Research Profile

Eoin Parkinson

Biography

I am a lecturer in Biological Anthropology at the Department of Archaeology at University College Cork and Programme Co-ordinator of the BA Anthropology degree (https://www.ucc.ie/en/ck123/). My teaching and research explore prehistoric lifestyles, human adaptation and evolution, and prehistoric archaeology more broadly (with a focus on the Mediterranean).

Previously I was a Lecturer in Prehistoric Archaeology at Queen’s University Belfast (2022-24). Prior to lecturing, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Malta (2020-22, funded by the Leverhulme Trust) and the CRASSH-BSR Postdoctoral Fellow (2019-2020, funded by the Isaac Newton Trust), a position I held jointly between the British School at Rome and University of Cambridge, and during which I was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and St. John’s College, Cambridge. Parallel to my graduate studies I was a research assistant on the ERC-funded FRAGSUS project (2014-2019). Most recently I was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

I received my PhD in Archaeology from the University of Cambridge (2015-19), a MSc in Human Osteology & Funerary Archaeology from the University of Sheffield (2013-14) and a BA in Archaeology from Queen's University Belfast (2010-13), during which I was also an Erasmus exchange student at the University of Malta (2011-12).

Research Interests

Research Interests: Biological Anthropology, Prehistoric Archaeology (especially Neolithic, Copper Age & Bronze Age), Mediterranean Prehistory.

My interests are focused on human bioarchaeology and recent human evolution across the transition to agriculture, with a specific focus on the Mediterranean region (Italy, Sardinia & Malta). I am also interested in human adaptation, and more broadly the interrelation between economic, social and environmental change.

I am also interested in prehistoric monument building societies in the Mediterranean (Malta and Sardinia) and funerary archaeology. Most recently I have co-directed excavations at the Nuraghe Genna Maiu, Siddi, south-central Sardinia, and have been part of international teams working in Malta, Italy, Sicily, Iraqi Kurdistan and Croatia.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2023)'Multiproxy bioarchaeological data reveals interplay between growth, diet and population dynamics across the transition to farming in the central Mediterranean'
Parkinson EW;Stoddart S;Sparacello V;Bertoldi F;Fonzo O;Malone C;Marini E;Martinet F;Moggi-Cecchi J;Pacciani E;Raiteri L;Stock JT; (2023) 'Multiproxy bioarchaeological data reveals interplay between growth, diet and population dynamics across the transition to farming in the central Mediterranean'. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2023)'Long-term trends in human body size track regional variation in subsistence transitions and growth acceleration linked to dairying'
Stock JT;Pomeroy E;Ruff CB;Brown M;Gasperetti MA;Li FJ;Maher L;Malone C;Mushrif-Tripathy V;Parkinson E;Rivera M;Siew YY;Stefanovic S;Stoddart S;Zarina G;Wells JCK; (2023) 'Long-term trends in human body size track regional variation in subsistence transitions and growth acceleration linked to dairying'. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, 120 (4) [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Ancient Maltese genomes and the genetic geography of Neolithic Europe'
Ariano B;Mattiangeli V;Breslin EM;Parkinson EW;McLaughlin TR;Thompson JE;Power RK;Stock JT;Mercieca-Spiteri B;Stoddart S;Malone C;Gopalakrishnan S;Cassidy LM;Bradley DG; (2022) 'Ancient Maltese genomes and the genetic geography of Neolithic Europe'. Current Biology, 32 (12) [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Lifeways at the acme of the south Italian Neolithic: new chronological and bio-archaeological data from Fonteviva, Apulia'
Parkinson, E. W. & McLaughlin, T. R. (2020) 'Lifeways at the acme of the south Italian Neolithic: new chronological and bio-archaeological data from Fonteviva, Apulia'. Journal Of Archaeological Science: Reports, 34 [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Placing and remembering the dead in late Neolithic Malta: bioarchaeological and spatial analysis of the Xagħra Circle Hypogeum, Gozo'
Thompson, J., Parkinson, E. W., McLaughlin, T.R., Barratt, R.P, Power, R.K., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., Stoddart, S. & Malone, C. (2020) 'Placing and remembering the dead in late Neolithic Malta: bioarchaeological and spatial analysis of the Xagħra Circle Hypogeum, Gozo'. World Archaeology, 52 (1):71-89 [DOI] [Details]

Edited Books

 YearPublication
(2022)Temple People: Bioarchaeology, resilience and culture in prehistoric Malta (Volume 3 of Fragility and Sustainability - Studies on Early Malta, the ERC-funded Project)
Stoddart, S., Power, R. K., Thompson, J. E., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., McLaughlin, T.R., Parkinson, E. W., Pace, A. & Malone, C (Ed.). (2022) Temple People: Bioarchaeology, resilience and culture in prehistoric Malta (Volume 3 of Fragility and Sustainability - Studies on Early Malta, the ERC-funded Project) Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [DOI] [Details]
(2020)Temple places: Excavating cultural sustainability in prehistoric Malta
Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (Ed.). (2020) Temple places: Excavating cultural sustainability in prehistoric Malta Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2022)'An isotopic study of palaeodiet at Xagħra and Xemxija'
McLaughlin, T. R., Power, R. K., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., Parkinson, E.W., Lightfoot, E., Thompson, J. E., Kneale, C. J., O’Connell, T., Reimer, P. J. & Malone, C (2022) 'An isotopic study of palaeodiet at Xagħra and Xemxija' In: Temple People: Bioarchaeology, Resilience and Culture in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 3 of the ERC-funded project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2022)'Physical activity and body size in Temple Period Malta: biomechanical analysis of commingled and fra'
Parkinson, E. W. & Stock, J. T (2022) 'Physical activity and body size in Temple Period Malta: biomechanical analysis of commingled and fra' In: Stoddart, S., Power, R. K., Thompson, J. E., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., McLaughlin, T.R., Parkinson, E. W., Pace, A. & Malone, C (eds). Temple People: Bioarchaeology, Resilience and Culture in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 3 of the ERC-funded project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2022)'New approaches to the bioarchaeology of complex multiple interments'
Mercieca-Spiteri, B., Stock, J., Thompson, J., Parkinson, E. W., Power, R. & O’Connell, T. (2022) 'New approaches to the bioarchaeology of complex multiple interments' In: Stoddart, S., Power, R. K., Thompson, J. E., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., McLaughlin, T.R., Parkinson, E. W., Pace, A. & Malone, C (eds). Temple People: Bioarchaeology, Resilience and Culture in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 3 of the ERC-funded project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2022)'Islands compared: the absolute and relative chronology of Neolithic Sicily and Malta'
Parkinson, E.W., McLaughlin, T.R., Stoddart, S. & Malone, C. (2022) 'Islands compared: the absolute and relative chronology of Neolithic Sicily and Malta' In: Militello, P., Nicoletti, F., & Panvini, R (eds). La Sicilia preistorica: dinamiche interne e relazioni esterne: atti del Convegno internazionale di studi (Catania-Siracusa 7-9 ottobre 2021). Palermo: Regione Siciliana. [Details]
(2022)'Changing perspectives on hypogeism in late Neolithic Malta'
Parkinson, EW. (2022) 'Changing perspectives on hypogeism in late Neolithic Malta' In: Negroni Catacchio, N., Metta, C., Gallo, V. & Aspesi, M (eds). Ipogei. La vita, la morte, i culti nei mondi sotterranei (Preistoria e Protostoria in Etruria: Atti del XV Incontro di Studi Volume 1). Milan: Centro Studi di Preistoria e Archeologia. [Details]
(2022)'Time, structure and stratigraphy'
Parkinson, E. W., McLaughlin, T. R., Power, R. K., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., Stoddart, S. & Malone, S. (2022) 'Time, structure and stratigraphy' In: Stoddart, S., Power, R. K., Thompson, J. E., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., McLaughlin, T.R., Parkinson, E. W., Pace, A. & Malone, C (eds). Temple People: Bioarchaeology, Resilience and Culture in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 3 of the ERC-funded project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2021)'Santa Verna 1911-2015: re-examining pioneering stratigraphic excavation methods in Malta'
McLaughlin, T.R., Parkinson, E.W., Brogan, C. Stoddart, S. & Malone, C. (2021) 'Santa Verna 1911-2015: re-examining pioneering stratigraphic excavation methods in Malta' In: de Beuane, S., Guidi, A. & Tarantini, M (eds). UISPP Proceedings Vol. 16 – New Advances in the History of Archaeology. Oxford: Archaeopress. [Details]
(2021)'Santa Verna 1911-2015: re-examining pioneering stratigraphic excavation methods in Malta'
McLaughlin, T.R., Parkinson, E.W., Brogan, C. Stoddart, S. & Malone, C. (2021) 'Santa Verna 1911-2015: re-examining pioneering stratigraphic excavation methods in Malta' In: de Beuane, S., Guidi, A. & Tarantini, M (eds). UISPP Proceedings Vol. 16 – New Advances in the History of Archaeology. Oxford: Archaeopress. [Details]
(2020)'Conclusions'
Malone, C., Brogan, C., Grima, R., Parkinson, E. W., McLaughlin, T. R., Vella, N., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (2020) 'Conclusions' In: Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (eds). Temple Places: Excavating Cultural Sustainability in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 2 of the ERC-funded FRAGSUS Project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2020)'In-Nuffara'
Brogan, C., Armstrong, S., Bonanno, A., French, C., McLaughlin, T.R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Malone, C. (2020) 'In-Nuffara' In: Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (eds). Temple Places: Excavating Cultural Sustainability in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 2 of the ERC-funded FRAGSUS Project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2020)'Skorba'
Brogan, C., Parkinson, E. W., McLaughlin, T.R., French, C. & Malone, C. (2020) 'Skorba' In: Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (eds). Temple Places: Excavating Cultural Sustainability in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 2 of the ERC-funded FRAGSUS Project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2020)'Kordin III'
McLaughlin, T. R., Brogan, C., Parkinson, E. W., Samut-Tagliaferro, E., Stoddart, S., Vella, N. & Malone, C. (2020) 'Kordin III' In: Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (eds). Temple Places: Excavating Cultural Sustainability in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 2 of the ERC-funded FRAGSUS Project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2020)'Ġgantija’'
Brogan, C., French, C., Taylor, S., Bennett, J., Parkinson, E. W., McLaughlin, T.R., Stoddart, S. & Malone, C. (2020) 'Ġgantija’' In: Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (eds). Temple Places: Excavating Cultural Sustainability in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 2 of the ERC-funded FRAGSUS Project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2020)'Santa Verna'
McLaughlin, T.R., French, C., Parkinson, E. W., Boyle, S., Bennett, J., Stoddart, S., & Malone, C., (2020) 'Santa Verna' In: Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (eds). Temple Places: Excavating Cultural Sustainability in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 2 of the ERC-funded FRAGSUS Project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2020)'Dating Maltese prehistory'
McLaughlin, T. R., Parkinson, E. W., Reimer, P. & Malone, C. (2020) 'Dating Maltese prehistory' In: Malone, C., Grima, R., McLaughlin, R., Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S. & Vella, N (eds). Temple Places: Excavating Cultural Sustainability in Prehistoric Malta (Volume 2 of the ERC-funded FRAGSUS Project). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. [Details]
(2020)'Hypogea and the clubhouse: Neolithic Malta's houses of the living and houses of the dead'
Barratt, R. P., Malone, C., McLaughlin, T. R., & Parkinson, E. W. (2020) 'Hypogea and the clubhouse: Neolithic Malta's houses of the living and houses of the dead' In: Houses of the Dead? Oxford: Oxbow (Neolithic Studies Group Seminar Papers). Oxford: Oxbow. [Details]
(2018)'The social implications of death in prehistoric Malta'
Malone, C., McLaughlin, T. R., Mercieca-Spiteri, B., Parkinson, E. W., Power, R., Stock, J., Stoddart, S. & Thompson, J. (2018) 'The social implications of death in prehistoric Malta' In: Schmitt, A., Déderix, S., Driessen, J. & Crevecoeur, I (eds). Gathered in Death: Archaeological and Ethnological Perspectives on Collective Burial and Social Organisation. Louvain-la-Neuve: Presses Universitaires de Louvain. [Details]

Articles

 YearPublication
(2021)Radiocarbon dated trends and central Mediterranean prehistory.
Parkinson, E. W., McLaughlin, T.R., Esposito, C., Stoddart, S. & Malone, C. (2021) Radiocarbon dated trends and central Mediterranean prehistory. Articles [Details]

Newsletter

 YearPublication
(2024)Remember Project fieldwork, The Antiquary: Unexpected Discoveries (Annual Review of the Society of Antiquaries of London).
Parkinson, E. W., Gustafson, J. & Marras, G (2024) Remember Project fieldwork, The Antiquary: Unexpected Discoveries (Annual Review of the Society of Antiquaries of London). London: Newsletter [Details]
(2023)Preliminary Geoarchaeological Survey on a Bronze-Iron Age Landscape in South-Central Sardinia (PAST: Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society).
Marras, G. Gustafson, J. & Parkinson, E. W. (2023) Preliminary Geoarchaeological Survey on a Bronze-Iron Age Landscape in South-Central Sardinia (PAST: Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society). Newsletter [Details]
(2018)Mobility in Copper Age northern Italy: biomechanical analysis of the femora and tibiae from the Copper Age necropolis of Forlì-Celletta (PAST: Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society).
Parkinson, E. W., Stoddart, S., Stock, J., Miari, M., Bertoldi, F. & Bestetti, F. (2018) Mobility in Copper Age northern Italy: biomechanical analysis of the femora and tibiae from the Copper Age necropolis of Forlì-Celletta (PAST: Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society). Newsletter [Details]

Professional Activities

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2022Fellow (Elected) Society of Antiquaries of London

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
European Association of Archaeologists Member01-JAN-17 /
Malta Archaeological Society Member01-JAN-22 /
The Prehistoric Societ Member01-JAN-16 /
British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology Member01-JAN-13 /
British School at Rome Member01-SEP-19 / 01-SEP-21
American Association of Physical Anthropologists Member01-JAN-15 / 31-DEC-18

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Biological Anthropology, Human Bioarchaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology

Contact details

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Department of Archaeology

Seandálaíocht

Connolly Building, Dyke Parade, University College Cork, Cork City, T12 CY82, Ireland

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