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Naomi Sykes

Lecturer in Zooarchaeology, Faculty of Arts

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Biography

Career

Since Sept 06: Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham

Sept 05 - June 06: Lecturer in Bioarchaeology, University of Cardiff

Sept 02 - June 05: Research Fellow, University of Southampton

Other positions

since 2011: Co-editor (zooarchaeology) International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

since 2011: Member British Deer Society Research Board

since 2008: FSA

2007-11: Committee Member, Association for Environmental Archaeology

2005-08: Council Member, Society of Medieval Archaeology

2005: Co-founder of Professional Zooarchaeology Group

Expertise Summary

Zooarchaeology (the study of human-animal relationships in archaeology), ancient animal biogeography and natural/cultural history, in particular animal introductions and extinctions.

Teaching Summary

It is my belief that a university education should be about more than gaining knowledge simply to regurgitate it in essays and exams - it should be about gaining real life experience that will equip… read more

Research Summary

My research focuses on human-animal-landscape relationships and how they inform on the structure, ideology and practice of past societies. My approach is to integrate animal bone data with other… read more

Recent Publications

It is my belief that a university education should be about more than gaining knowledge simply to regurgitate it in essays and exams - it should be about gaining real life experience that will equip individuals with the skills to become successful and socially responsible members of society.

Wherever possible I use my teaching to involve student directly in my research and give them the opportunity to undertake bespoke assessments designed to support their individual interests and ambitions. I teach the following undergraduate modules:

V61101: Environmental Archaeology - this first year undergraduate module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the theory and practice of reconstructing past environments. A central premise of the module is that by looking to the past, we can better understand and mitigate against the challenges that face us in the future. As part of this module all students undertake practical laboratory work on archaeological assemblages.

V62350: Bioarchaeology - building upon the knowledge gained in V61101, our second year undergraduate students are given the opportunity to increase their skills in the analysis and interpretation of archaeological plant and animal remains. Considerable laboratory work is undertaken as part of this module and during this time the students build their own support/research network.

V63354: Beastly Questions - in this third year module my students and I have, over the past few years, been working together to write a book that examines how the study of human-animal relationships can provide vital new insights into the human societies, both past and present. It is highly interdisciplinary and the student are give support to extend their knowledge by examining under-researched issues that they find personally interesting.

The three modules above are highly complementary and, each week, the laboratory is made available at set times so that the different year groups can meet and discuss their work. Every year, we bring in several outside speakers to talk to the students and offer advice about research ideas and opportunities.

V62204: Portfolio 2 - all of our single hons archaeology students are required to take this module, which has recently been redesigned with support from the Centre for Integrative Learning. There are two key aims for this module 1) that students increase their knowledge of archaeology, particularly areas that interests them, and 2) that students use their three assignments to communicate their new knowledge to three different learner groups: professional archaeologists, museum visitors and a group of their choice. This module has seen our students undertake some exceptional projects - from the creation of iphone apps to training session for the police - that have opening up career opportunities for our students.

Current Research

My research focuses on human-animal-landscape relationships and how they inform on the structure, ideology and practice of past societies. My approach is to integrate animal bone data with other categories of material culture, and with wider archaeological, historical, scientific and anthropological discussions. As such, my research has wide geographical and temporal applicability. Current major themes include:

Currently involved in the following field projects:

Past Research

Zooarchaeology of medieval England and the Norman Conquest

Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna

The Samian Projects

The Archaeological Fish Resource

  • SYKES, N.J., CARDEN, R.F. and HARRIS, K., 2011. Changes in the size and shape of fallow deer—evidence for the movement and management of a species International Journal of Osteoarchaeolgy.
  • SYKES, N.J., 2011. Woods and the wild. In: HAMEROW, H., HINTON, D.A. and CRAWFORD, S., eds., Handbook of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology Oxford University Press. 327-345
  • SYKES, N.J., BAKER, K.H., CARDEN, R.F., HIGHAM, T.F.G., HOELZEL, A.R. and STEVENS, R.E., 2011. New evidence for the establishment and management of the European fallow deer (Dama dama dama) in Roman Britain Journal of Archaeological Science. 38(1), 156-165
  • SYKES, N.J., 2010. Deer, land, knives and halls: social change in early medieval England Antiquaries Journal. 90, 175-193
  • SYKES, N.J, 2010. Worldviews in transition: the impact of exotic plants and animals on Iron Age/Romano-British landscapes Landscapes. 10(2), 19-36
  • SYKES, N.J., 2010. Fallow Deer. In: O'CONNOR, T and SYKES N.J., eds., Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna Oxford: Windgather. 51-58 (In Press.)
  • O'CONNOR, T. AND SYKES, N.J., ed., 2010. Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna Oxford: Windgather. (In Press.)
  • SYKES, N.J AND CURL, J., 2010. The Rabbit. In: O'CONNOR, T and SYKES, N.J, eds., Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna Oxford: Windgather. 116-126 (In Press.)
  • SYKES, N.J., 2009. Animals, the bones of medieval society. In: GILCHRIST, R. and REYNOLDS, A., eds., Reflections: 50 years of Medieval Archaeology 1957-2007 Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph 30. Maney. 347-361
  • SYKES, N., 2007. The Norman Conquest: A Zooarchaeological Perspective Oxford: Archaeopress.
  • SYKES, N. and SYMMONS, R., 2007. Sexing cattle horn-cores: problems and progress International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. 17, 514-523
  • SYKES, N. J., 2007. Animal bones and animal parks. In: LIDDIARD, R., ed., The Medieval Deer Park: new perspectives Macclesfield: Windgather Press. 49-62
  • SYKES, N. J., 2007. Taking sides: the social life of venison in medieval England In: Breaking and Shaping Beastly Bodies: Animals as Material Culture in the Middle Ages. (In Press.)
  • SYKES, N., WHITE, J., HAYES, T. and PALMER, M., 2006. Tracking animals using strontium isotopes in teeth: the role of fallow deer (<i>Dama dama</i>) in Roman Britain Antiquity. 80(310), 948-959
  • SYKES, N., 2006. From <em>cu</em> and <em>sceap</em> to <em>beffe</em> and <em>motton</em>: the management, distribution and consumption of cattle and sheep AD 410-1550. In: WOOLGAR, C and SERJEANTSON, D. AND WALDRON, T., eds., Food in Medieval England: Diet and Nutrition Oxford, Oxford University Press.. 56-71
  • SYKES, N. J., 2006. The impact of the Normans on hunting practices in England. In: WOOLGAR, C and SERJEANTSON, D. AND WALDRON, T., eds., Food in Medieval England: Diet and Nutrition Oxford University Press. 162-175
  • SYKES, N., 2005. The dynamics of status symbols: wildfowl exploitation in England AD 410-1550 Archaeological Journal. 161, 82-105
  • SYKES, N., 2005. The zooarchaeology of the Norman Conquest Anglo-Norman Studies. 27, 185-97
  • SYKES, N., 2005. Hunting for the Normans: zooarchaeology evidence for medieval identity. In: PLUSKOWSKI, A., ed., Just skin and bones? : new perspectives on human-animal relations in the historical past Oxford: Archaeopress. 71-78
  • SYKES, N., 2004. The introduction of fallow deer to Britain: a zooarchaeological perspective Environmental Archaeology. 9(1), 75-83

Department of Archaeology

University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

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