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Affiliations
AffiliationTelephone
Associate Professor in the Department of Archaeology+44 (0) 191 33 41147
Department Representative in the Durham Research Methods Centre
Fellow of the Durham Research Methods Centre
Member of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Biography

I am an archaeological scientist with broad interests in the applications of chemistry and quantitative methods in archaeology. By using isotope analysis of bones and teeth, I examine diet, migration, and exposure to lead pollution in past populations around the world. I have also worked extensively on bone diagenesis, the microscopic and chemical changes to buried bone. I apply Bayesian statistical analysis of dating information to answer questions about chronologies in eras from the Lower Palaeolithic to the Seventeenth Century. I also apply mathematical and statistical models to interpret isotope analyses and to evaluate palaeodemographic information. A key aspect of all my work is to integrate the science with the archaeological context and questions.

I’ve supervised research students in all these areas and I welcome enquiries from potential PhD students in any of them, or in related topics.

My first degree was in chemistry at Oxford, but whilst studying for that I discovered the delights of archaeology, going digging at weekends. I managed to combine these interests when I found a place for my undergraduate project and doctoral work in the Research Laboratory for Archaeology at Oxford. My D.Phil. explored the uptake of uranium into bone in order to improve the basis of uranium-series dating of bone, and a post-doctoral project explored wider issues of the effect of groundwater hydrology on the decay and preservation of bones.

In 1995 I came to Durham a Lecturer, where my research has broadened to cover the chemistry of bones and teeth applied to archaeological problems, and Bayesian statistics applied to archaeology, particularly to the analysis of scientific dating techniques, and with wider applications in Quaternary science. My research is a mixture of work conducted alone and collaborative projects with a range of scholars within Durham (I have collaborated with colleagues in Archaeology, History, Earth Sciences, Geography and Mathematics) and external to Durham (including Leiden, Groningen, Cambridge, Sheffield, Otago, Peking Universities and the British Geological Survey).

I have been Associate Director (2015-16), and then Director (2016-17) of the Insitute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies. I currently chair the Durham World Heritage Site Research Committee.

As a member and President (2012-18) of the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, I promote links between academic archaeology and those interested in the subject across the north-east of England.

Bayesian statistics in archaeology and Quaternary science
Radiocarbon wigglematch calibration

Bayesian statistics, as applied to dating in archaeology, allows the combination of different types of dating methods, substantial improvements in the resolution of dates, and the assigning of dates to events previously considered undateable. My contribution in this area has been to extend the method from its initial application to radiocarbon dates, to application to a wide variety of other dating methods, including uranium-series, luminescence and ESR dating. This has been applied to a major re-evaluation of the dating evidence for hominid fossils in the timeframe 500,000 to 50,000 years ago.

The Bayesian statistical paradigm has a wide range of potential applications in archaeology, which has led me to work on estimating age-at-death of humans and sheep, on predicting the location of archaeological sites in the landscape, and reconstructing the components of diet. I have also been involved in work on mathematical models for changes in nitrogen isotopes with weaning, and the analysis of uncertainty in chronologies constructed from ancient near eastern King Lists. I have co-supervised PhD students working on modelling the Mousterian-Aurignacian transition in Europe using radiocarbon dates, and on estimating the uncertainty in luminescence dates.

A major new Leverhulme Trust funded project based on work in this area started in 2020 with Martin Smith in Earth Sciences. A fizzle or a bang how fast was the Cambrian 'explosion'? transfers these methods to the Cambrian Period (540-485 million years ago).

Chemistry of archaeological bones and teeth

My bone and tooth chemistry research mixes technique development, theoretical studies, and archaeological application in collaboration with period specialists. Past work has examined age of weaning using nitrogen isotope ratios, developing a mathematical model and examining its application to a 19th century population from London. Past projects have examined migration into and around Britain using strontium and oxygen isotope ratios measured in Anglo-Saxon and Viking remains, migration of Crusaders, and diet and migration in the Dutch middle Neolithic. Recent and current work is examining the transition to agriculture in the northern Atacama Desert in Chile, the transition to pastoralism in semi-arid areas of the Near East and movement in the Bronze Age of northern Italy. PhD topics in this area that I have supervised have ranged widely including studies of diet and/or migration in 18th-19th century in England, Christians and Muslims in medieval Spain, the animals hunted by Upper Palaeolithic humans, humans from post-Medieval Riga in Latvia, tuberculosis sufferers in Roman Britain, Bronze Age inhabitants of Tepe Hissar in Iran.

Research interests

  • Bayesian statistical methods in archaeology, including dating, isotope analysis and predictive modelling
  • Developing new approaches to Bayesian chronology building for application to any dating methods
  • Statistics in human osteology, including age estimation
  • Chemical and biochemical methods in archaeology
  • Elemental and isotopic analysis of bones and teeth to investigate diet and migration, including weaning
  • Bone diagenesis
  • Chronology of hominid evolution

Esteem Indicators

  • 2015: Invited speaker British Academy Conference: 'Aliens, Foreigners & Strangers in Medieval England c.AD 500-1500', British Academy, 26 & 27 March 2015
  • 2014: Editorial Board, Journal of Archaeological Science Reports:
  • 2012: and 2015: Member of International Scientific Committee for the International Radiocarbon Conference:
  • 2000: Reviewer for academic journals and funding agencies: Since 2012:

    Journals: Antiquity, Radiation Measurements, Geochronometria, Journal of Archaeological Science, Journal of Human Evolution, Environmental Archaeology, Computer Applications in Archaeology conference proceedings, Quaternary Science Reviews, Proceedings of the Royal Society A, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Journal of Quaternary Science, Radiocarbon, Dendrochronologia, Archaeometry, Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, Quaternary International, European Journal of Archaeology, Collegium Antropologicum, Annals of Applied Statistics, Journal of the North Atlantic, ArchéoSciences

    Funding agencies: National Science Foundation (USA), Marsden Fund (New Zealand), Leverhulme Trust, NERC

Publications

Authored book

Chapter in book

  • Living on the Edge: Climate-induced micronutrient famines in the ancient Atacama Desert?
    Snoddy, A. M. E., King, C. L., Halcrow, S. E., Millard, A. R., Buckley, H. R., Standen, V. G., & Arriaza, B. T. (2021). Living on the Edge: Climate-induced micronutrient famines in the ancient Atacama Desert?. In G. Robbins Schug (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of bioarchaeology of environmental change.. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351030465-5
  • Isotopic and genetic evidence for migration in Medieval England
    Jobling, M., & Millard, A. (2020). Isotopic and genetic evidence for migration in Medieval England. In W. Ormrod, E. Tyler, & J. Story (Eds.), Migrants in medieval England, c. 500–c. 1500.. Oxford University Press.
  • What Doesn’t Kill You: Early Life Health and Nutrition in Early Anglo-Saxon East Anglia
    Kendall, E. J., Millard, A., Beaumont, J., Gowland, R., Gorton, M., & Gledhill, A. (2020). What Doesn’t Kill You: Early Life Health and Nutrition in Early Anglo-Saxon East Anglia. In R. Gowland & S. Halcrow (Eds.), The Mother-Infant Nexus in Anthropology: Small Beginnings, Significant Outcomes. (pp. 103-123). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27393-4_6
  • 4 Site Studies
    Albert, B., Innes, J., Kremenetski, K., Millard, A., Nebbia, M., Gaydarska, B., Chapman, J., Miller, D., Hale, D., Buchanan, B., Johnston, S., Videiko, M., Arroyo-Kalin, M., Kaikkonen, T., Ivanova, S., Terziiska-Ignatova, S., Voke, P., Burdo, N., & Shevchenko, N. (2020). 4 Site Studies. In B. Gaydarska (Ed.), Early Urbanism in Europe (pp. 111-264). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110664959-008
  • 5 The Finds
    Gaydarska, B., Nebbia, M., Chapman, J., Caswell, E., Arbeiter, S., Ovchinnikov, E., Gaskevych, D., Lazăr, C., Ignat, T., Boyce, A., Dolan, A., Newton, J., Kiosak, D., Belenko, M., Craig, O. E., Robson, H. K., von Tersch, M., Lucquin, A., Tóth, Z., … Galyna, P. (2020). 5 The Finds. In B. Gaydarska (Ed.), Early Urbanism in Europe (pp. 265-414). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110664959-009
  • Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings: Breastfeeding and weaning in the past
    Halcrow, S. E., King, C. L., Millard, A. R., Snoddy, A. M. E., Scott, R. M., Elliott, G. E., Gröcke, D. R., Buckley, H. R., Standen, V. G., & Arriaza, B. T. (2017). Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings: Breastfeeding and weaning in the past. In C. Tomori, A. L. Palmquist, & E. Quinn (Eds.), Breastfeeding : new anthropological approaches. (pp. 155-169). Routledge.
  • Nebelivka, Ukraine: geophysical survey of a complete Trypillia mega-site
    Hale, D., Chapman, J., Videiko, M., Gaydarska, B., Burdo, N., Villis, R., Swann, N., Voke, P., Thomas, N., Blair, A., Bryant, A., Nebbia, M., Millard, A., & Rud, V. (2017). Nebelivka, Ukraine: geophysical survey of a complete Trypillia mega-site. In B. Jennings, C. Gaffney, T. Sparrow, & S. Gaffney (Eds.), AP2017: 12th International Conference of Archaeological Prospection (12th-16th September 2017, University of Bradford) (pp. 100-102). Archaeopress.
  • Isotopic investigation of residential mobility and diet
    Millard, A. (2015). Isotopic investigation of residential mobility and diet. In J. McKinley, M. Leivers, J. Schuster, P. Marshall, A. Barclay, & N. Stoodley (Eds.), Cliffs End Farm, Isle of Thanet, Kent: A mortuary and ritual site of the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon period with evidence for long-distance maritime mobility (pp. 135-146). Wessex Archaeology.
  • Childhood lead exposure in the British Isles during the industrial revolution
    Millard, A., Montgomery, J., Trickett, M., Beaumont, J., Evans, J., & Chenery, S. (2014). Childhood lead exposure in the British Isles during the industrial revolution. In M. Zuckerman (Ed.), Modern environments and human health : revisiting the second epidemiological transition. (pp. 279-300). Wiley.
  • Infant feeding practices in Roman London: evidence from isotopic analyses
    Powell, L., Redfern, R., Millard, A., & Gröcke, D. (2014). Infant feeding practices in Roman London: evidence from isotopic analyses. In M. Carroll & E.-J. Graham (Eds.), Infant health and death in Roman Italy and beyond (pp. 89-110). Journal of Roman Archaeology.
  • Appendix 7: Integrated dating analysis
    Millard, A. (2013). Appendix 7: Integrated dating analysis. In J. Zant & C. Howard-Davis (Eds.), Scots Dyke to turnpike: the archaeology of the A66, Greta Bridge to Scotch Corner (pp. 203-207). Oxford Archaeology North.
  • The radiocarbon dates
    Millard, A. (2013). The radiocarbon dates. In D. Parsons & D. Sutherland (Eds.), The Anglo-Saxon Church of All Saints, Brixworth, Northamptonshire: survey, excavation and analysis, 1972-2010. Oxbow Books.
  • Dead-sea connections: a Bronze Age and Iron Age ritual site on the Isle of Thanet
    McKinley, J., Schuster, J., & Millard, A. (2013). Dead-sea connections: a Bronze Age and Iron Age ritual site on the Isle of Thanet. In J. Koch & B. Cunliffe (Eds.), Rethinking the Bronze Age and the arrival of Indo-European in Atlantic Europe (pp. 151-177). Oxbow Books.
  • Discussion
    Zant, J., Gregory, R., Howard-Davis, C., Millard, A., & Druce, D. (2013). Discussion. In J. Zant & C. Howard-Davis (Eds.), Scots Dyke to turnpike: the archaeology of the A66, Greta Bridge to Scotch Corner (pp. 111-149). Oxford Archaeology North.
  • The Bumpy Road to Incorporating Uncertainty in Predictive Modelling
    Verhgaen, P., van Leusen, M., Ducke, B., Millard, A., & Kamermans, H. (2012). The Bumpy Road to Incorporating Uncertainty in Predictive Modelling. In E. Jerem, F. Redö, & V. Szeverényi (Eds.), On the Road to Reconstructing the Past. Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, Proceedings of the 36th International Conference, Budapest, April 2-6, 2008 (pp. 301-308). Archaeolingua.
  • Dealing with uncertainty in archaeological prediction
    van Leusen, M., Millard, A., & Ducke, B. (2009). Dealing with uncertainty in archaeological prediction. In H. Kamermans, M. van Leusen, & P. Verhagen (Eds.), Archaeological predictions and risk management : alternatives to current practice. (pp. 123-160). Leiden University Press.
  • A Bayesian approach to ageing sheep/goats from toothwear
    Millard, A. (2006). A Bayesian approach to ageing sheep/goats from toothwear. In D. Ruscillo-Cosmopoulos (Ed.), Recent advances in ageing and sexing animal bones. (pp. 145-154). Oxbow Books.
  • What can Bayesian statistics do for archaeological predictive modelling?
    Millard, A. (2005). What can Bayesian statistics do for archaeological predictive modelling?. In P. van Leusen & H. Kamermans (Eds.), Predictive modelling for archaeological heritage management : a research agenda. (pp. 169-182). Rijkdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek.
  • Bone Diagenesis: Implications for Heritage Management
    Collins, M., Nielsen-Marsh, C., Hiller, J., Smith, C., Roberts, J., Prigodich, R., Wess, T., Csapo, J., Millard, A., & Turner-Walker, G. (2004). Bone Diagenesis: Implications for Heritage Management. In R. Lauwerie & I. Plug (Eds.), The future from the past: archaeozoology in wildlife conservation and heritage management (pp. 124-132). Oxbow Books.
  • Taking Bayes Beyond Radiocarbon: Bayesian Approaches to Some Other Chronometric Methods
    Millard, A. (2003). Taking Bayes Beyond Radiocarbon: Bayesian Approaches to Some Other Chronometric Methods. In C. Buck & A. Millard (Eds.), Tools for Constructing Chronologies: Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries (pp. 231-248). Springer Verlag.
  • Preface: Towards joined up thinking in chronology building.
    Buck, C., & Millard, A. (2003). Preface: Towards joined up thinking in chronology building. In C. Buck & A. Millard (Eds.), Tools for Constructing Chronologies: Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries. (p. V-XIV). Springer Verlag.
  • Appendix 3: Summary of the geochemical analysis of samples from Carlton Alum Works.
    Millard, A. (2002). Appendix 3: Summary of the geochemical analysis of samples from Carlton Alum Works. In I. Miller (Ed.), Steeped in history: the alum industry of North-East Yorkshire. (pp. 131-133). North York Moors National Park Authority.
  • Deterioration of bone
    Millard, A. (2001). Deterioration of bone. In D. Brothwell & M. Pollard (Eds.), Handbook of Archaeological Sciences (pp. 633-643). Wiley.
  • Nedbrytning av ben. Undersökningar och sambad från tre olika arkeologiska fyndplatser
    Hedges, R., Millard, A., & Pike, A. (2001). Nedbrytning av ben. Undersökningar och sambad från tre olika arkeologiska fyndplatser. In P. Persson & K. Sjögren (Eds.), Falbygdens ganggrifter: Undersökningar 1985-1998. (pp. 260-270). Göteborgs Universitet.
  • Khirbet Kerak Ware in the Levant: the implications of radiocarbon chronology and spatial distribution.
    Philip, G., & Millard, A. (2000). Khirbet Kerak Ware in the Levant: the implications of radiocarbon chronology and spatial distribution. In C. Marro & H. Hauptman (Eds.), Chronologies des pays du Caucase et de l’Èuphrate aux IV`eme-IIIème millénaires. (pp. 279-296). Boccard.
  • A model for the effect of weaning on nitrogen isotope ratios in humans.
    Millard, A. (2000). A model for the effect of weaning on nitrogen isotope ratios in humans. In G. Goodfriend, M. Collins, M. Fogel, S. Macko, & J. Wehmiller (Eds.), Perspectives in Amino Acid and Protein Geochemistry (pp. 51-59). Oxford University Press.
  • Now we're cooking: heat induced changes in bone and their diagenetic consequences.
    Roberts, S., Collins, M., Millard, A., & Payne, S. (1999). Now we’re cooking: heat induced changes in bone and their diagenetic consequences. In R. Larsen (Ed.), Methods in the analysis of the deterioration of collagen based historical materials in relation to conservation and storage. Preprints. Advanced Study Course 1999 6-10 July School of Conservation, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.. Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
  • Bone in the burial environment.
    Millard, A. (1998). Bone in the burial environment. In M. Corfield, P. Hinton, & M. Pollard (Eds.), Preserving archaeological remains in situ. London (pp. 93-102). Museum of London Archaeological Services.

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