![Julia Best](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/2021?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Julia Best
Lecturer in Bioarchaeology
School of History, Archaeology and Religion
- BestJ3@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29225 12373
- John Percival Building, Room Room 5.49a, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a specialist in bioarchaeology, particularly zooarchaeology. My work has spanned a wide range of periods and locations, with a focus on Neolithic and Medieval archaeology. My primary research interest is using cutting-edge analytical techniques to explore ancient animal-human interactions. Through this we can reconstruct past societies, lifeways, and economies through multi-disciplinary approaches.
Specific themes I’m interested in include:
- Avian zooarchaeology
- British zooarchaeology
- Medieval economy and craft
- Scottish island environment and resource use
- Consuming prehistory: feeding Stonehenge
- Outreach and engagement
Publication
2022
- Peters, J. et al. 2022. The biocultural origins and dispersal of domestic chickens. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119(24), article number: e2121978119. (10.1073/pnas.2121978119)
- Best, J. et al. 2022. Redefining the timing and circumstances of the chicken's introduction to Europe and north-west Africa. Antiquity 96(388), pp. 868-882. (10.15184/aqy.2021.90)
2020
- Demarchi, B., Presslee, S., Sakalauskaite, J., Fischer, R. and Best, J. 2020. The role of birds at Çatalhöyük revealed by the analysis of eggshell. Quaternary International 543, pp. 50-60. (10.1016/j.quaint.2020.02.009)
2019
- Thomas, J. E. et al. 2019. Demographic reconstruction from ancient DNA supports rapid extinction of the great auk. eLife 8, article number: e47509. (10.7554/eLife.47509)
- Sichert, B. M., Rentzel, P., Demarchi, B., Best, J., Negri, A. and Deschler-Erb, S. 2019. Incubated eggs in a Roman burial? A preliminary investigation on how to distinguish between the effects of incubation and taphonomy on avian eggshell from archaeological sites. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 26, article number: 101845. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.05.010)
- Mulville, J., Best, J. and Powell, A. 2019. The animal bone from Llangorse Crannog (The animal and human bone). In: Lane, A. and Redknap, M. eds. Llangorse Crannog: the excavation of an early medieval royal site in the Kingdom of Brycheiniog.. Oxbow Books., pp. 174-190.
2018
- Maltby, M., Allen, M., Best, J., Fothergill, B. T. and Demarchi, B. 2018. Counting Roman chickens: Multidisciplinary approaches to human-chicken interactions in Roman Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 19, pp. 1003-1015. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.09.013)
2017
- Presslee, S. et al. 2017. The identification of archaeological eggshell using peptide markers. Science and Technology of Archaeological Research 3(1), pp. 89-99. (10.1080/20548923.2018.1424300)
- Fothergill, B., Best, J., Foster, A. and Demarchi, B. 2017. Hens, health and husbandry: integrated approaches to past poultry-keeping in England. Open Quaternary 3(5), pp. 1-25. (10.5334/oq.34)
- Colonese, A. C. et al. 2017. The identification of poultry processing in archaeological ceramic vessels using in-situ isotope references for organic residue analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science 78, pp. 179-192. (10.1016/j.jas.2016.12.006)
- Jonuks, T., Oras, E., Best, J., Demarchi, B., Mänd, R., Presslee, S. and Vahur, S. 2017. Multi-method analysis of avian eggs as grave goods: revealing symbolism in conversion period burials at Kukruse, NE Estonia. Environmental Archaeology 23(2), pp. 109-122. (10.1080/14614103.2016.1263374)
2016
- Best, J. and Mulville, J. 2016. Birds from the water: Reconstructing avian resource use and contribution to diet in prehistoric Scottish Island environments. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 6, pp. 654-664. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.11.024)
Articles
- Peters, J. et al. 2022. The biocultural origins and dispersal of domestic chickens. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119(24), article number: e2121978119. (10.1073/pnas.2121978119)
- Best, J. et al. 2022. Redefining the timing and circumstances of the chicken's introduction to Europe and north-west Africa. Antiquity 96(388), pp. 868-882. (10.15184/aqy.2021.90)
- Demarchi, B., Presslee, S., Sakalauskaite, J., Fischer, R. and Best, J. 2020. The role of birds at Çatalhöyük revealed by the analysis of eggshell. Quaternary International 543, pp. 50-60. (10.1016/j.quaint.2020.02.009)
- Thomas, J. E. et al. 2019. Demographic reconstruction from ancient DNA supports rapid extinction of the great auk. eLife 8, article number: e47509. (10.7554/eLife.47509)
- Sichert, B. M., Rentzel, P., Demarchi, B., Best, J., Negri, A. and Deschler-Erb, S. 2019. Incubated eggs in a Roman burial? A preliminary investigation on how to distinguish between the effects of incubation and taphonomy on avian eggshell from archaeological sites. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 26, article number: 101845. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.05.010)
- Maltby, M., Allen, M., Best, J., Fothergill, B. T. and Demarchi, B. 2018. Counting Roman chickens: Multidisciplinary approaches to human-chicken interactions in Roman Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 19, pp. 1003-1015. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.09.013)
- Presslee, S. et al. 2017. The identification of archaeological eggshell using peptide markers. Science and Technology of Archaeological Research 3(1), pp. 89-99. (10.1080/20548923.2018.1424300)
- Fothergill, B., Best, J., Foster, A. and Demarchi, B. 2017. Hens, health and husbandry: integrated approaches to past poultry-keeping in England. Open Quaternary 3(5), pp. 1-25. (10.5334/oq.34)
- Colonese, A. C. et al. 2017. The identification of poultry processing in archaeological ceramic vessels using in-situ isotope references for organic residue analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science 78, pp. 179-192. (10.1016/j.jas.2016.12.006)
- Jonuks, T., Oras, E., Best, J., Demarchi, B., Mänd, R., Presslee, S. and Vahur, S. 2017. Multi-method analysis of avian eggs as grave goods: revealing symbolism in conversion period burials at Kukruse, NE Estonia. Environmental Archaeology 23(2), pp. 109-122. (10.1080/14614103.2016.1263374)
- Best, J. and Mulville, J. 2016. Birds from the water: Reconstructing avian resource use and contribution to diet in prehistoric Scottish Island environments. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 6, pp. 654-664. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.11.024)
Book sections
- Mulville, J., Best, J. and Powell, A. 2019. The animal bone from Llangorse Crannog (The animal and human bone). In: Lane, A. and Redknap, M. eds. Llangorse Crannog: the excavation of an early medieval royal site in the Kingdom of Brycheiniog.. Oxbow Books., pp. 174-190.
Teaching
I teach across several areas of archaeology at UG and PGT level, with a focus on the archaeological sciences. I am currently module leader for: Zooarchaeology; Analysing Archaeology; The Archaeology of Britain: Prehistory to Present; PGT MA Dissertation.
I co-coordinate Biomolecular Archaeology, and contribute to a diverse range of other modules including: Forensic and Osteoarchaeology; Applied Archaeological Science; Medieval Archaeology; Death and Commemoration; Medieval Worlds; Themes and Methods in Medieval Archaeology; Discovering Archaeology; Archaeology Field and Practical Skills.
I am a supervisor for Independent Studies, UG Dissertations and PGT dissertations.
Biography
Career Overview
2016 - present: Cardiff University, Lecturer in Bioarchaeology and Lecturer in Archaeology.
2017 - 2020: Bournemouth University, Zooarchaeological researcher
2014 - 2017: Bournemouth University, Post-Doctoral Research Associate on the AHRC "Cultural and Scientific Perceptions of Human-Chicken Interactions’” Project
Education and Qualifications
|
Cardiff University |
Sept 2009 – Sept 2013. Viva Dec 2013. Graduated 2014. |
PhD (AHRC Funded). Living in Liminality: an Osteoarchaeological Investigation into the Use of Avian Resources in North Atlantic Island Environments |
|
Cardiff University |
2008-2009 |
MA Archaeology (AHRC Funded), Distinction. |
|
Cardiff University |
2005-2008 |
BA Archaeology, First Class Honours |
Honours and awards
2022: Craftwork: New impacts from ancient items. Innovation for all grant. Mulville PI, Best Co-I. (£13,326)
2017: "Causing a Flap: using chicken-based research to transform education, poultry production and human well-being" AHRC Follow on Funding Research Grant (£73,382) https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FR003998%2F1
2017: Bournemouth University Bridging Fund Scheme for Research Staff (£8,124)
2016: Lead coordinator NERC ‘Early Chicken Dispersal in Europe: Tracing the Spread of Avian Livestock: Radiocarbon dating project’ (NF/2015/2/5). 14 dates (c. £5040)
2014: Bournemouth University Fusion Fund for Undergraduate Research Assistant (£748)
Supervisions
I am available for 2nd supervision of PGR students. I am interested in supervising students in areas such as:
- Zooarchaeology
- Avian archaeology
- Animal introductions and extinctions
- Diet and health
- Animal pathology
- Medieval economy and craft
- Experimental archaeology, particularly textiles.
