Esther Fagelson
Areas of interest
- British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic archaeology
- Non-flint lithic technologies
- Experimental archaeology
- Hominin behaviour
- Citizen science and public engagement
Research projects
The Earliest Occupation of the Midlands: Missing Humans, or Missing the Artefacts?
My project seeks to understand the earliest occupation of the British Midlands through a comprehensive assessment of the Waite’s Collection, loaned by the Birmingham Museums’ Trust. The Collection comprises ~1000 predominantly quartzite artefacts collected across Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, and Northamptonshire.
Through this project I aim to improve our understanding of early non-flint tools, enhance Early Palaeolithic archaeological records of the Midlands, and increase the capacity for future discoveries of non-flint artefacts in the region. My primary approaches are typo-technological and taphonomic assessment of the collection alongside experimental rolling of find-spot raw materials to create a reference collection of quartzite artefacts.
My project will provide new evidence-based understanding of the earliest human occupation of the Midlands and new guidelines for best practices in collecting, recording, reporting, and archiving of non-flint lithic materials.
My research is funded by an AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award.
Supervisors:
Professor Rob Hosfield (University of Reading)
Dr Karen Ruebens (University of Reading)
Background
I hold a BSc in Archaeology and an MSc (with Distinction) in Early Prehistory from the University of York (UK). My MSc thesis developed a novel chaîne opératoire based approach to interpret nuanced mental time travel, forethought and planning levels in two distinct Palaeolithic case sites. I presented this research at the Unravelling Human Origins (2019) and TAG (2017) conferences.
I previously worked as Assistant Curator at Newington Green Meeting House, Lithic Research Intern at the British Museum, and Experimental Research Assistant within the University of York Archaeology Department. My fieldwork has included excavation and finds processing for the Breckland Palaeolithic Project (2018) and the human osteology summer school for the Appoline Project (2014). My public outreach has included leading workshops and guided walks for local heritage and wildlife enthusiasts within Hackney, and volunteering as a collections’ explainer for SEN school groups at the Yorkshire Museum.
Since 2018 I have been working in academic publishing, specialising in open access policy, peer review management, and humanities commissioning. I am continuing this work alongside my part-time PhD.