Research

Research Groups

• (Bioarchaeology)
• Landscape and Society

Research projects

• ongoing Star Carr and the Vale of Pickering. British Academy, McDonald Institute, Vale of Pickering Research Trust (Project link)
• 2002-2005, Coastal Shell Middens and Agricultural Origins in Atlantic Europe. AHRB (Project link)
• 2002-2007, Shellfish analysis for the Scotlands First Settlers Project. University of Newcastle upon Tyne (more information)
• 2001 - 2005, Inch Island Prehistoric Landscapes Project. DUCHAS
• 2000 - 2005, Howick Archaeological Project. Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle University Fieldwork and Excavation Committee, Northumberland County Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage (more information)

Research Interests

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. Her standing in this area is reflected in her role as editor of Mesolithic Miscellany, and as convenor/editor of an international symposium on shell middens . Nicky has also completed and published (with C. Waddington and EH and HLF funding) the excavation of one of the earliest Mesolithic coastal sites (and structures) in Britain, at Howick in Northumberland.  

Nicky has also built upon her long standing involvement with the area to develop a new collaborative project on the early Mesolithic landscape in the Vale of Pickering. As part of this, she has been focussing in detail on Star Carr, using open area excavation to establish the character, temporality and history of human activity across this famous but poorly understood area. This will continue over the coming years, as will broader palaeodietary research on the Mesolithic. She plans to develop a new research programme, focussed specifically on the evidence for death and burial in Mesolithic Europe.

She teaches Prehistory and directs a new MA in Mesolithic Studies

Teaching

• MA in Mesolithic Studies

References

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

2009

• Milner, N. (2009) Mesolithic consumption practices: food for thought, Journal of Nordic Archaeological Science 16, 49-63
• Last, J., Milner, N., Taylor, B. and Conneller, C. (2009) English Heritage Seminar on Star Carr. Mesolithic Miscellany 19.2, 25-28
• 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
• 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
• 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

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. (full publication)
• 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. (abstract)
• 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. (full publication)
• 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.