Nicky Milner
Senior Lecturer

Profile

Biography

Nicky completed a BA in Archaeology in Nottingham in 1995 and a NERC funded PhD in Cambridge in 1998, which developed a method to analyse seasonality information from the European oyster, which was then applied to Danish shell midden sites. This was followed by a Sir James Knott fellowship at the University of Newcastle in 1999 and then a Lectureship in 2001, before moving to the University of York in 2004. She became a Senior Lecturer in 2009.

Her research focuses on the Mesolithic period and the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition. She has worked on shell midden sites in Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, Spain and Portugal and has co-directed excavations at Howick, Baylet and Star Carr.

Departmental roles

  • Chair of Board of Studies
  • Chair of Archaeology Teaching Committee
  • Senior Management Group
  • University Teaching Committee
  • Forum for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching

Research

Overview

Nicky's research interests focus on European archaeology, particularly the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods and is divided across three key themes: palaeodiet and consumption practices; settlement and mobility; and death and burial. She aims to bring innovative approaches to the study of the Mesolithic and the transition to the Neolithic through the development of new themes and theoretical frameworks, as well as fieldwork projects.

Nicky completed a major AHRB project on Coastal shell middens and agricultural origins in Europe. As part of this, she developed a critical examination of stable isotope analysis in identifying the role of marine resources across the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in Europe. She has also made important new advances in seasonality studies, using marine molluscs and new biomolecular methods of palaeodietary analysis, coordinating her research with colleagues in five different countries.

She has been working with the Vale of Pickering Research Trust since 1996 and is currently co-directing fieldwork at Star Carr.

Current projects

Previous projects

Research group(s)

Available PhD research projects


Supervision

Current PhD students:

Publications

Full publications list

Books

  • Finlay, N., McCartan, S., Milner, N., and Wickham-Jones, C. (2009) From Bann flakes to Bushmills. Papers in honour of Peter Woodman. Prehistoric Society Research Paper 1. Oxford: Oxbow books
  • Milner, N., Craig, O.E. and Bailey, G.N. (2007) Shell middens in Atlantic Europe, Oxford: Oxbow
  • Milner, N. and Woodman, P.C. (2005) Mesolithic Studies at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Oxford: Oxbow Books
  • Milner, N. and Fuller, D.Q (2003) Animal Bones in Archaeology: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 18:1.
  • Milner, N. (2002) Incremental growth of the European Oyster, Ostrea edulis: seasonality information from Danish kitchenmiddens. British Archaeological Reports.
  • Miracle, P.T and Milner, N. (2002) Consuming Passions and Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute.
  • Fuller, D.Q. and Milner, N (1998) General Perspectives: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 14:2.

Papers

2010
  • Elliott, B.J. and Milner, N. (in press) Making a point: a critical review of the barbed point manufacturing process practiced at Star Carr, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society
  • Hadley, P., Hall, A., Taylor, M., Needham, A., Taylor, B., Conneller, C. and Milner, N. (in press) To block lift or not to block lift? An experiment at the Early Mesolithic site of Star Carr, North-East Yorkshire, UK. Internet Archaeology
  • Milner, N. (2010) Subsistence at 4000-3700 cal. BC: landscapes of change or continuity? In Finlayson, B. and Warren, G. (eds) Landscapes in Transition, Levant Supplemetary series, vol 8. 46-54. Oxford: Oxbow
2009
  • Conneller, C., Milner, N., Schadla-Hall, T. and Taylor, B. (2009) The temporality of the Mesolithic landscape: new work at Star Carr. In Crombé, P., Van Strydonck, M., Sergant, J., Boudin, M. and Bats, M. (eds) Chronology and Evolution within the Mesolithic of North-West Europe. Proceedings of an International Meeting, Brussels, May 30th-June 1st 2007, 77-94. Newcastle upon Tyne:  Cambridge Scholars Publishing
  • Conneller, C., Milner, N., Schadla-Hall, T., and Taylor, B. (2009) Star Carr in the New Millenium. In Finlay, N., McCartan, S., Milner, N., and Wickham-Jones, C. (eds) From Bann flakes to Bushmills. Papers in honour of Peter Woodman. Prehistoric Society Research Paper 1, 78-100. Oxford: Oxbow books
  • Last, J., Milner, N., Taylor, B. and Conneller, C. (2009) English Heritage Seminar on Star Carr. Mesolithic Miscellany 19.2, 25-28
  • Milner, N. (2009) Mesolithic middens and marine molluscs: procurement and consumption of shellfish at the site of Sand. Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications 31
  • Milner, N. (2009) Consumption of crabs in the Mesolithic: side stepping the evidence? Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications. 31
  • Milner, N. (2009) Mesolithic consumption practices: food for thought, Journal of Nordic Archaeological Science 16, 49-63
  • Milner, N. and Craig, O.E. (2009) Mysteries of the middens: change and continuity across the Mesolithic Neolithic transition. In Allen, M.J., Sharples, N. and O’Connor, T. (eds.) Land and People. Papers in Honour of John G. Evans, Prehistoric Society Research Paper No 2, , 169-180. Oxford: Oxbow
  • Milner, N. and Laurie, E. (2009) Coastal perspectives on the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition. In McCartan, S., Schulting, R., Warren, G. and Woodman, P. (eds.) Mesolithic Horizons, Papers presented at the 7th International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belfast 2005, 134-139. Oxford: Oxbow
  • Milner, N. and Mithen, S. (2009) Mesolithic chapter. In Hunter and Ralston (eds.) The Archaeology of Britain, London: Routledge, 53-77
2008
  • Bailey, G. & Milner, N. (2008). 'Molluscan archives from European prehistory'. In A. Mantczak & R. Cipriani (eds.) Early human impact on megamolluscs. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports International Series.
  • Bailey, G., Barrett, J., Craig, O. & Milner N. (2008). 'Historical Ecology of the North Sea Basin: an archaeological perspective and some problems of methodology'. In J. Erlandson & R. Torrey (eds.) Ancient human impacts on marine environments: a global perspective. University of California Press.
2007
  • Bailey, G.N. & Milner, N. (2007) The faunal remains at Howick. In C. Waddington (ed.) Mesolithic Settlement in the North Sea Basin: A case study from Howick, North-East England. Oxford: Oxbow, 137-146.
  • Waddington, C., Bailey, G. and Milner, N. (2007) Howick: Discussion and Interpretation. In C. Waddington (ed.) Mesolithic Settlement in the North Sea Basin: A case study from Howick, North-East England. Oxford: Oxbow, 189-202.
  • Waddington, C., Bailey, G., Bayliss, A. and Milner, N. (2007) Howick in its wider context. In C. Waddington (ed.) Mesolithic Settlement in the North Sea Basin: A case study from Howick, North-East England. Oxford: Oxbow, 203-224.
  • Craig, O.E., Forster, M., Andersen, S.H., Koch, E., Crombé, P., Milner, N., Stern, B., Bailey, G. and Heron, C. (2007) Molecular demonstration of marine and freshwater products in prehistoric pottery from Northern Europe, Archaeometry 49 (1), 135-152
  • Fenger, T., D. Surge, B. Schöne, and N Milner (2007), Sclerochronology and geochemical variation in limpet shells (Patella vulgata): A new archive to reconstruct coastal sea surface temperature, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 8,
  • Milner, N., Welsh, J. & Barrett, J. (2007) Marine resource intensification in Viking Age Europe: the mollusc evidence from Quoygrew, Orkney. Journal of Archaeological Science 34, 1461-1472.
  • Milner, N., Craig, O.E. and Bailey, G.N. (2007) Shell middens in Atlantic Europe. In N. Milner, O.E. Craig, and G.N. Bailey (eds.) Shell middens in Atlantic Europe, Oxford: Oxbow
  • Milner, N. and Woodman, P. (2007) Deconstructing the myths of Irish shell middens, In. N. Milner, O.E. Craig, and G.N. Bailey (eds.) Shell middens in Atlantic Europe, Oxford: Oxbow
  • Zapata, L., Milner, N and Roselló, E. (2007) Pico Ramos cave shell midden: Mesolithic-Neolithic transition by the Bay of Biscay, In. N. Milner, O.E. Craig, and G.N. Bailey (eds.) Shell middens in Atlantic Europe, Oxford: Oxbow
  • Milner, N. (2007) Fading Star, British Archaeology 96, 10-14
2006
  • Craig, O.E., Ross, R., Milner, N. and Bailey, G.N. (2006) FOCUS: Sulphur isotope variation in archaeological marine fauna from Northern Europe, Journal of Archaeological Science
  • Milner, N. (2006) Subsistence. In C. Conneller & G. Warren (eds.) Mesolithic Britain and Ireland. New approaches Tempus.
  • Milner, N., Craig, O.E., Bailey, G.N., Pedersen, K. & Andersen S.H (2006) A Response to Richards and Schulting, Antiquity 308, 456-457
2005
  • Waddington, C., Bailey, G., Boomer, I. and Milner, N. (2005) A bronze age cist cemetery at Howick, Northumberland, Archaeological Journal 162, 1-31
  • Milner, N. (2005) St. Oswalds Church, Filey: The study of a cruciform church in North Yorkshire. Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. 77, 93-114
  • Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (2005) Combler les lacunes. L'événement le plus étudié, le mieux daté et le moins compris du Flandrien. In G. Marchand and A. Tresset (eds). Unité et diversité des processus de néolithisation sur la façade atlantique de l'Europe (7e-4e millénaires avant J.-C.). Monographie de la Société Préhistorique Française,
  • Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (2005) Looking into the Canon's mouth: Mesolithic Studies in the 21st Century. In Milner, N. and Woodman, P.C. (2005) Mesolithic Studies at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 1-13
  • Milner, N. (2005) Seasonal consumption practices in the Mesolithic: Economic, Environmental, Social or Ritual? In Milner, N. and Woodman, P.C. (2005) Mesolithic Studies at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 56-67
  • Milner, N. (2005) Can seasonality studies be used to identify sedentism in the past? In D. Bailey, V. Cummings & A. Whittle (eds.) (Un)settling the Neolithic. Oxford: Oxbow.
2004
  • Milner, N., Craig, O.E., Bailey, G.N., Pedersen, K. & Andersen S.H. (2004) Something fishy in the Neolithic? A re-evaluation of stable isotope analysis of Mesolithic and Neolithic coastal populations. Antiquity 78: 9-22
2003
  • Bailey, G.N. and Milner, N.J. (2003) 'Coastal hunters and gatherers and social evolution: marginal or central?', Before Farming: the Archaeology of Old World Hunter-Gatherers. 3-4 (1), 1-15.
  • Surge, D. and Milner, N. (2003) 'Oyster shells as history books', Shellfish News 16, 5-7.
  • Milner, N. (2003) 'Pitfalls and problems in analysing and interpreting faunal remains with regards to seasonality.', in N. Milner and D.Q.Fuller (eds.) Animal Bones in Archaeology: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 18:1.
  • Milner, N. and Fuller, D.Q. (2003) 'Contending with animal bones', in N. Milner and D.Q. Fuller (eds.) Animal Bones in Archaeology, Archaeological Review from Cambridge 18:1.
  • Waddington, C., Bailey, G, Bayliss, A., Boomer, I., Milner, N., Pedersen, K., Shiel, R. and Stevenson, A. (2003) 'A Mesolithic settlement site at Howick, Northumberland: a preliminary report', Archaeologia Aeliana 5th series 31:.
2002
  • Milner, N and Woodman, P. (2002) The Shell Middens of Inch Island and its Environments, Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal- A risk assessment survey.
  • Milner, N. (2002) 'Oysters, cockles and kitchenmiddens: Consuming shellfish on Danish middens', in P.T. Miracle and N. Milner (eds.) Consuming Patterns and Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute.
  • Milner, N and Miracle, P.T. (2002) 'Patterning data and consuming theory', in P.T. Miracle and N. Milner (eds.) Consuming Patterns and Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute.
2001
  • Milner, N. (2001) 'At the cutting edge: using thin sectioning to determine season of death of the European Oyster, Ostrea edulis', Journal of Archaeological Science 28, 861-873.
  • Milner, N. (2001) 'Seasonality studies and palaeoenvironmental analysis of oysters from the Danish kitchenmidden of Krabbesholm.', University of Durham and University of Newcastle upon Tyne Archaeological Reports.
  • Milner, N. and Woodman, P. (2001) 'Mesolithic middens - from famine to feasting', Archaeology Ireland. Volume 15, No. 3, Issue 57, 32-35.
  • Milner, N and Waddington, C. (2001) 'Evidence for early occupation at Howick', Archaeology in Northumberland 2000-2001. 6.
older stuff
  • Milner, N. (2000) 'Marine and Freshwater Molluscs', in T. Insoll (ed.) Further Observations on the Gao Region and Western Sahel (the 1996 fieldseason results).. Cambridge Monographs in African Archaeology BAR (IS) Oxford: Archaeopress, 36-38..
  • Milner, N. (2000) Shell money and the slave trade. (summary within: Insoll, T. 2001. The archaeology of post medieval Timbuktu, Sahara 13, 7-22).
  • Milner, N. and Fuller, D.Q. (1998) 'An assortment of archaeology', in D.Q. Fuller and N. Milner (eds.) General Perspectives: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 14:2. 1-8.

Teaching

Undergraduate

  • Death and Burial overview
  • Mesolithic Death and Burial
  • Dissertation workshops

Postgraduate

External activities

Memberships

  • NERC radiocarbon Facility (Archaeology) Assessment Panel
  • Director of Antiquity Publications Ltd
  • Fellow Society of Antiquaries 2009-
  • Council member of the Prehistoric Society
  • Member of Palaeolithic Research framework group for UK

Editorial duties

Invited talks and conferences

  • Invited plenary speaker at Mesolithic 2005 conference, Belfast
  • Invited speaker at Stockholm seminar on Interdisciplinary Studies on Prehistoric Material Culture

Media coverage

  • Ray Mears: Wild Food series
  • TimeTeam special on Doggerland
  • Meet the Ancestors: Howick- the earliest house in Britain
  • Radio 4: programme on oysters
  • Radio 4: programme on Star Carr
  • Radio York: Star Carr
  • Summer 2010: Star Carr earliest house in Britain! BBC (home and world news), ITV, Channel 4, radio (local and world), National and International newspapers (see our news story)

Performances

Exhibition on Star Carr and the Mesolithic in York City Art Gallery, April 2010

 
Nicky

Contact details

Dr Nicky Milner

Tel: (44) 1904 323940
Fax: (44) 1904 323902