معرفی
Michael Richards is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), with extensive academic experience including roles at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Bradford, and Durham University. His research focuses on archaeological science, particularly the application of isotopic analysis to reconstruct past human and animal diets, mobility patterns, and environmental adaptations. He holds prestigious fellowships from the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Royal Society of Canada.
Education: BA (Hons) and MA from Simon Fraser University, PhD from the University of Oxford.
Research Interests:
- Evolution of human diets, especially Neanderthals and early modern humans
- Spread of agriculture in Eurasia
- Development of isotopic methods for dietary and migration studies
- Forensic applications of isotope analysis
Recent Trends in Publications: Recent work emphasizes isotopic baselines for mobility studies (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa, Southern British Columbia), Neolithic dietary practices in Croatia and Greece, and paleodiet reconstructions of Pleistocene megafauna. His research bridges archaeology with forensic science, contributing to human identification in modern legal contexts.
Awards:
- Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Advising and Grants: Supervises graduate students in archaeological science. Past grants include Wellcome Trust funding. Active in collaborative projects globally.
Labs/Teams: Leads research groups applying cutting-edge isotopic techniques, including the development of sulfur and zinc isotope baselines for mobility studies.
