Researcher Profiles

My research is concerned with investigating the organization and dynamics of prehistoric European societies with a particular focus on Ireland. I am primarily focused on the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Age periods. My research takes an anthropological approach to the data and I am particularly concerned with the inter-relatedness of aspects such as the scale of residential groups and patterns of settlement, the economic activities of communities, contact and exchange networks and mechanisms, the scale and focus of ritual activities, and the nature of status distinctions. My research has also branched into new trajectories with collaborations with palaeoenvironmental, isotope, and ancient DNA specialists.

1. Teaching Philosophy

Archaeology occupies a unique position, straddling the humanities and the sciences and allowing us to gaze back into the deep history of ourselves and our societies. These aspects, combined with a fascinatingly diverse and ever-expanding data set make archaeology an ideal vehicle to engage students in order to teach interpretive, analytical, and communication skills that will allow them to lead more thoughtful, and therefore more satisfying and useful, lives whatever path they choose. Currently, as there is a high demand in the heritage industry for archaeology graduates, I am also ensuring that Galway graduates are are well prepared to enter this field immediately after graduation. 

As a teacher my first and foremost goal has always been to provide students with the skills to think and reason for themselves. I am a firm believer in teaching archaeology at the undergraduate level as a Liberal Arts subject. Whether students pursue a career in archaeology or in another field, I want them to be able to analyze arguments, think critically, and express informed opinions clearly. I strive to make my students understand the differences between the data, the analytical methods, and the different theoretical frameworks that are used to interpret the data. My goal is to provide all my undergraduates with valuable and flexible intellectual skills that will enable them to lead fulfilling lives, become good citizens, and adapt to changing social and economic conditions.

With my post-graduate students, I continue to promote the honing of the skills first encountered as undergraduates but I add to that several new aspects:

• An emphasis on mastering the particularities of the archaeological data.
• A clear understanding of the structural components of an argument. ·       
• A focus on writing clear and logical prose. ·       
• Experience of giving and taking constructive criticism in a peer review setting. ·       
• Experience of communicating orally in a variety of contexts including undergraduate teaching, department seminars, and international conferences. ·       
• An emphasis on publication.

2. Summary of Teaching Experience and Responsibilities

I have taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd year courses, diplomas, summer school, and MAs. I have supervised MAs, MLitts, and PhDs. I have used lectures, small group discussion and workshop teaching, practical demonstrations in the field and in the classroom, directed research, and field classes tied to lecture/discussion topics.