Amy Richardson

Amy Richardson is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Reading's Department of Archaeology, specializing in Neolithic studies with a focus on the Middle East. She leads the ERC-funded MENTICA project alongside Prof Roger Matthews and Dr Wendy Matthews, investigating the Neolithic transition in Iraq and Iran through integrated community approaches. Her work emphasizes coordinating field recording methods, managing data networks, and applying network analysis to archaeological findings. As Co-Investigator on the AHRC-funded HESDIK project, she collaborates with local stakeholders to develop sustainable tourism resources in post-conflict regions.

Her research explores material culture networks, environmental adaptation, and cultural symbolism across the Zagros and Fertile Crescent. Key projects include excavations at Bestansur and Shimshara (Iraqi Kurdistan) and collaborations with the Slemani Museum to establish heritage initiatives. Amy's work bridges academic research with practical community engagement, addressing contemporary challenges in cultural preservation.

Her publications analyze Neolithic migration patterns via genetic data, urban symbolism in Mesopotamia, and environmental archaeologies of early farming societies. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary dialogues through co-editing thematic volumes and presenting at conferences on digital archaeology and heritage management.