Post-Doc, Department of Palaeolithic Studies (Forschungsbereich Altsteinzeit)
University College London, Institute of Archaeology
Thesis Title: A contextual approach to the study of Lower and Middle Palaeolithic faunal assemblages in the UK
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Dr Louise Martin
Mr Mark Roberts |
About
I am currently working at the RGZM on the Neumark-Nord 2 project. I am studying the fauna from the site and investigating site formation processes and evidence for human behaviour. In addition, I am also working at the Middle Palaeolithic site of La Cotte de St Brelade. I am undertaking the first analysis of the faunal material in 30 years.
I submitted my PhD thesis in 2008 and successfully passed my viva in April 2009. My research focussed on the accumulation of faunal assemblages from four major Palaeolithic sites (Boxgrove, Swanscombe, Hoxne and Lynford). My research tested the a priori assumption that lithic tools and modified large-medium sized fauna from Palaeolithic deposits represent a cultural accumulation and direct evidence of past hominin subsistence. Frequently, the recovery of lithics and modified fauna at a site has been used to support either active large-mammal hunting by hominins or a scavenging strategy. Hominin bone surface modification (cut marks, deliberate fracturing) highlight an input at the site but cannot be used in isolation from all other taphonomic modifiers as evidence for cultural accumulation. I argue that to fully understand the role of hominins in faunal assemblage accumulation all other taphonomic factors at a site must first be considered and eliminated as primary causes.
I am interested in how Palaeolithic hominin interacted with other species in the ecosystem and how predator and prey behaviour may have shaped hominin survival strategy. I am keen to expand the range of my research to incorporate sites from the Old and New world to provide a comparative data set of human and non-human behaviour to help understand the evolution of human behaviour and interaction with the ecosystem.
Contact Information
| Homepage: | |
| Address: | Museum für die Archäologie des Eiszeitalters |
| Telephones: |
+49(0) 160 99038051 +44(0) 7966371553 |
