Profile

Biography

Dr Mark Beech BSc. (Institute of Archaeology, Univ. of London, 1982-85), M.A. (Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, 1986-87), PhD (Department of Archaeology and Biology, University of York, 1997-2001) is Cultural Landscapes Manager in the Historic Environment Department of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) in the United Arab Emirates. He is responsible for undertaking archaeological fieldwork and research within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This includes the development of the official Abu Dhabi database of archaeological, palaeontological and cultural heritage sites, as well as the use of GIS as a cultural heritage management tool.

Publications

Selected publications

Wahida, G., W. Yasin Al-Tikriti, M. Beech and A. Al Meqbali. 2009. A Middle Palaeolithic assemblage from Jabel Barakah, Coastal Abu Dhabi emirate. Pages 117-124 in: M.D. Petraglia and J.I. Rose (eds.), The Evolution of Human Populations in Arabia: Paleoenvironments, Prehistory and Genetics (Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series). Springer: Heidelberg, London, New York. Hardcover: 312 pages. Language: English. ISBN: 978-90-481-2718-4.

 Mark Beech, Marjan Mashkour, Matthias Huels and Antoine Zazzo. 2009. Prehistoric camels in south-eastern Arabia: the discovery of a new site in Abu Dhabi's Western Region, United Arab Emirates. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 39: 39-52.

Mark Beech. 2009. Archaeology of the Late Pre-Islamic to Early Islamic Period with a particular focus on recent discoveries on Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Emirate. Pages 99-112 (english version); Pages 105-118 (arabic version). In: New Perspectives on Recording UAE. Proceedings of the International History Conference, New Perspectives on Recording UAE History, National Center for Documentation and Research 40th Anniversary Conference (23-25 November 2008). National Center for Documentation and Research, Abu Dhabi, UAE. ISBN 978-9948-05-071-1.

Ghanim Wahida, Walid Yasin al-Tikriti, Mark Beech and Ali al-Meqbali. 2009. Middle Palaeolithic Assemblage in Abu Dhabi Emirate: The view from Jebel Barakah. Pages 23-36 (english version); Pages 23-37 (arabic version). In: New Perspectives on Recording UAE. Proceedings of the International History Conference, New Perspectives on Recording UAE History, National Center for Documentation and Research 40th Anniversary Conference (23-25 November 2008). National Center for Documentation and Research, Abu Dhabi, UAE. ISBN 978-9948-05-071-1.

Full publications list

Research

Overview

Research interests include:

Late Miocene fossils in Abu Dhabi emirate

Middle Palaeolithic in South-East Arabia Desert

Neolithic of the Rub al-Khali

Neolithic ('Ubaid) communities of the late 6th - 5th millennium BC in the Arabian Gulf 

Coastal Archaeology and Marine Resource

Exploitation

Computer Applications in Archaeology

Teaching

Undergraduate

First year

Third year

External activities

Memberships

Membership:

• Association for Environmental Archaeology (AEA) - member (since 1986 +)
• Emirates Natural History Group (ENHG) - Abu Dhabi chapter member (2002 +)
• International Council for Archaeozoology (ICAZ) - member (since 1998 +)
• Archaeozoologists of S.W. Asia and Adjacent Regions Working Group (ICAZ ASWA) - member (since 1998 +)
• Fish Remains Working Group (ICAZ FISH) - member (since 1997 +)
• Seminar for Arabian Studies - member (since 1997 +)
• Society for Arabian Studies - member (since 1998 +)

Committees / Editorial Boards / Refereeing:

• Academic Referee for the International Journals, Antiquity and Adumatu.
• Journal of Oman Studies - member of editorial board.
• Seminar for Arabian Studies - committee member and on the editorial board of the Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies (since 2002).
• Tribulus - Journal of the Emirates Natural History Group - member of the editorial committee (since 2002).
• York Archaeology Society - postgraduate representative committee member (1998-99)

Invited talks and conferences

For a full list of lectures and presentations, visit: http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~mjb117/presentations.htm.

Teaching includes:

1987-91:  Department of Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield, UK - Undergraduates/JYA students - seminar tutor/essay marking. Subject: Archaeological Theory, Palaeoeconomic Studies. 

1991-95:  Institute of Prehistory and Early History, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic - Undergraduate students - lectures/practical classes. Subject: Environmental Archaeology, Zooarchaeology. 

1991-95:  Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic - Academic staff - practical training. Subject: Environmental Archaeology, Zooarchaeology. 

1996-99 (more than 200 hours): Departments of Archaeology and Biology, University of York, UK.

Undergraduate students - lectures/practical classes/fieldwork trips. Subject: Archaeology of the UAE,  Computing Skills (Databases, Spreadsheets, Web skills), Environmental Archaeology and Zooarchaeology. 

Postgraduate MSc. students - lectures/practical classes/fieldwork trips. Subject: Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates, Environmental Archaeology methods and theories,  Invertebrate remains in Archaeology and Zooarchaeology (mammals, birds and fishes). 

2000:  Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, UK - 2nd year Undergraduate students - Two day intensive course on animal bones/zooarchaeology.

2001:  Department of Art and Archaeology, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London - half day course on field archaeology and zooarchaeology.

2002-3: Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - series of lectures on archaeology of the UAE. Fieldtrip organised to ADIAS excavation.2003: Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - lecture on archaeology of the UAE.

2004-2007: Lectures on archaeology of the UAE to a number of organisations, including:

• Emirates Natural History Group (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai), United Arab Emirates.
• Historical Association of Oman, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
• Qatar Natural History Group, Doha, Qatar.
• Zayed Centre for Heritage and History, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
• Department of Antiquity and Museums, Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Kuwait.

2007 Zayed University, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai campus, United Arab Emirates series of lectures on the archaeology and heritage of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

2008 Lectures on archaeology of the UAE to a number of organisations, including:

• Urban Planning Council - Al Ain Charrette.
• Canvas Magazine - Introduction to Islamic Art (Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi).
• Emirates Natural History Group.

2009 - Lectures on archaeology of the UAE to a number of organisations, including:

• Zayed University, Abu Dhabi campus, United Arab Emirates - series of four lectures on the archaeology and heritage of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
• UAE Architectural Heritage Society, Dubai.
• Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC)
• Training seminar to TDIC Tour Guides on Sir Bani Yas.
• Zayed Centre for Heritage and History, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.