Wendy Matthews
Biographic Data
| ID | 3585107 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Wendy Matthews |
| GIVEN NAMES | Wendy |
| FAMILY NAME | Matthews |
| SIGNATURE | MATTHEWS W |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Reading |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 285 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 2 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1995 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 9 |
Dung detective! A multi-scalar, multi-method approach to identification and analysis of ancient faecal material
Ancient faecal material is becoming a highly valuable more frequently investigated proxy with which to address a wide range of research questions. With advancing scientific methodologies it is becoming easier to identify and to analyse. The aim of this paper is to use a set of archaeological and ethnographic case studies to illustrate and evaluate the range of methods that can be used in conjunction with each other to aid investigation of archaeo…
Tells in Archaeology
The Early Neolithic of the Eastern Fertile Crescent
The Eastern Fertile Crescent region of western Iran and eastern Iraq hosted major developments in the transition from hunter-forager to farmer-herder lifestyles through the Early Neolithic period, 10,000-7000 BC. Within the scope of the Central Zagros Archaeological Project, excavations have been conducted since 2012 at two Early Neolithic sites in the Kurdistan region of Iraq: Bestansur and Shimshara. Bestansur represents an early stage in the t…
The Taphonomy of Plant and Livestock Dung Microfossils
This study examines the contribution of ethnoarchaeological and experimental research to interdisciplinary approaches on the identification and taphonomy of livestock dung. Ethnographic and experimental records provide comparative reference models on a range of taphonomic issues that are still understudied, such as variation in the type and preservation of plant and faecal microfossils that are excreted with dung and the effects of heating. The f…
Livestock faecal indicators for animal management, penning, foddering and dung use in early agricultural built environments in the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia
Livestock dung is a valuable material for reconstructing human and animal inter-relations and activity within open areas and built environments. This paper examines the identification and multi-disciplinary analysis of dung remains from three neighbouring sites in the Konya Plain of Central Anatolia, Turkey: Boncuklu (ninth-eighth millennium cal BC), the Çatalhöyük East Mound (eighth-sixth millennium cal BC), and the Late Neolithic occupation at …
The Early Neolithic of Iraqi Kurdistan
Human communities made the transition from hunter-foraging to more sedentary agriculture and herding at multiple locations across Southwest Asia through the Early Neolithic period (ca. 10,000-7000 cal. BC). Societies explored strategies involving increasing management and development of plants, animals, materials, technologies, and ideologies specific to each region whilst sharing some common attributes. Current research in the Eastern Fertile Cr…
Precision farming and archaeology
Animal penning and open area activity at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey
Early Animal Management Strategies during the Neolithic of the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia
This paper examines the contribution of microscopic multi-proxy approaches to the study of early husbandry practices and animal diet by integrated micromorphological, phytolith, and calcitic dung spherulite analyses of midden deposits at the three neighbouring Neolithic sites of Boncuklu (9th–8th millennium cal BC), Pınarbaşı (7th millennium cal BC) and Çatalhöyük (8th–6th millennium cal BC) in the Konya Plain, Central Turkey.The results reveal c…
Pre-agricultural plant management in the uplands of the central Zagros
Evidence of resilience to past climate change in Southwest Asia
An infrared microspectroscopic study of plasters and pigments from the Neolithic site of Bestansur, Iraq
Humans and fire
Fire-centred studies have recently been highlighted as powerful avenues for investigation of energy flows and relations between humans, materials, environments and other species. The aim in this paper is to evaluate this potential first by reviewing the diverse theories and methods that can be applied to investigate the ecological and social significance of anthropogenic fire, and second by applying these to new and existing data sets in archaeol…
Applications of micromorphology to understanding activity areas and site formation processes in experimental hut floors
Using experimental archaeology and micromorphology to reconstruct timber-framed buildings from Roman Silchester
The Earliest Neolithic of Iran
Radiocarbon Dating of Sheikh-E Abad and Jani
Geoarchaeological Investigations of Midden‐Formation Processes in the Early to Late Ceramic Neolithic Levels at Çatalhöyük, Turkey ca . 8550–8370 cal BP
Anthropogenic midden deposits are remarkably well preserved at the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük and provide significant archaeological information on the types and nature of activities occurring at the site. To decipher their complex stratigraphy and to investigate formation processes, a combination of geoarchaeological techniques was used. Deposits were investigated from the early ceramic to late Neolithic levels, targeting continuous sequ…
Biomolecular and micromorphological analysis of suspected faecal deposits at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey
The microstratigraphy of middens
Microstratigraphy - the sequencing of detailed biological signals on site - is an important new approach being developed in the Çatalhöyük project. Here the authors show how microscopic recording of the strata and content of widespread middens on the tell are revealing daily activities and the selective employment of plants in houses and as fuel. Here we continue to witness a major advance in the practice of archaeological investigation
Geoarchaeology and taphonomy of plant remains and microarchaeological residues in early urban environments in the Ancient Near East
London‐Bahrain Archaeological Expedition excavations at Saar
During 1993, the London‐Bahrain Archaeological Expedition conducted a fourth season of excavations at the early second millennium settlement of Saar, Bahrain. A lower level of the temple was cleared, and a range of buildings to its north‐west discovered. A new street was found opposite the temple entrance, and several of the buildings along the main street were further investigated. Further environmental research included a new programme of micro…
Applications of micromorphology to understanding activity areas and site formation processes in experimental hut floors
Biomolecular and micromorphological analysis of suspected faecal deposits at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey
The microstratigraphy of middens
Microstratigraphy - the sequencing of detailed biological signals on site - is an important new approach being developed in the Çatalhöyük project. Here the authors show how microscopic recording of the strata and content of widespread middens on the tell are revealing daily activities and the selective employment of plants in houses and as fuel. Here we continue to witness a major advance in the practice of archaeological investigation
Livestock faecal indicators for animal management, penning, foddering and dung use in early agricultural built environments in the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia
Livestock dung is a valuable material for reconstructing human and animal inter-relations and activity within open areas and built environments. This paper examines the identification and multi-disciplinary analysis of dung remains from three neighbouring sites in the Konya Plain of Central Anatolia, Turkey: Boncuklu (ninth-eighth millennium cal BC), the Çatalhöyük East Mound (eighth-sixth millennium cal BC), and the Late Neolithic occupation at …
Humans and fire
Fire-centred studies have recently been highlighted as powerful avenues for investigation of energy flows and relations between humans, materials, environments and other species. The aim in this paper is to evaluate this potential first by reviewing the diverse theories and methods that can be applied to investigate the ecological and social significance of anthropogenic fire, and second by applying these to new and existing data sets in archaeol…
Geoarchaeological Investigations of Midden‐Formation Processes in the Early to Late Ceramic Neolithic Levels at Çatalhöyük, Turkey ca . 8550–8370 cal BP
Anthropogenic midden deposits are remarkably well preserved at the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük and provide significant archaeological information on the types and nature of activities occurring at the site. To decipher their complex stratigraphy and to investigate formation processes, a combination of geoarchaeological techniques was used. Deposits were investigated from the early ceramic to late Neolithic levels, targeting continuous sequ…
Animal penning and open area activity at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey
The Taphonomy of Plant and Livestock Dung Microfossils
This study examines the contribution of ethnoarchaeological and experimental research to interdisciplinary approaches on the identification and taphonomy of livestock dung. Ethnographic and experimental records provide comparative reference models on a range of taphonomic issues that are still understudied, such as variation in the type and preservation of plant and faecal microfossils that are excreted with dung and the effects of heating. The f…
Early Animal Management Strategies during the Neolithic of the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia
This paper examines the contribution of microscopic multi-proxy approaches to the study of early husbandry practices and animal diet by integrated micromorphological, phytolith, and calcitic dung spherulite analyses of midden deposits at the three neighbouring Neolithic sites of Boncuklu (9th–8th millennium cal BC), Pınarbaşı (7th millennium cal BC) and Çatalhöyük (8th–6th millennium cal BC) in the Konya Plain, Central Turkey.The results reveal c…
Pre-agricultural plant management in the uplands of the central Zagros
Using experimental archaeology and micromorphology to reconstruct timber-framed buildings from Roman Silchester
The Early Neolithic of Iraqi Kurdistan
Human communities made the transition from hunter-foraging to more sedentary agriculture and herding at multiple locations across Southwest Asia through the Early Neolithic period (ca. 10,000-7000 cal. BC). Societies explored strategies involving increasing management and development of plants, animals, materials, technologies, and ideologies specific to each region whilst sharing some common attributes. Current research in the Eastern Fertile Cr…
An infrared microspectroscopic study of plasters and pigments from the Neolithic site of Bestansur, Iraq
Precision farming and archaeology
London‐Bahrain Archaeological Expedition excavations at Saar
During 1993, the London‐Bahrain Archaeological Expedition conducted a fourth season of excavations at the early second millennium settlement of Saar, Bahrain. A lower level of the temple was cleared, and a range of buildings to its north‐west discovered. A new street was found opposite the temple entrance, and several of the buildings along the main street were further investigated. Further environmental research included a new programme of micro…
London‐Bahrain Archaeological Expedition excavations at Saar
During 1993, the London‐Bahrain Archaeological Expedition conducted a fourth season of excavations at the early second millennium settlement of Saar, Bahrain. A lower level of the temple was cleared, and a range of buildings to its north‐west discovered. A new street was found opposite the temple entrance, and several of the buildings along the main street were further investigated. Further environmental research included a new programme of micro…
Geoarchaeology and taphonomy of plant remains and microarchaeological residues in early urban environments in the Ancient Near East
Biomolecular and micromorphological analysis of suspected faecal deposits at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey
The microstratigraphy of middens
Microstratigraphy - the sequencing of detailed biological signals on site - is an important new approach being developed in the Çatalhöyük project. Here the authors show how microscopic recording of the strata and content of widespread middens on the tell are revealing daily activities and the selective employment of plants in houses and as fuel. Here we continue to witness a major advance in the practice of archaeological investigation
Geoarchaeological Investigations of Midden‐Formation Processes in the Early to Late Ceramic Neolithic Levels at Çatalhöyük, Turkey ca . 8550–8370 cal BP
Anthropogenic midden deposits are remarkably well preserved at the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük and provide significant archaeological information on the types and nature of activities occurring at the site. To decipher their complex stratigraphy and to investigate formation processes, a combination of geoarchaeological techniques was used. Deposits were investigated from the early ceramic to late Neolithic levels, targeting continuous sequ…
The Earliest Neolithic of Iran
Radiocarbon Dating of Sheikh-E Abad and Jani
Applications of micromorphology to understanding activity areas and site formation processes in experimental hut floors
Using experimental archaeology and micromorphology to reconstruct timber-framed buildings from Roman Silchester
Evidence of resilience to past climate change in Southwest Asia
An infrared microspectroscopic study of plasters and pigments from the Neolithic site of Bestansur, Iraq
Humans and fire
Fire-centred studies have recently been highlighted as powerful avenues for investigation of energy flows and relations between humans, materials, environments and other species. The aim in this paper is to evaluate this potential first by reviewing the diverse theories and methods that can be applied to investigate the ecological and social significance of anthropogenic fire, and second by applying these to new and existing data sets in archaeol…
Early Animal Management Strategies during the Neolithic of the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia
This paper examines the contribution of microscopic multi-proxy approaches to the study of early husbandry practices and animal diet by integrated micromorphological, phytolith, and calcitic dung spherulite analyses of midden deposits at the three neighbouring Neolithic sites of Boncuklu (9th–8th millennium cal BC), Pınarbaşı (7th millennium cal BC) and Çatalhöyük (8th–6th millennium cal BC) in the Konya Plain, Central Turkey.The results reveal c…
Pre-agricultural plant management in the uplands of the central Zagros
The Early Neolithic of Iraqi Kurdistan
Human communities made the transition from hunter-foraging to more sedentary agriculture and herding at multiple locations across Southwest Asia through the Early Neolithic period (ca. 10,000-7000 cal. BC). Societies explored strategies involving increasing management and development of plants, animals, materials, technologies, and ideologies specific to each region whilst sharing some common attributes. Current research in the Eastern Fertile Cr…
Precision farming and archaeology
Animal penning and open area activity at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey
Tells in Archaeology
The Early Neolithic of the Eastern Fertile Crescent
The Eastern Fertile Crescent region of western Iran and eastern Iraq hosted major developments in the transition from hunter-forager to farmer-herder lifestyles through the Early Neolithic period, 10,000-7000 BC. Within the scope of the Central Zagros Archaeological Project, excavations have been conducted since 2012 at two Early Neolithic sites in the Kurdistan region of Iraq: Bestansur and Shimshara. Bestansur represents an early stage in the t…
The Taphonomy of Plant and Livestock Dung Microfossils
This study examines the contribution of ethnoarchaeological and experimental research to interdisciplinary approaches on the identification and taphonomy of livestock dung. Ethnographic and experimental records provide comparative reference models on a range of taphonomic issues that are still understudied, such as variation in the type and preservation of plant and faecal microfossils that are excreted with dung and the effects of heating. The f…
Livestock faecal indicators for animal management, penning, foddering and dung use in early agricultural built environments in the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia
Livestock dung is a valuable material for reconstructing human and animal inter-relations and activity within open areas and built environments. This paper examines the identification and multi-disciplinary analysis of dung remains from three neighbouring sites in the Konya Plain of Central Anatolia, Turkey: Boncuklu (ninth-eighth millennium cal BC), the Çatalhöyük East Mound (eighth-sixth millennium cal BC), and the Late Neolithic occupation at …
Dung detective! A multi-scalar, multi-method approach to identification and analysis of ancient faecal material
Ancient faecal material is becoming a highly valuable more frequently investigated proxy with which to address a wide range of research questions. With advancing scientific methodologies it is becoming easier to identify and to analyse. The aim of this paper is to use a set of archaeological and ethnographic case studies to illustrate and evaluate the range of methods that can be used in conjunction with each other to aid investigation of archaeo…
Archaeology (19 works) · Geography (18 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (17 works) · Ecology (11 works) · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology (11 works) · Biology (9 works) · Geology (8 works) · Agriculture (7 works) · History (6 works) · Phytolith (6 works)