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Dr W J Eastwood
Prof I J Fairchild
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
Background
Multi-proxy approaches to integrated regional studies of environmental variability during the late Glacial and
Holocene can provide valuable insights into the ways that significant shifts in climate have affected natural
ecosystems, landscapes and human activities over decadal, centennial and millennial timescales. For the eastern Mediterranean region in particular, there is current and active debate between past climatic variations and
vegetation dynamics during the humid phase of the early Holocene as well as the impacts that punctuated aridification events during the Holocene had on cultural change in this region. The eastern Mediterranean also has a long history of human occupation, so these landscapes have also been transformed by human-induced land cover changes. The extent to which climate change in Anatolia has caused natural environment change over these millennia, and how these changes have
influenced and interacted with the emergence – and in some cases decline – of complex societies and
civilizations (e.g., Hittites) and the extent to which complex societies and civilisations impacted upon the
natural environment are questions that still need to be addressed by archaeologists, palaeoecologists and
palaeoclimatologists. Addressing research questions such as these requires a multi-proxy approach where
continuous and well-dated proxy records of climate and vegetation change from the same core sequence
can be compared with systematic archaeological and historical records of human settlement. The Cappadocia region of Anatolia is well suited to this task. It contains an exceptionally rich and well-studied archaeological record, and also possesses crater lakes, which contain an important suite of deposited sediments which preserve an archive of climate variations, vegetation and land use, and soil erosion.
To find out more about studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham, including full details of the research undertaken in each school, the funding opportunities for each subject, and guidance on making your application, you can now order your copy of the new Doctoral Research Prospectus, at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/drp.aspx
Multi-proxy approaches to integrated regional studies of environmental variability during the late Glacial and
Holocene can provide valuable insights into the ways that significant shifts in climate have affected natural
ecosystems, landscapes and human activities over decadal, centennial and millennial timescales. For the eastern Mediterranean region in particular, there is current and active debate between past climatic variations and
vegetation dynamics during the humid phase of the early Holocene as well as the impacts that punctuated aridification events during the Holocene had on cultural change in this region. The eastern Mediterranean also has a long history of human occupation, so these landscapes have also been transformed by human-induced land cover changes. The extent to which climate change in Anatolia has caused natural environment change over these millennia, and how these changes have
influenced and interacted with the emergence – and in some cases decline – of complex societies and
civilizations (e.g., Hittites) and the extent to which complex societies and civilisations impacted upon the
natural environment are questions that still need to be addressed by archaeologists, palaeoecologists and
palaeoclimatologists. Addressing research questions such as these requires a multi-proxy approach where
continuous and well-dated proxy records of climate and vegetation change from the same core sequence
can be compared with systematic archaeological and historical records of human settlement. The Cappadocia region of Anatolia is well suited to this task. It contains an exceptionally rich and well-studied archaeological record, and also possesses crater lakes, which contain an important suite of deposited sediments which preserve an archive of climate variations, vegetation and land use, and soil erosion.
To find out more about studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham, including full details of the research undertaken in each school, the funding opportunities for each subject, and guidance on making your application, you can now order your copy of the new Doctoral Research Prospectus, at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/drp.aspx
Funding Notes
Applicants should apply via http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/gees/courses/postgraduate/phd-projects.aspx
where they should click on ‘Apply now’ and choose the option ‘PhD in Department of Earth Sciences’ and give the PhD title in the ‘Funding details’ section of the online application.
where they should click on ‘Apply now’ and choose the option ‘PhD in Department of Earth Sciences’ and give the PhD title in the ‘Funding details’ section of the online application.
References
England, A., Eastwood, W.J., Roberts, C.N., Turner, R. and Haldon, J.F. (2008) Historical landscape change in Cappadocia
(central Turkey): a palaeoecological investigation of annually-laminated sediments from Nar lake. The Holocene, 18, 1229-45.
Eastwood, W.J., Gümüsçü, O., Yigitbasıoglu, H., Haldon, J.F. and England, A. (2009) Integrating palaeoecological and archaeohistorical
records: Land use and landscape change in Cappadocia (central Turkey) since late Antiquity. In: Vorderstrasse, T.
and Roodenberg, J. (eds.) Archaeology of the Countryside in Medieval Anatolia. PIHANS 113, NINO, Leiden. pp. 45-69.
Turner, R., Roberts, N., Eastwood, W.J., Jenkins, E. and Rosen, A. (2009) Fire, climate and the origins of agriculture: microcharcoal
records of biomass burning during the last glacial-interglacial transition in Southwest Asia. Journal of Quaternary Science, 24, 10-16.
(central Turkey): a palaeoecological investigation of annually-laminated sediments from Nar lake. The Holocene, 18, 1229-45.
Eastwood, W.J., Gümüsçü, O., Yigitbasıoglu, H., Haldon, J.F. and England, A. (2009) Integrating palaeoecological and archaeohistorical
records: Land use and landscape change in Cappadocia (central Turkey) since late Antiquity. In: Vorderstrasse, T.
and Roodenberg, J. (eds.) Archaeology of the Countryside in Medieval Anatolia. PIHANS 113, NINO, Leiden. pp. 45-69.
Turner, R., Roberts, N., Eastwood, W.J., Jenkins, E. and Rosen, A. (2009) Fire, climate and the origins of agriculture: microcharcoal
records of biomass burning during the last glacial-interglacial transition in Southwest Asia. Journal of Quaternary Science, 24, 10-16.
Open Days
Project supervisors
Dr W J Eastwood's profile is coming soon
View other supervisors at University of BirminghamCareer overview
Professor Ian Fairchild is an Emeritus Professor at the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. He holds a BSc and a PhD from the University of Nottingham. As a geoscientist, Professor Fairchild has broad interests in the geochemistry of the Earth’s surface, climate change, and Quaternary and Neoproterozoic earth history. His research encompasses a wide range of topics, including speleothems and climate change, the development of palaeoclimate proxies, and the understanding of karst processes and their hydrology. He has significant experience in glacial environments, caves, and rock successions, and has worked at both national and international geochemical research facilities. Professor Fairchild is actively involved in public outreach, geoconservation in the West Midlands, and various professional activities such as examining and research assessment. He has served as Chair of the NERC Isotope Geoscience Facilities Steering Committee and is a trustee of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust. He is also a member of the Anthropocene Working Group and a voting member of the Cryogenian sub-commission of the International Commission on Stratigraphy.
Research interests
Professor Fairchild''s research interests encompass the geochemistry of the Earth’s surface, climate change, and the Quaternary and Neoproterozoic earth history. He focuses on speleothems and climate change, particularly the development of palaeoclimate proxies and the understanding of karst processes, including their hydrology. His work also involves the study of glaciation and carbonates in deep time, specifically during the Cryogenian period, and aqueous geochemistry related to weathering reactions and hydrology in glacial and riverine environments, including locations such as Iceland and the Himalayas. Additionally, he conducts experimental studies of mineral-water interactions. Professor Fairchild actively engages in research and public outreach, including geoconservation efforts in the West Midlands.
Geochemistry
Earth''s Surface
Climate Change
Quaternary Earth History
Neoproterozoic Earth History
Speleothems
Palaeoclimate Proxies
Karst Processes
Hydrology
Glaciation
Carbonates
Aqueous Geochemistry
Weathering Reactions
Mineral-Water Interactions
Glacial Environments
Riverine Environments
Public Outreach
Geoconservation
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