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Vicki Cummings

Professor Vicki Cummings

Professor of Neolithic Archaeology

School of History, Archaeology and Religion

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am an archaeologist who specialises in the Neolithic of Britain and Ireland within a wider north-west European context. I have a particular interest in monuments and have led research projects exploring chambered tomb architecture in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. I also have a long-term interest in teaching and researching hunting and gathering communities on a world scale. 

I am currently Head of the School of History, Archaeology and Religion, a role I commenced in 2023. I am also co-chair of University Archaeology UK (with Professor Andy Gardner at UCL) which represents and advocates for all archaeology departments in the UK. 

My current research projects are:

-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. Our aim is to build upon, and critically expand, the ancient DNA narratives of this key transitional moment in prehistory. 

-The chambered tombs of Orkney (with Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark at the National Museums Scotland). This project is taking a fresh look at the chambered tomb sequence of Orkney, with excavations at Tresness, Sanday and Blomar, Mainland, sites which are providing new material to understand the construction and use of these sites. 

-Ancient DNA and kinship in early Neolithic Britain (with Professor Chris Fowler at Newcastle University). Building on the exciting results from the study of aDNA from Hazleton North we are exploring kinship and monumental architecture throughout Britain.

-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). 

 

Publication

2025

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2002

Articles

Book sections

Books

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). Funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark this project is investigating the start and spread of the Neolithic in areas around the North Sea. Our aim is to build upon, and critically expand, the ancient DNA narratives of this key transitional moment in prehistory. 

-The chambered tombs of Orkney (with Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark at the National Museums Scotland). This project is taking a fresh look at the chambered tomb sequence of Orkney, with excavations at Tresness, Sanday and Blomar, Mainland, sites which are providing new material to understand the construction and use of these sites. 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.  

-Ancient DNA and kinship in early Neolithic Britain (with Professor Chris Fowler at Newcastle University). Building on the exciting results from the study of aDNA from Hazleton North we are exploring kinship and monumental architecture throughout Britain.

-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. 

-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.

-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. 

-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. 

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

Hanna Marie Pageau

Research student

Contact Details

Email CummingsV@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 (0)29 2087 4821

Research themes