Shell Middens Professors and Supervisors

Brian CoddingView profile

Professor

University of UtahUnited States

Brian Codding is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Utah, with affiliations including the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Initiative SPARC Environmental Justice Lab Global Change and Sustainability Center Natural History Museum of Utah Archaeological Center Environmental and Sustainability Studies His research focuses on social-environmental systems dynamics , particularly through collaborative projects with Indigenous communities in western North America, emphasizing climate change adaptation , indigenous ecological practices , and resource sustainability . Recent publications highlight his work in modeling wildfire regimes influenced by human activity evaluating the impact of climate change on Indigenous energy sovereignty exploring the emergence of social inequality through ecological drivers applying statistical methods to archaeological count data analyzing prehistoric settlement patterns in relation to environmental gradients These studies span disciplines such as archaeology , ecology , and anthropology , often incorporating NSF-funded transdisciplinary research . His methodological innovations include agent-based modeling of resource monopolization, regression analysis of paleoecological data, and empirical corrections for taphonomic bias in radiocarbon datasets. Scientific awards include a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Stanford University.

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Geoff BaileyView profile

Professor

Flinders UniversityAustralia

Professor Geoff Bailey is a distinguished academic at Flinders University 's College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences . A globally recognized authority in coastal archaeology and submerged landscapes , his work bridges geological and archaeological disciplines to understand human adaptation to changing environments. University of Cambridge (BA 1st Class, PhD) His research focuses on: Interactions between sea-level changes and human settlement patterns Tectonic landscape evolution in prehistoric contexts Multidisciplinary analysis of shell middens and submerged sites Development of archaeological theories of time Recent publications highlight: Red Sea sedimentation dynamics Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in Denmark Submerged Aboriginal landscapes in Australia Scientific accolades include: Europa Prize (2018) ERC Advanced Grant DISPERSE (2011) Multiple fellowships and editorial appointments Over AUS$8 million in research funding supports his work on: EU COST SPLASHCOS network ARC Discovery Projects Marie-Curie fellowships

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David RyvesView profile

Professor

Loughborough UniversityUnited Kingdom

Professor David Ryves is a Professor of Environmental Change at Loughborough University, UK. He holds editorial roles at journals like Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution and Quaternary . His academic career spans over two decades, including roles as Reader (2014–), Senior Lecturer (2008–2014), and Lecturer (2004–2008) in Physical Geography at Loughborough. He previously conducted post-doctoral research at the Geological Survey of Denmark & Greenland (GEUS) and University College London’s Environmental Change Research Centre (ECRC). Dr. Ryves specializes in paleolimnology, studying environmental change through lake sediment analysis. His research interests include climate impacts on freshwater ecosystems, diatom-based paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and human-driven environmental alterations. He has investigated diverse regions including the Baltic Sea, West Greenland, Uganda, and East Asia. Key research themes include: (1) lake sediment proxies for climate and human impact, (2) diatom preservation and dissolution processes, (3) Holocene environmental history, and (4) conservation of freshwater ecosystems. His work bridges ecology, geology, and archaeology, addressing modern environmental challenges like carbon sequestration and microplastic pollution. He has supervised numerous PhD students through initiatives like the NERC-funded CENTA DTP. Awards include Loughborough University’s Tutor of the Year (2015). His editorial contributions and international collaborations highlight his leadership in environmental science.

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Michael WestawayView profile

Research Fellow

University of QueenslandAustralia

Dr. Michael Westaway is a research fellow at the School of Social Science, University of Queensland , specializing in archaeology, bioarchaeology, and Indigenous studies. His work bridges isotope geochemistry, ancient DNA analysis, and community collaboration to explore human evolution, colonial impacts, and Aboriginal cultural heritage. Research Focus : Utilizes isotope geochemistry and ancient DNA to study prehistoric human mobility, diet, and mortuary practices. Investigates Indigenous land management systems , including fish traps, food storage, and water management technologies. Examines colonial-era trauma and historical injustices through skeletal remains and genomic studies. Advances repatriation ethics and heritage conservation in collaboration with Aboriginal communities. Scientific Awards : Recipient of an ARC Future Fellowship for his research on Aboriginal and Papuan prehistory. Research Groups : Active member of the UQ Bioarchaeology and Osteology Network (BONE) and SocioHealthLab .

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Karen HardyView profile

Professor

University of GlasgowUnited Kingdom

Professor Karen Hardy is a leading scholar in prehistoric archaeology, specializing in early human interactions with plants, environments, and technologies. Currently based at the University of Glasgow, she previously held the ICREA Research Professorship (2008–2022) and was awarded an ERC Advanced Grant (2022) for her project on pre-agricultural plant use. Her research integrates archaeology, ethnography, and experimental methods to explore topics like Mesolithic coastal adaptations, dental calculus analysis, and Neanderthal diets. Education: PhD in Archaeology (1993, UCL). Key roles include leading the Scotland’s First Settlers project (1998–2004) and co-editing volumes on coastal archaeology and plant use. Her work bridges prehistoric subsistence strategies, environmental change, and cultural innovation. Research focuses on plant utilization (food, medicine, tools), Mesolithic subsistence, and submerged landscapes. Notable findings include evidence for medicinal plant use in Neanderthals and seaweed consumption in ancient Europe. Her ERC-funded project examines plants' social and genetic roles before agriculture. Publications span 75+ articles, including landmark studies on dental calculus, shell middens, and starch analysis. Awards include the EU Marie Curie Fellowship (2005) and UKRI ERC replacement funding (2022). She collaborates globally, with fieldwork in Scotland, Senegal, and the Near East. Grants: ERC Advanced Grant (€2.5m), UKRI funding, and Marie Curie Fellowship. Active in academic leadership, including journal editing and conference organization. Her work highlights interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human-environment interactions.

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Nicky MilnerView profile

Professor

University of YorkUnited Kingdom

Professor Nicky Milner is Head of the Department of Archaeology at the University of York. She specializes in the Mesolithic period, particularly focusing on the Star Carr site, shell middens, and human-environment interactions. Her roles include leadership in departmental management, university governance, and national/international archaeological committees. She holds fellowships from the Society of Antiquaries (London and Scotland) and the British Academy. Education: BA in Archaeology from Nottingham University (1995), PhD from the University of Cambridge (1998). Career milestones include Sir James Knott Fellowship at Newcastle University, and progression from Lecturer to Professor at York (2012). Research interests span palaeodiet, settlement patterns, and burial practices in the Mesolithic, with interdisciplinary projects involving over 20 specialists. Key projects include the 15-year Star Carr excavation, the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, and the EU SEACHANGE initiative. Public engagement includes TV/radio appearances (BBC, Smithsonian Channel) and museum collaborations. Awards include recognition for research supervision, archaeological innovation, and publications. Teaching focuses on Mesolithic themes and research skills, while her leadership roles extend to University Council/Senate and steering committees for arts and humanities research.

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María Natividad Fuertes PrietoView profile

Associate Professor

University of León (ULE)Spain

María Natividad Fuertes Prieto is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of León, Spain. Her academic career centers on prehistoric archaeology with specialized expertise in Mesolithic and Paleolithic periods of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly the Cantabrian region. She actively contributes to archaeological research and education within Spain's historical studies framework. Her educational foundation includes: Doctorate from the University of León (2004) with thesis "Estudio tecnológico de las industrias líticas del Paleolítico Superior y del Epipaleolítico de la Cuenca del Duero" supervised by Dr. Federico Bernaldo de Quirós Guidotti Dr. Fuertes Prieto's research examines lithic technology , raw material procurement systems , and human mobility patterns through meticulous analysis of shell middens and cave sites. Her work integrates geological contexts to reconstruct hunter-gatherer adaptations, with special focus on chert and radiolarite resources in the Cantabrian Mountains. Recent publications demonstrate innovative methodological approaches including chaînes opératoires analysis and microregional studies of prehistoric territories. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals consistent thematic concentration on Mesolithic lithic assemblages across northern Iberia. Key research sites include El Mazo shell midden, La Uña Cave, and the Picos de Europa foothills, with emerging work extending into medieval zooarchaeology. Her scholarship shows strong regional focus on León province while contributing to broader Iberian Peninsula syntheses, particularly regarding technological transitions and resource exploitation strategies during the Mesolithic. Dr. Fuertes Prieto supervises academic theses in prehistoric archaeology at the University of León, guiding students in lithic analysis and field methodology. While specific grant details aren't documented in available materials, her sustained publication output suggests ongoing research project involvement. She leads the HIST-ARQ Historia y Arqueología research group and maintains connections with the Q-GEO GEOLOGÍA AMBIENTAL, CUATERNARIO Y GEODIVERSIDAD group, reflecting her interdisciplinary integration of archaeological, geological, and environmental approaches to studying Iberian prehistory.

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Wendy ReynenView profile

Research Fellow

The University of Western AustraliaAustralia

Dr. Wendy Reynen serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeology at the School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia. Her work focuses on Quaternary archaeology and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction across Western Australia's Pilbara region and Dampier Archipelago, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals through cultural heritage preservation. Her research expertise spans Holocene climate dynamics, Last Glacial Maximum adaptations, arid zone archaeology, and rock art landscapes. Key interests include Aboriginal occupation patterns during Pleistocene-Holocene transitions, with fieldwork centered on rockshelters and island sites in the Murujuga cultural landscape. Recent publications reveal a strong trend in long-term archaeological records (up to 47,000 years) from Pilbara rockshelters and Dampier Archipelago islands, emphasizing human-environment interactions during major climate shifts. Her work integrates radiocarbon dating, stratigraphic analysis, and landscape archaeology within Australian arid-zone contexts. Scientific Awards: No awards documented in available sources. Dr. Reynen actively collaborates on research projects including the Rio Tinto-funded Archaeological Landscape Dynamics and Connectivity (2019-2020), which generated significant media coverage (19 news outlets, 28 X users). As Investigator 02 alongside Dr. K. Ditchfield, she contributed to surface scatter analyses in the Inland Pilbara. No formal advisees are listed, but she participates in the Centre for Rock Art Research and Management (CRAR+M) through co-authored monographs.

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Emmy FrostView profile

Lecturer

La Trobe UniversityAustralia

Dr Emmy Frost is a Lecturer in Archaeology at La Trobe University, Australia, specializing in coastal and historical archaeology. She holds a Bachelor of Archaeology with First Class Honours and a PhD from La Trobe University. Education: BA (Hons) and PhD in Archaeology, La Trobe University Her research focuses on marine shell midden analysis, elemental mapping for dietary reconstruction, and the integration of oral history in archaeological archiving. She has contributed to studies on Victorian era cesspits in Melbourne and Tasmanian coastal resource management. Recent publications highlight her expertise in coastal archaeology, including elemental analysis of limpets (2025), legacy material reanalysis (2024), and historical archaeology methodologies (2023-2020). These works intersect with subfields like paleoenvironmental reconstruction, museum curation, and urban ecology. Awards: Recognition of Teaching Excellence (2025) for subject ARC40003 She serves on committees including the Australian Archaeological Association National Executive Committee and previously led the La Trobe Archaeological Society (2017-2019).

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Miriam Cubas MoreraView profile

Researcher

University of AlcaláSpain

Miriam Cubas Morera is a Ramón y Cajal Researcher in the Area of Prehistory, Department of History and Philosophy at the University of Alcalá, Spain. Her research is deeply interdisciplinary, integrating archaeological fieldwork, typological analysis, and advanced scientific methods such as organic residue and petrographic analysis. Education: PhD in Archaeology, Universidad de Cantabria (2010), with Extraordinary PhD Award (2012). Previous Positions: Assistant Professor at University of Oviedo (2019–2020) and University of Alcalá (2019). Research Group: PRECYT – Late Prehistory of the inner Tagus basin. Her research centers on the origin and spread of early pottery technology in Neolithic Europe, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula. She investigates prehistoric culinary practices, human-environment interactions, and technological innovations through the analysis of ceramic assemblages. Her work combines traditional archaeological methods with cutting-edge scientific techniques, including lipid residue analysis and molecular archaeology. She has led and collaborated in international projects across Europe, South America, and Asia, contributing to a deeper understanding of Neolithisation processes. Her extensive publication record includes over 164 publications, with recent work focusing on pottery technology, dairy production in Atlantic Europe, and interdisciplinary approaches to prehistoric foodways. Her research demonstrates a consistent trend toward integrating biomolecular data with archaeological context to reconstruct past lifeways. Scientific Awards: Extraordinary PhD Award, Universidad de Cantabria (2012) Awards from University of York, University of Alcalá, and Castilla-La Mancha Education Council Miriam Cubas supervises 5 PhD students and has guided 7 master’s theses. She has participated in 11 PhD juries and contributes to academic teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She is actively involved in securing research funding and managing collaborative international projects. Her outreach efforts emphasize inclusive scientific dissemination, particularly through programs designed for people with disabilities and socially excluded groups. She leads initiatives that bridge academia and public engagement, promoting a culture of accessible science. She is a key member of the PRECYT research group, focusing on the Late Prehistory of the inner Tagus basin, and collaborates with specialists in zooarchaeology, geochemistry, and paleoenvironmental studies to build comprehensive reconstructions of prehistoric societies.

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Daniel H. SandweissView profile

Professor

University of MaineUnited States

Dr. Daniel H. Sandweiss is a Professor at the University of Maine , with appointments in Anthropology , Earth and Climate Sciences , and Global Policy . Holding a Ph.D. from Cornell University (1989) , he specializes in maritime adaptations and climate change impacts on ancient Latin American societies, particularly in Peru . His career spans fieldwork in Peru , Central America , and Cuba , focusing on El Niño prehistory and its global climatic implications. As founder of Andean Past (1987) and former editor of multiple journals, he has led significant academic organizations including the Society for American Archaeology (President-Elect since 2024). His Presidential Recognition Awards (SAA: 2008, 2012, 2019) and 2022 Distinguished Maine Professor title highlight his contributions. He directs Climate Change Institute research and curates at the Hudson Museum . His 2024 publications on El Niño archaeology and shell remains extend his work on coastal adaptations , monumental architecture , and mollusk analysis . Current projects include Holocene upwelling patterns , early maritime settlements , and beach ridge sequences linked to tectonic activity. 2024: U.S. National Academy of Sciences member 2022: Distinguished Maine Professor 2017: University of Maine Presidential Research Award 2016: Rip Rapp Archaeological Geology Award Dr. Sandweiss has served as Dean and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies (2005-2014) and directed the School of Policy and International Affairs . He currently co-chairs the Journal of Archaeology and Education advisory board and leads Phi Kappa Phi (President, 2024). His 1995 book on Túcume pyramids remains a landmark publication.

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