduate archaeology program and specializes in Mesolithic archaeology, paleoecology, and hunter-gatherer studies. His research focuses on human-environment interactions, particularly in northern Europe during the Mesolithic, and the application of archaeological insights to contemporary environmental challenges. He manages the McLay Laboratory for Archaeological Research and serves on faculty ethics and research committees.

Teaching includes modules on environmental archaeology (e.g., HI5010, HI5015), bioarchaeology (HI6015), and hunter-gatherer societies (HI4007, HI6019). He supervises postgraduate students and leads the Plant Encounters project, addressing 'plant blindness' through creative interdisciplinary methods involving drama, music, and writing.

Research themes include plant community dynamics, human responses to new plant species, and Mesolithic plant knowledge. Fieldwork projects span North Yorkshire and the Inner Hebrides, with notable involvement in the Star Carr excavations. Collaborations include the School of Creative Media at the University of Chester.

Publications span Mesolithic human-environment relationships, wetland archaeology, and experimental approaches to plant crafts. Key works include contributions to The Oxford Handbook of Mesolithic Europe and studies on Star Carr's environmental context.