Archaeology Research

We are delighted to welcome James to Archaeology, where he has just started with us, and really looking forward to working with him.  

James tells us a little about his work:

"I am delighted to be joining the Archaeology Department here at the University of Glasgow as a lecturer in geospatial archaeology, and have been chomping at the bit to get started and work with all of my new colleagues and students. For anybody who wonders what a specialist in geospatial archaeology does, we work with various technologies to better understand our past.

I am specifically interested in the application of remote sensing technologies (geophysical survey; satellite and aerial photography; cropmark archaeology; drone survey; laser scanning; LiDAR; three-dimensional modelling and printing) and analytical GIS (viewsheds, cost-surface analysis, visualisation of topographical data). In that respect, I am not confined to a specific time period, artefact or monument type, something which is reflected in the projects I have worked on…..I like archaeology too much to be tied down! I do have a particular love of big hilltop enclosures however, whether they be later prehistoric hillforts, early Neolithic causewayed enclosures or early medieval ringforts; and complex, multi-period landscapes.

I started my research career working on early medieval royal landscapes of southern Ireland, undertaking my MPhil at University College Cork, before moving on to the Bronze Age hillforts of Ireland and northwestern Europe for my PhD. This project inadvertently brought me to the Neolithic, when we excavated a number of Early Neolithic causewayed enclosures that were presumed to be destroyed or unfinished hillforts. I have since developed projects on the famous Iron Age ceremonial complex at Navan Fort in Northern Ireland and worked on some of Northern Britain’s most important prehistoric sites.

This summer, I have directed excavations at Keadeen cursus in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, the first excavations of this monument type in Ireland, after LiDAR survey and GIS analysis identified an important cluster of five of these monuments within this landscape. I have also finished the final touches on a book about the incredible prehistoric archaeology of the Baltinglass region which should be out later this year.

I am really looking forward to meeting everyone over the next few weeks and months."

James will be part of the Field School team working at Drumadoon, Arran, in early August, where we have been working on a Neolithic cursus and prehistoric landscape so there will be an opportunity for students and colleagues to meet him then. James will be convening the Archaeology of Scotland course at Level 1 and a specialist Honours course on geospatial archaeology next academic year.

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First published: 31 July 2024