Prof Kevin Edwards

Biography

•   MA Geographical Studies (First Class), University of St Andrews, 1972
•   PhD Palaeoenvironments/Archaeology, University of Aberdeen, 1978
•   DSc Quaternary, Archaeological and Geographical Science, University of St Andrews, 2024
•   Aberdeen University, Geography: Tutorial Fellow, 1972-75
•   Queen’s University Belfast, Geography & Palaeoecology Centre: Lecturer, 1975-80
•   University of Birmingham, Geography: Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, 1980-94
•   University of Sheffield, Archaeology: Professor, Head of Department, 1994-2000
•   University of Aberdeen, Geography (and Archaeology): Professor, 2000-18
•   Visiting positions at Universities of Minnesota, Copenhagen, Cambridge, Oxford
•   Adjunct Chair, Anthropology, Graduate Center of the City University New York
•   RAE/REF Geography, Environmental Studies (and Archaeology): 2008, 2014
•   Rhind Lecturer, Edinburgh, 2012
•   Editorial roles including Journal of Archaeological Science, Environmental Archaeology, Journal of the North Atlantic, Palynology
•   Founded Department of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen
•   > 300 papers; research income as PI or Co-PI > £3.5M
•   Distinctions: FRSE, MAE, FSA, FRSGS, Research Medallist Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Honorary Life Member Quaternary Research Association

Research

I am a Quaternary scientist and environmental archaeologist with a specialism in palynology (pollen analysis) and strong interests in the history of science. For much of the last two decades I have been involved with human-environment interactions in the North Atlantic region (especially the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland along with Newfoundland and Shetland), and most recent research has been concerned with the impact of the Norse/Vikings in the pristine territories of the North Atlantic. This has been pursued using the techniques of palynology, sedimentology, tephrochronology and radiometric dating, but also extensive collaborations with geomorphologists, pedologists, palaeoentomologists, geochemists and archaeologists. Prior to this Norse focus, I spent many years researching environmental aspects of Mesolithic and Neolithic occupation in Scotland and the Scottish islands. Over the last decade, I have also been engaged in archival research concerning the history of palynology and the life of climate change pioneer and autodidact, James Croll.

Key Publications

Key publications

312 Journal articles and book chapters
14 Books/monographs/journal special issues
59 Other items (major reports, research notes, book reviews)
23 papers acknowledge the McDonald Institute since Senior Fellow status was granted in December 2019

Job Titles

Senior Fellow, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research

Emeritus Professor in Geography and Adjunct Professor in Archaeology, University of Aberdeen

General Info

Not available for consultancy

Research Expertise / Fields of study

Environmental Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, and Landscape studies

Archaeobotany

Contact Details

kevin.edwards[a]abdn.ac.uk

University of Aberdeen

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Affiliations

Person keywords

Palynology

Environmental archaeology

North Atlantic

Norse

Mesolithic

Subjects

Archaeology

Themes

Environment, Landscapes and Settlement

Geographical areas

Britain

Europe

Periods of interest

Medieval

Neolithic

Palaeolithic/Mesolithic

Biography

Research

Key Publications

Job Titles

General Info

Contact Details

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