Oliver Craig
Senior Lecturer in Archaeological Science

Profile

Biography

Oliver obtained his first degree in Biochemistry and Genetics (Nottingham), an MSc in Osteology, Palaeopathology and Funerary Archaeology (Sheffield), followed by a PhD with the Ancient Biomolecules group at Newcastle. He has also completed a Marie Curie Fellowship at the University of Rome II, 'Tor Vergata'.

Research

Overview

Oliver Craig specialises in biomolecular archaeology, i.e. the recovery of proteins, lipids and DNA from ancient skeletal remains and archaeological artefacts to provide insights into past human activities.

His particular interests lie in temporal transitions and variability in human diets and subsistence practices and the impact that dietary changes had on social evolution, health and the environment.

Oliver is interested in combining a broad range of analytical techniques to study palaeodiet but particularly stable isotope analysis of human bone and organic residue analysis of food remains on ceramics.

His research has focused on the analysis of materials from key prehistoric sites in Central and Eastern Europe and along the North East Atlantic and Baltic coastlines. More recently, he has developed an interest in Mediterranean prehistory. 

Current projects

Previous projects

  • Dietary variability and genetic origins of Ancient Italian Human Populations: a combined ancient biomolecular approach (PRIN, MUiR, IT) 2006-2008

Research group(s)

Supervision

Publications

Full publications list

Journals (peer reviewed)
Journals articles (other)
  • Privat K., Schneeweiss, J, Benecke, N., Vasil’ev S.K., O’Connell, T., Hedges, R., Craig, O.E. Economy and diet at the Late Bronze Age-Iron Age site of ?i?a: Artefactual, archaeozoological and biochemical analysis (2005) Eurasia Antiqua Deutshes Archaeologishes Institut. Eurasien-Abteilung.
  • Craig, O.E. (2004) Organic analysis of «food crusts» from sites in the Schelde valley, Belgium: a preliminary evaluation. Notae Praehistoricae 24, 209-217.
  • Craig, O.E. (2002) The Development of Dairying in Europe: potential evidence from food residues on ceramics. Documenta Praehistorica 29, 97-107.
  • Craig, O.E., Stacey, R.J., Collins, M.J. (2001) The Ancient Potsherd: A unique environment for protein survival? British Archaeology Reports (International Series) 939, 47-52.
  • Dürrwächter, C., Craig, O.E., Taylor, G., Collins, M.J., Burger, J., Alt, K.W. (2003) Rekonstruktion der Ernährungsweise in der mittel- und frühneolithischen Bevölkerungen von Trebur/Hessen und Herheim/Pfalz anhand der Analyse Stabiler Isotope. Bulletin de la Société Suisse Anthropologie 9, 1-16.
Books / Book sections
  • Heron, C. and Craig, O.E. (2011): Pottery use among late foragers and early farmers in the Baltic. New molecular and isotopic investigations. In: Early Pottery in the Baltic: Dating, Origin and Social Context, Eds. S. Hartz, S. Lüth, F. and Terberger, T. (Frankfurt, Bericht der Römisch-Germanischen Kommission). Pp. 11-26
  • 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
  • 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 T. Rick and J. Erlandson (eds.) Human Impacts on Ancient Marine Ecosystems. Berkeley, Los Angeles and London: University of California Press, pp. 215–42
  • Barnard, H, Shoemaker, L., Craig, O.E., Rider, M., Parr, R.E., Sutton, M.Q., Yohe II, R.M. (2007) Introduction to the analysis of protein residues in archaeological ceramics. In: Theroy and practice of archaeological residue analysis (eds. Barnard H., Erkens J.W.) British Archaeological Reports (International Series), Series 1650. 216-231.
  • Milner, N., Craig, O.E., Bailey, G.N. (2007) Shell Middens in Atlantic Europe, Oxford: Oxbow.
  • Heron, C.P., Craig, O.E., Forster, M., Stern, B. (2007) Residue analysis of ceramics from prehistoric shell middens: initial investigations at Norsminde and Bjørnsholm. In: Shell Middens in Atlantic Europe (eds. N. Milner, O.E. Craig, and G.N. Bailey) Oxford: Oxbow.
  • Craig, O.E., Heron, C.P., Willis, Yusof, N.N.H.A., Taylor, G. (in press) Organic residue analysis of pottery vessels.In: The Early Neolithic on the Great Hungarian Plain: investigations of the Körös culture site of Ecsegfalva 23, Co. Békés (Ed. Whittle, A.) Monograph, University of Cardiff.
  • Craig, O.E. (2005) The white stuff: milking in the Outer Scottish Isles. In: The Zooarchaeology of Fats, Oils, Milk and Dairying (eds. J. Mulville and A. Outram) Oxbow: Oxford, pp. 167-182
  • Craig, O.E., (2003) Dairying, dairy products and milk residues. In: Food, culture and identity on the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age (Ed. M. Parker Pearson.) British Archaeological Reports (International Series), Series 117. 89-96.
  • Gernaey A. M., Waite E. R., Collins M. J., Craig O. E. and Sokol., R. J. (2001) Survival and interpretation of archaeological proteins: Ancient proteins degradation and analysis. In: Handbook of Archaeological sciences (Eds. M. Pollard and D. Brothwell), Wiley,: Chichester , pp. 323-331.

Compositions

Teaching

Postgraduate

External activities

Memberships

  • Member of the NERC Peer Review College, the European Association of Archaeologists and the Prehistoric Society
  • Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at the Department of Archaeological Science, University of Bradford
 
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Contact details

Dr Oliver Craig
BioArch
Biology, S Block
Wentworth Way
York
YO10 5YW

Tel: (44) 1904 328626 Biology; (44) 1904 323905 Archaeology
Fax: (44) 1904 433902

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