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Professor Nick Branch


Email:

n.p.branch@reading.ac.uk

Telephone:

+44 (0) 118 378 6102

Job Title:

Professor in Palaeoecology

Responsibilities:

  • School Director for Recruitment and Admissions
  • Recruitment and Admissions Officer, Department of Geography and Environmental Science

Areas of Interest:

    • Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate and environmental change in Peru, Italy and the UK.
    • Climate resilience and food production in the Peruvian Andes: past, present and future.

Undergraduate, Masters, PhD and Post-doctoral Supervision:

Nicholas is keen to discuss proposals for research on Late Pleistocene and Holocene environmental change and human activities in Peru, Italy and the UK.

Research and Enterprise Placements:

Nicholas is keen to discuss proposals for work experience in Quaternary science, archaeological science and cultural adaption to climate change.

Current PhD Supervision:

  • : Testing the resilience of traditional agriculture in the Peruvian Andes to periods of climate change and human activity (Funded by the AHRC).
  • Sarah Thoma: Climate and environmental change in southern England during the last Millennium.
  • : Investigating human-environmental interactions in the Zagros region (southwest Asia) during the early to mid- Holocene period - a multi-proxy approach.
  • : Quantifying responses to abrupt climate change in the Andes, South America: Empirical data and model synergies (Funded by the NERC).
  • : Late Bronze Age and Iron Age hoards in Wales and Marches: An investigation into patterns of selective and reflective deposition.

Previous topics have included:

Archaeological and palaeoenvironmental application of geophysics and hydrogeochemistry to lowland wetlands in the UK, Ireland and France (Christine Bunting); Archaeology, geoarchaeology and palaeohydrology of the River Walbrook, London (Stephen Myers); Environmental history and archaeology of SE England during the Mesolithic (Michael Simmonds); Archaeology, palaeohydrology and palaeoclimatology of lowland wetlands in central Ireland (Phil Stastney); Tephrochronology of the western Mediterranean (Kathryn Turner); Archaeology, vegetation succession and palaeoclimatology of lowland wetlands in central Ireland (Daniel Young); Archaeobotany and early agriculture in the Middle East (Jade Whitlam); and The application of non-pollen palynomorphs to archaeological and geologzcal archives in NW Italy (Lionello Morandi).

Research groups / Centres:

Key Facts:

Nicholas Branch is a Professor in Quaternary Palaeoecology.

He has a BSc (Hons) in Archaeology, and MSc in Bioarchaeology (Archaeobotany), from University College London (Institute of Archaeology). Nicholas has a PhD in Geography from Royal Holloway (University of London), Centre of Quaternary Research, where he studied the 'Late Würm Lateglacial and Holocene vegetation history and human activities of the Northern Apennines, Italy'. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (London), and an associate of the Walker Institute for Climate Systems Research and Soil Research Centre.

He currently has several major research projects:

  • Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate and environmental change in the northern Apennines, Italy.
  • Holocene climate and environmental change in the Peruvian Andes.
  • Adaptive capacity of farming communities to climate change in the Peruvian Andes.
  • Climate resilience and food production in Peru (CROPP).
  • Climate change and resilience in the Chillón Valley (CHILLY), Peru.
  • The environmental history of SE England with a specific emphasis on the history of Taxus woodland.

Publications

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 other publications

2020

  • Guido, Maria Angela, Molinari, Chiara, Moneta, Valentina, Branch, Nicholas, Black, Stuart, Simmonds, Mike, Stastney, Philip and Montanari, Carlo (2020) . Quaternary Science Reviews, 231 (1). 106206. ISSN 0277-3791 doi:
  • Batchelor, C. R., Branch, N. P., Carew, T., Elias, S. E., Gale, R., Lafferty, G. E., Matthews, I. P., Meddens, F., Vaughan-Williams, A., Webster, L. A. and Young, D. S. (2020) The Holocene, 30 (2). pp. 300-314. ISSN 0959-6836 doi:

2019

  • Simmonds, Mike, Hosfield, Rob, Branch, Nicholas and Black, Stuart (2019) Surrey Archaeological Collections, 102. pp. 43-69. ISSN 0309-7803

2018

  • Stastney, Phil, Young, Daniel S. and Branch, Nicholas P. (2018) The Holocene, 28 (4). pp. 570-582. ISSN 0959-6836 doi:
  • Young, Daniel, Green, Christopher Paul, Branch, Nicholas, Elias, S., Bateson, C. and Batchelor, Rob (2018) In: Jacques, D., Phillips, T. and Lyons, T. (eds.) Blick Mead: Exploring the 'first place' in the Stonehenge Landscape. Studies in the British Mesolithic and Neolithic. Peter Lang, pp. 35-66. ISBN 9781787070967 doi:
  • Morandi, L. F. and Branch, Nicholas P. (2018) In: Pelisiak, A., Nowak, M. and AstaloÅŸ, C. (eds.) People and the Mountains. Archaeopress Publishing Ltd, pp. 47-60. ISBN 9781784918170

2017

  • Thoma, Sarah, Williams, Kev, Branch, Nicholas, Green, Christopher Paul, Batchelor, Rob, Simmonds, Mike and Young, Daniel (2017)  In: Poulton, R. (ed.) The moated medieval manor and Tudor royal residence at Woking Palace. Excavations between 2009 and 2015. SpoilHeap Publications. ISBN 9781912331031

2016

  • Riddiford, Naomi G., Branch, Nicholas P., Jusseret, Simon, Olivier, Laurent and Green, Christopher P. (2016) . Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 10. pp. 390-402. ISSN 2352-409X doi:
  • Smith, M. Clare, Singarayer, Joy S., Valdes, Paul J., Kaplan, Jed O. and Branch, Nicholas P. (2016)  Climate of the Past, 12 (4). pp. 923-941. ISSN 1814-9332 doi: 
  • Wilkinson, Keith N., Branch, Nicholas P., Llobera, Marcos, Marini, Nathalie A. F., Mazet, Sylvain and Weiss, Michel-Claude (2016)  In: Nash, G. and Townsend, A. (eds.) Decoding Neolithic Atlantic and Mediterranean island ritual. Oxbow Books, pp. 226-239. ISBN 9781785700507

2015

  • Branch, N. (2015)  In: Wright, J. D. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition. Elsevier, Oxford, pp. 692-698. ISBN 9780080970868
  • Jusseret, S., Olivier, L., Watteaux, M., Riddiford, N. G. and Branch, N. P (2015)  In: Olmer, F. and Roure, R. (eds.) Les Gaulois au fil de l'eau : actes du 37e colloque international de l'Association Française pour l'Étude de l'Âge du Fer, Montpellier 2013. Vol. 1, Communications. Ausonius, Bordeaux, pp. 515-537. ISBN 9782356131294
  • Bradley, R., Lewis, J., Mullin, D. and Branch, N.(2015)  Antiquaries Journal, 95. pp. 21-64. ISSN 1758-5309 doi: 

2014

  • Branch, N. (2014)  In: Smith, C.(ed.) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, pp. 84-90. ISBN 9781441904263
  • Graham , D., Graham, A., Branch, N. and Simmonds, M. (2014)   Surrey Archaeological Collections, 98. ISSN 0309-7803 (In Press)
  • Meddens, F., Willis, K., McEwan, C. and Branch, N. (2014)  In: Meddens, F., Willis, K., McEwan, C. and Branch, N.(eds.) Inca sacred space: landscape, site and symbol in the Andes. Archetype Publications, London. ISBN 9781909492059
  • Branch, N., Frouin, M., Kemp, R., Marini, N., Meddens, F., Onuora, C. and Silva, B. (2014)  In: Meddens, F., Willis, K., McEwan, C. and Branch, N. (eds.) Inca sacred space: landscape, site and symbol in the Andes. Archetype Publications, London. ISBN 9781909492059
  • Branch, N. P., Black, S., Maggi, R. and Marini, N. A. F. (2014)  Environmental Archaeology: the Journal of Human Palaeoecology, 19 (3). pp. 196-213. ISSN 1749-6314 doi: 
  • Batchelor, C. R., Branch, N. P., Allison, E. A., Austin, P. A., Bishop, B., Brown, A. D., Elias, S. A.,Green, C. P. and Young, D. (2014)  Environmental Archaeology: the Journal of Human Palaeoecology, 19 (3). pp. 263-290. ISSN 1461-4103 doi: 

2013

  • Green, C. P., Farr, L., Branch, N., Jones, P. and Kemp, R. (2013)  In: Jones, P. (ed.) A Mesolithic 'Persistent Place' at North Park Farm, Bletchingley, Surrey. SpoilHeap Publications. ISBN 9780957650909
  • Branch, N., Stallard, J. and Bailey, R. (2013)  In:Jones, P. (ed.) A Mesolithic 'Persistent Place' at North Park Farm, Bletchingley, Surrey. SpoilHeap Publications. ISBN 9780957650909
  • Branch, N. P. and Marini, N. A. F. (2013) Quaternary International, 353. pp. 34-51. ISSN 1040-6182 doi: 
  • Branch, N. (2013) Early-Middle Holocene vegetation history, climate change and human activities at Lago Riane (Ligurian Apennines,  NW  Italy). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 22 (4). pp. 315-334. ISSN 0939-6314 doi: 10.1007/s00334-012-0384-9
  • Swindles, G. T., Lawson, I. T., Matthews, I. P., Blaauw, M., Daley, T. J., Charman, D. J., Roland, T. P., Plunkett, G., Schettler, G., Gearey, B. R., Turner, T. E., Rea, H. A., Roe, H. M., Amesbury, M. J.,Chambers, F. M., Holmes, J., Mitchell, F. J. G., Blackford, J., Blundell, A., Branch, N., Holmes, J.,Langdon, P., McCarroll, J., McDermott, F., Oksanen, P. O., Pritchard, O., Stastney, P., Stefanini, B.,Young, D., Wheeler, J., Becker, J. and Armit, I. (2013) Centennial-scale climate change in Ireland during the Holocene. Earth Science Reviews, 126. pp. 300-320. ISSN 0012-8252 doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2013.08.012
  • Branch, N., Green, C. P., Silva, B., Palmer, A., Austin, P. and Williams, A. (2013) Environmental evidence. In: Lambert, R., Margetts, A. and Robertson, J. (eds.) Prehistoric, Roman and Saxon Discoveries near Thorpe and Virginia Water. SpoilHeap Publications, pp. 166-172. ISBN 9780957650916
  • Braithwaite, R., Black, S., Branch, N. and Maggi, R. (2013) Evaluating the environmental impact of metallurgical activities during the Copper Age and Bronze Age (~5800-2900 cal yrs BP) in the Ligurian Apennines, north-west Italy: a pilot study. Archeologia Postmedievale, 17. ISSN 1592-5935
  • Green, C. P., Farr, L. and Branch, N. (2013) Geomorphology, site formation and landscape context. In: Jones, P. (ed.) Upper Palaeolithic Sites in the Lower Courses of the Rivers Colne and Wey: Excavations at Church Lammas and Wey Manor Farm. SpoilHeap Publications, pp. 14-16.

2012

  • Branch, N., Batchelor, C. R., Cameron, N. G., Coope, G. R., Densem, R., Gale, R., Green, C. P. andWilliams, A. N. (2012) Holocene environmental changes in the lower Thames Valley, London, UK: implications for our understanding of the history of Taxus woodland. The Holocene, 22 (10). 1143-1158 . ISSN 0959-6836 doi: 10.1177/0959683612441805
  • Riddiford, N. G., Branch, N. P., Green, C. P., Armitage, S. J. and Olivier, L. (2012) Holocene palaeoenvironmental history and the impact of prehistoric salt production in the Seille Valley, Eastern France. The Holocene, 22 (8). 831-845 . ISSN 0959-6836 doi:10.1177/0959683611434221
  • Branch, N. (2012) Environmental analysis. In: Silberman, N. A. (ed.) Oxford Companion to Archaeology. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 486-488. ISBN 9780199735785
  • Branch, N., Vaughan-Williams, A., Silva, B., Green, C., Swindle, G., Allison, E., Austin, P., Armitage, P., Cameron, C., Keen, D. and Finch, P. (2012) Environmental evidence. In: Leary, J. and Butler, J.(eds.) Roman archaeology in the upper reaches of the Walbrook Valley: excavations at 6-8 Tokenhouse Yard, London EC2. PCA monograph (14). Pre-Construct Archaeology , Epsom, pp. 60-75. ISBN 9780956305459
  • Branch, N. (2012) Paleoenvironmental reconstruction. In: Silberman, N. A. (ed.) Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 607-609. ISBN 9780199735785

2011

  • Branch, N. (2011) Environmental analysis of Tobacco Dock (Site A) samples. In: Douglas, A.,Gerrard, J. and Sudds, B. (eds.) A Roman Settlement and Bath House at Shadwell: Excavations at Tobacco Dock and Babe Ruth Restaurant, The Highway, London. PCA Monograph (12). Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd. ISBN 9780956305428
  • Leary, J., Branch, N. and Rayner, L. (2011) Prehistoric Southwark: Excavations in Bermondsey shed further light on the prehistory of north Southwark. London Archaeologist, 13 (2).

2010

  • Jarrett, C., Bishop, B. J., Branch, N., Allison, E., Batchelor, R., Green, C. and Pickard, C. (2010)Flints and frying pans: excavations at 11-13 Point Pleasant and the Morganite Works, Wandsworth. Surrey Archaeological Collections, 95. pp. 139-167.
  • Meddens, F. M. and Branch, N. (2010) The Huari state, its use of ancestors, rural hinterland and agricultural infrastructure. In: Jennings, J. (ed.) Beyond Wari Walls: Regional Perspectives on Middle Horizon Peru. University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 9780826348678
  • Olivier, L., Branch, N., Bravard, J.-P., Coutelle, A., Charlier, P., Evans, J., Jay, M., Jouanin, G.,Montgomery, J., Kremer, C., Lagadec, J.-P., Li, S., Remor, G., Riddiford, N., Tegel, W., Williams, K.and Wirtz, B. (2010) Nouvelles recherches sur le site de sauniers du premier âge du fer de Marsal 'la digue' (Moselle). Antiquities Nationales, 41. pp. 127-160.
  • Schreve, D. C. and Branch, N. P. (2010) A Quaternary timeline: a teaching tool for interpreting palaeoenvironmental, palaeoclimatic and archaeological change over the last 500,000 years.Proceedings of the Geologists Association, 121 (1). pp. 83-86. ISSN 0016-7878 doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.02.008
  • Branch, N., Green, C., Batchelor, R., Young, D., Elias, S., Cameron, N. and Athersuch, J. (2010) A tale of two power stations: environmental archaeological investigations at Battersea and Lots Road power stations. London Archaeologist, 12. pp. 267-273.

2009

  • Safford, R. J., Maltby, E., Duong , V. N. and Branch, N. (2009) Melaleuca wetlands and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. In: Maltby, E. and Barker, T. (eds.) The Wetlands Handbook. Blackwells Scientific, Oxford, pp. 829-849. ISBN 9780632052554
  • Branch, N. (2009) Diet and Environment. In: Butler, J. and Ridgeway, V. (eds.) Secrets of the G