Dr Nicki Whitehouse

Research interests

I have a broad interest in human-environment relationships with a particular focus at the interface between the physical sciences and humanities. 

My primary expertiselies in the analysis of sub-fossil insects (beetles) although I work with a range of proxy data and scientific techniques to further our understanding of the inter-relationships between archaeology, environmental and climatic change, changing biodiversity as a consequence of climate change and human impact, the development of the cultural landscape and in particular the transition to agriculture.

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Grants & contracts

Funded Research Projects:

AHRC Celtic Connections and Crannogs: A new Study of Lake Settlements Across the Irish Sea

3 year AHRC funded project (2015-2018) which I am Co-I on explores the role of crannogs,island dwellings that weretypically located in lakes and mires and have a distribution centred around theNorthern Irish Sea (‘Celtic’ distribution across the north of Ireland andScotland). Many were constructed during the Iron Age, ca. 2500 years ago and usedup until the Medieval Period. The project is concerned with understanding therole of crannogs in societies – were they long-lived, restricted to a short periodof use, permanent (year-round) settlements, seasonally occupied or ‘boltholes’?Were they functional and/or ritual sites or did they have a defensive/protectivefunction for the elite? Questions around the role of crannogs in the spread ofChristianity through the Celtic world, isolated from Roman Britain are also ofconcern. 

‘Reconstructing the ‘Wildscape’;Thorne and Hatfield Moors Hidden Landscapes (Wildscape HHLP) 

5 yearproject (October 2016 –Sept 2021) HLF funded project (£130,000). PI: N.Whitehouse, Co-I’s: B.G. Gearey, H. Chapman. The project is concerned with revealing the pasthidden ‘wildscape’ landscape (archaeological, palaeoecological) in theHumberhead Levels. Building upon existing scientific knowledge and newcommunity projects, the work is intended to provide an improved sense of‘place’ and understanding of archaeological narratives to local communities aswell as long-term ecological insights into land management of wetland areasundergoing restoration and to create policybriefings that take into consideration the long durée character of culturallandscapes. The work builds uponalmost 2 decades of mine and collaborators previous research in this region.

Fragility and sustainability inrestricted island environments: adaptation, cultural change and collapse inprehistory (FRAGSUS): This5 year (2013-2018) €2.5m ERC funded project is a collaborativeproject with QUB (PI), the University of Cambridge, University of Malta andUniversity of Plymouth (Co-I), involving 19 academics and 12 researchers. Theproject explores the rise and fall of civilisations within an island context (Malta)and focuses on the particular conditions and circumstances that make societieschange, adapt and become sustainable. Understandingbetter those mechanisms of resilience may resonate with issues in our modernworld, as well as the world of prehistory. 

CultivatingSocieties: Assessing the Evidence for Agriculture in Neolithic Ireland (funded viaINSTAR research programme 2008 – 2010, £210,000, Heritage Council, Republic ofIreland – Whitehouse, PI). The project has provided internationally importantdata for understanding the context of the Neolithic and transition to agricultureacross Europe and offers opportunities to expand this approach across to otherareas of the British Isles and into Continental Europe.