Ongoing Projects Bronze Age environmental dynamics and agrarian responses in the Southern Levant S.E. Pilaar Birch, with Patricia Fall, Steven Falconer, Elizabeth Ridder (co-PIs), Mary Metzger and Stephen Porson Stable isotope analysis of archaeological animal bones and teeth and modern environmental samples from Cyprus, Jordan, and Lebanon. Supported in part by National Science Foundation Award #1850259. Radical Death and Early State Formation in the Ancient Near East S.E. Pilaar Birch, with Brenna Hassett and David Wengrow (co-PIs) Stable isotope analysis of human remains from Early Bronze Age Basur Höyük. Supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council UK (AHRC) Project Reference AH/R00353X/1. Isotopic Analysis of Fauna at Għar Dalam, Malta S.E. Pilaar Birch, with Victoria Herridge, and Adrian Lister Stable isotope analysis of tooth enamel carbonate from Late Pleistocene dwarf deer, hippo, and elephant for paleoecological reconstruction. Supported by the Leverhulme Trust and Natural History Museum, London. Modern Datasets for Archaeologically-Linked Paleoclimate Reconstruction S.E. Pilaar Birch Examines utility, potential and limitations of using stable isotope values from archaeological herbivore teeth as paleoclimate proxies to assess long term climate change and human adaptation. Currently processing data derived from a red deer (Cervus elaphus) population that lived in Richmond Park, London, in the mid-20th century. Past Projects Neolithization of Europe: New Zooarchaeological and Stable Isotope Evidence from Uğurlu Höyük, Gökçeada, Turkey S.E. Pilaar Birch, with Levent Atici and Burçin Erdoğu Stable isotope analysis of tooth enamel carbonate and bone collagen to evaluate island-mainland trade relationships and mobility. Supported by the National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration. Neolithic Herd Mobility at the Site of Ulucak, Turkey S.E. Pilaar Birch, with Canan Çakırlar, Mike Buckley, and Amelie Scheu Stable isotope analysis of carbonate from sheep and goat teeth to evaluate prehistoric mobility patterns. Current Student Projects Paleoclimate reconstruction through faunal and isotopic analyses at the Alm Shelter, Wyoming Matthew Veres Past Student Projects Assessing stable isotope data from archaeological white-tailed deer remains as a paleoenvironmental proxy at the site of La Joyanca, Northwestern Petén, Yucatán Peninsula María José Rivera Araya This project was supported by the Fulbright Student Program and resulted in two publications. Preparation and Cataloguing specimens from Yenikapi, Turkey Onyale Donloe This project was carried out through the Georgia Museum of Natural History internship and included metadata collection and analysis of faunal remains from the Neolithic site of Yenikapi, Turkey. Stable Isotope Analysis of Mercenaria spp. from Sapelo Island, GA Kelly Brown This project was supported by the Laerm Fund and included analysis of shell carbonate from clams in order to assess season of collection of the shells from the Sapelo Shell Ring Complex. Lab Projects Available for Student Participation Stable Isotope Ecology of Passenger Pigeon Migration: Implications for De-Extinction The Stable Isotope Ecology of Modern North American Elk: Diet, Mobility, and Environment Building the Neotoma Faunal Isotope Database Interested in becoming part of the lab or have your own project you'd like to discuss? Get in touch!
