University of Glasgow, Scotland
Professor Nicki Whitehouse is an archaeological scientist specialising in environmental archaeology and palaeoecology (Quaternary entomology). Her research explores the relationship between past human societies and their environments, by analysing Holocene landscapes and ecosystem based on palaeoenvironmental evidence, including insects, pollen, and other biological and geochemical proxies, combined with archaeological, climate, and radiocarbon data.
Prof. Whitehouse works at both the site and landscape scale, using field and laboratory techniques alongside large data syntheses to understand long-term changes in land use and ecosystems. Her research highlights how human activities, such as early farming, have shaped historical and modern environments. Wetland archaeology and environmental reconstruction are long-standing interests, with key areas for her work extending from northern temperate regions to the Mediterranean.
Recently, Prof. Whitehouse has focused on early agricultural systems – investigating where and how early crops were grown, livestock managed, and the effects on landscapes and biodiversity. She is interested in the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods but also works on later prehistoric and historic times.
Her work has been supported by organisations including NERC, AHRC, ERC, HLF, the Heritage Council, the British Academy, and the Royal Society.
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