Professor Vicki Cummings

Publication

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Research

Current research projects

-Deep histories of migration: exploring the early Neolithic around the North Sea (with Dr Rune Iversen at Copenhagen University and Professor Dani Hofmann at Bergen University). This project is investigating the start and spread of the Neolithic in areas around the North Sea. We have already produced one book from this project (Hofmann, D., Cummings, V., Bjornvad-Aldqvist, M. and Iversen, R. (eds), The early Neolithic of northern Europe: new approaches to migration, movement and social connection. Leiden: Sidestone.). The final monograph on the project is currently in preparation. This project was funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark. 

-The chambered tombs of Orkney (with Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark at the National Museums Scotland). This project has undertaken excavations at the chambered tomb at Tresness, Sanday and Blomuir, Mainland. These sites which are providing new material to understand the construction and use of these sites as well as human remains for the analysis of aDNA. These excavations are in post-ex, and will be written up as a monograph.  We have received funding from the British Academy, the Royal Archaeological Institute, Orkney Islands Council and the Society of Antiquaries of London for this project. Excavations at both sites have featured on Digging for Britain episodes. 

-Ancient DNA and kinship in early Neolithic Britain (with Professor Chris Fowler at Newcastle University and Professor David Reich at Harvard). Building on the exciting results from the study of aDNA from Hazleton North we are exploring kinship and monumental architecture at other sites in Britain. A paper in Antiquity is due out in 2026 and other work/publications are forthcoming. 

-The Neolithic of the Northern Isles (with Professor Jane Downes and Professor Colin Richards at UHI). Through the excavation of settlement sites on both Orkney and Shetland, we are exploring the early settlement of these islands (the sites are in post-excavation). This project has been supported with funding from Orkney Islands Council. 

Completed research projects

-Building the great dolmens of north-west Europe (with Professor Colin Richards at UHI). This project investigated the dolmen architecture of Britain, Ireland and Denmark in a wider north European context. The project benefitted from funding from the Royal Archaeological Institute and the British Academy (mid-career fellowship). It is published as a monograph by Windgather: Cummings, V. and Richards, C. 2021. Monuments in the making: raising the great dolmens in early Neolithic northern Europe. Oxford: Windgather.  

-The Southern Kintyre Project (with Dr Gary Robinson at Bangor University). This project investigated the Mesolithic and Neolithic landscapes around Blasthill chambered tomb, alongside the excavation of this monument. It was funded by the British Academy, the Robert Kiln Charitable Trust, the Royal Archaeological Institute and the Prehistoric Society. It is published as an Archaeopress monograph: Cummings, V. and Robinson, G. 2015. The Southern Kintyre Project. Oxford: BAR. 

-Hunting and gathering communities and their relevance for the study of the past. Connected to a wider interest in the anthropology of hunter-gatherers I edited a major OUP publication of this topic (Cummings, V. Jordan, P. and Zvelebil, M. (eds) 2014. The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology and Anthopology of Hunter-Gatherers. Oxford: Oxford University Press. A smaller introductory textbook is aimed at undergraduates: Cummings, V. The anthropology of hunter-gatherers: key themes for archaeologists. London: Bloomsbury. 

-The early Neolithic monuments of the Irish Sea zone. Funded by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust, this project considered the landscape setting of the chambered tombs found around the Irish Sea. It is published as an Oxbow monograph: Cummings, V. 2009. A view from the west: the Neolithic of the Irish Sea zone. Oxford: Oxbow. There is also an edited volume on the same topic: Cummings, V. and Fowler, C. (eds), 2004. The Neolithic of the Irish sea zone: materiality and traditions of practice. Oxford: Oxbow. 

-The Bargrennan monuments of south-west Scotland (with Professor Chris Fowler at Newcastle University). The chambered tombs of Cairnderry and Bargrennan were excavated which revealed an interesting sequence of events at these sites, including notable early Bronze Age deposition. The project benefitted from funding from the British Academy, the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Prehistoric Society. The excavations were published as a British Archaeological Reports monogragh: Cummings, V. and Fowler, C. 2007. From cairn to cemetery: an archaeological investigation of the chambered cairns and early Bronze Age mortuary deposits at Cairnderry and Bargrennan White Cairn. Oxford: BAR. 

-The chambered tombs of Wales. Funded by the Board of Celtic Studies, this project investigated the chambered tombs of Wales and was published as a monograph: Cummings, V. and Whittle, A. 2004. Places of special virtue: megaliths in the Neolithic landscapes of Wales. Oxford: Oxbow. 

Teaching

I am module convenor for HS7203: Explanation and interpretation in Archaeology

Contributions to: HS2206: Introduction to Prehistoric Europe

                           HS2130: The Archaeology of Britain

Biography

I took my BA, MA and PhD at Cardiff University, studying under Professor Alasdair Whittle. I was subsequently a Research Assistant for the Board of Celtic Studies and then a Research Associate in Neolithic Archaeology at Cardiff University. In 2004 I moved to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) where I designed and set up a new degree in Archaeology. In 2018 I was awarded a personal chair, the first ever professor of archaeology at UCLan. Throughout my time at the institution I was research lead for Archaeology, and I was also Deputy Head (Research) and part of the Senior Management Team of the School for six years. In 2023 I returned to Cardiff after nearly twenty years away to take up the role of Head of School. 

Supervisions

Vicki can supervise topics around:

-Neolithic Britain and Ireland

-Chambered tombs

-Mesolithic/Neolithic transition in north-west Europe

Current supervision

Hanna Marie Pageau