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ARCHAEOZOOLOGY • TAPHONOMY • WORKED BONE

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Gnawing Marks   •   My Qualifications and Experiences

last update: 9. 10. 2012

• Born 1963 in Bremen, Germany
  
• School education from 1969 – 1982 in Bremen and Emden, Germany.
  Secondary school main courses: biology and chemistry.
  Final examination May 1982
  
• Biology study at the Carl von Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg from 1984 -1997.
  Within this study among other things:
  
• Exam in zoology entitled
  „Verwesungsspuren an fossilen Schlammfischen aus der Grube Messel – Postmortale Verdriftung des Schlammfisches Cyclurus kehreri“ (1995)
  [Traces of Putrefaction on fossil Bowfins from the Messel Pit – Post Mortem Damage of the Bowfin Cyclurus kehreri]
• Diploma thesis entitled
  „Bißspuren von Säugetieren an rezenten und subfossilen Knochen – Ein Beitrag zur Taphonomie“ (1997)
  [Mammal Gnawing Marks on recent and subfossil Bones – A Contribution to Taphonomy]
• Diploma graduation May 1997
• Language competence: German (native), English (advanced), Spanish (basic)
  

Since 1999 I am engaged in scientific research in the fields of zooarchaeology and taphonomy. Until today I worked on bones from the following excavations:

• Aramus, County Kotayk, Armenia • Urartian fortress, 1st millenium BC
• Bentumersiel, County Leer, Germany • Roman Iron Age settlement
• Bremen-Altstadt, Germany • medieval till Early Modern Time town center
• Bremerhaven-Wulsdorf, Germany • medieval church
• Bremen-Arsten and Bremen-Hemelingen, Germany • 1st to 3rd century AD deposits
• Daverden, County Verden, Germany • Bronze Age settlement
• Ellens, Gemany • medieval terp mound
• Emstek, Germany • Iron Age settlement
• Genoeserbusch, Luxembourg • medieval ironworks
• Jemgumkloster, Germany • medieval terp mound
  
• Kemnitz, County Potsdam-Mittelmark, Germany • Bronze Age till Early Iron Age settlement
• Mörfelden-Kirschnersheck, County Groß-Gerau, Germany • Alamannic settlement
• Mogador, Morocco • early Phoenician settlement, 1st millennium BC
• Norden, Germany • medieval Dominican monastery
• Norden, Germany • medieval terp mound
• Oldenburg, Germany • medieval till Early Modern Time town center
• Paderborn, Germany • medieval monastery
• Sievern, County Cuxhaven, Germany • Iron Age settlement
• Vechta, Germany • medieval castle

• Collaboration in the design of the permanent exhibition "Wissenswerkstatt Archäologie" at the Focke-Museum Bremen, Germany • 2011
• Four experts reports for the Landeskriminalamt Bremen, Germany
• Advice for the preparation of museum educational offers for children concerning archaeozoology and worked bones in the Focke-Museum Bremen, Germany.

• 6. 10. 2012
  "The zoological Profile of a Trade Post at the End of the World. Conclusions from the faunal Remains of Phoenician Mogador, Morocco"
  Presentation at the ICAZ-Symposium "World Archaeozoology Today: International Approaches to Common Problems" in Istanbul, Turkey
  
• 18. 9. 2012
  "Napfschnecken, Turbane und Gemeine Seeohren. Der Abfallberg der phönizischen Purpurinsel"
  [Limpets, Turbans and Ear Shells. The waste mound of the Phoenician Purple Island]
  Presentation at the 9th conference of the Gesellschaft für Archäozoologie und Prähistorische Anthropologie (GAPA) in Vienna, Austria
• 18. - 19. 8. 2012
  Presentation of archaeozoology and bone working at the annual celebration of the Neanderthal Museum Mettmann
• 19. 6. 2012
  "Everything counts in large Amounts: Making a good Deal of Phoenician Shells from Mogador, Morocco"
  Presentation at the 7th Meeting of the ICAZ Archaeomalacology Working Group (AMWG) in Cairns, Australien
• 23. 2. 2012
  "Biotopkartierung mit Zeitmaschine? Eine Einführung in die Methoden der Archäozoologie"
  [Biotope Survey with a Time Machine? An Introduction into the Methods of Archaeozoology]
  Presentation at the BUND Wesermarsch in the Umweltstation Iffens
• 12. 1. 2012
  "Des Pudels Kern etwas näher kommen"
  [Getting closer to the Core of the Matter]
  Presentation in the Historisches Seminar of the University of Hannover
• 23. 9. 2011
  Presentation of bone working at the Dinklager Kult(o)ur
• 6. 9. 2011
  "Walknochen als landschaftliche und architektonische Elemente in und um Bremen"
  [Whale Bones as Landscape and architectural Elements in and around Bremen]
  Presentation within the festival of the 800th anniversary year of Arsten
• 9. 8. 2011
  "Mit Knochen gepflastert – Zum Treiben auf dem Bremer Marktplatz um 1300"
  [Paved with Bones – To the Things going on at the Market Place of Bremen around 1300]
  Presentation at the Focke-Museum Bremen
• 8. 7. 2011
  "Weitreichende Beziehungen – einflussreiche Kreise. Einige Aspekte archäozoologischer Forschung am Beispiel zweier besonderer Funde aus der mittelalterlichen Burg Vechta"
  [Far reaching Relations – influential Circles. Some Aspects of archaeozoological Research by the Example of two extraordinary Finds from the early medieval Castle of Vechta]
  Presentation at the Institut für Mittelalter- und Frühneuzeitforschung of the University of Bremen
• 12.2.2011
  "Neue Ergebnisse archäozoologischer Untersuchungen an Knochenfunden aus der kaiserzeitlichen Siedlung Bentumersiel"
  [New Results of archaeozoological Research on Bone Finds from the Roman Time Settlement of Bentumersiel]
  Presentation at the Marschenratskolloqium 2011 in Aurich
  
• 27.8.2010
  "Noble meals instead of abstinence? A faunal assemblage from the Dominican abbey of Norden, Northern Germany"
  Presentation at the 11th International Conference of the International Council for Archaeozoology (ICAZ) Paris, France
• 10.9.2009
  "Whale Bones as architectural Elements in and around Bremen, Germany"
  Presentation at the 7th Meeting of the ICAZ Worked Bone Research Group (WBRG) in Wroclaw, Poland
• 12. 2. 2009
  "Auf den Spuren der phönizischen Purpurhändler"
  [Tracing the Phoenician purple traders]
  Presentation at the Geosciences Working Group of the University of Bremen
  6. 12. 2008
  "Der Wal vom Teerhof"
  [The whale from the Teerhof]
  Presentation at the Haus der Wissenschaft Bremen
• 4. – 26. 10. 2008
  "Vom Knochen zur Kunst – Skelette als Werkstoff"
  [From Bone to Art – Skeletons as Raw Material]
  Exhibition at the Museum im Zeughaus Vechta
• 2. – 3. 8. 2008
  "Vom Knochen zum Kunstwerk – Skelette als Werkstoff"
  [From Bone to Artwork – Skeletons as Raw Material]
  Presentation at the Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven
• 12. 6. 2008
  "Spuren an Knochenfunden" [Traces on Bones]
  Presentation at the Geosciences Working Group of the University of Bremen
• 27. 6. – 25. 10. 2007
  Participation in the exhibition "Der Neandertaler und Joachim Neander" [The Neandertals and Joachim Neander] in the Haus der Wissenschaft Bremen, Germany
• 20. 9. 2007
  "Einführung in die Archäozoologie" [Introduction into Archaeozoology]
  Presentation during the Aramus excavation at the Yerevan State University Guest House, Armenia
• 15. 9. 2007
  "Knochen erzählen – Was man an Knochenfunden erkennen kann"
  [talking bones – things is visible on bone finds]
  presentation at the "Wissensmeile 2007" in the Haus der Wissenschaft Bremen
• 30.8.2007
  "Highland tunes in the flatlands? A bone flute from the medieval castle of Vechta"
  Presentation at the 6th Meeting of the ICAZ Worked Bone Research Group (WBRG) in Paris, France
• 21. – 22. 7. 2007
  "Vom Knochen zum Kunstwerk – Skelette als Werkstoff"
  [From Bone to Artwork – Skeletons as Raw Material]
  Presentation at the Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven
• 7. 7. 2007
  "Flötentöne und lahme Hunde – zwei außergewöhnliche Funde aus der mittelalterlichen Burg Vechta"
  [Flute Tunes and lame Dogs – two exceptional Finds from the medieval Castle Vechta]
  Presentation at the Archaeozoological Research Colloquium for Prof. Dr. Dirk Heinrich, Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel
• 6. 7. 2007 & 25. 5. 2007
  Workshops for children for the BUND Bremen
• 6. 12. 2006
  "To be or not to be or about being a free lance archaeozoologist"
  Presentation at the Lorand Eötvös University Budapest, Hungary
  
• 29. – 30. 7. 2006
  "Vom Knochen zum Kunstwerk - Skelette als Werkstoff"
  [From Bone to Artwork – Skeletons as Raw Material]
  Presentation at the Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven
  
• summer term 2006
  "Einführung in die Archäozoologie"
  [Introduction into Archaeozoology]
  Seminar at the University of Innsbruck, Austria
  
• 23. 6. 2006
  "Werkzeugspuren an Knochen – Untersuchungen im Grenzbereich von Archäologie und Gerichtsmedizin"
  [Tool-Marks on Bones – Investigations on the border between Archaeology and Forensic Science]
  Presentation at the University of Innsbruck, Austria
  
20. 5. 2006
"Wird Elfenbein aus Elfen gemacht?"
[Is Ivory made from Elves?]
Presentation within the "Childrens University" at the Hochschule Bremerhaven, Germany
9. 5. 2006
"Werkzeugspuren an Knochen"
[Tool Marks on Bones]
Presentation at the Smposium "Werkzeug- und sonstige Formspuren" {Tool Marks and other Traces] of the Landeskriminalamt Bremen, Germany
29. 3. 2006
"Oberflächenveränderungen an Knochen durch taphonomische Prozesse"
[Surface Modifications on Bones due to taphonomic Processes]
Presentation at the 45th International Meeting of the Verband Deutscher Präparatoren (VDP) in Aachen, Germany
28. 2. 2006
"Mögliche Daten zur Todesursachenermittlung an aufgefundenem Knochenmaterial"
[Data for the Death Cause Investigation from found Bone Remains]
Seminar within a course about death cause investigation at the Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Bremen, Germany
23. 10. 2005
" Archäozoologie im Zoo am Meer – Was in den Knochen steckt…"
[Archaeozoologie in the Zoo]
Presentation within the program of the „City of Science 2005 Bremen Bremerhaven" at the Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven, Germany
30. 9. 2005
"Die Tierknochenfunde der Grabung Aramus 2004"
[Animal Bone Finds of the Aramus Excavation 2004]
Presentation at the Yerevan State University Guest House, Armenia
30. 8. 2005
"Why 7 – Rules and Exceptions in the Numbering of Dice"
Presentation at the 5th Meeting of the ICAZ Worked Bone Research Group (WBRG) in Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria

4. – 7. 4. 2005
"Archae-Netzwerk und Archae e. V."
Poster-Presentation at the 5. Deutscher Archäologenkongress in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
7. 11. 2004
"Echte Knochenarbeit – Forschung an Knochenfunden"
[Real Bone Work – Research on Bone Finds]
Presentation at the Stiftsmuseum Aschaffenburg, Germany
28. 10. 2004
"Aussagefähigkeit von aufgefundenem Knochenmaterial"
[Capable Conclusions from found Skeletal Remains]
Presentation at a Conference of the Kriminalistische Studiengemeinschaft Bremen, Germany
5. 6. 2004
"Mit dem Bruchzeugs kann man doch sowieso nix mehr anfangen – Eine kleine Einführung in die Archäozoologie"
[These Fragments are useless – A short Introduction into Archaeozoology]
Presentation at a seminar of the Institut für Alte Geschichte und Altorientalistik of the University of Innsbruck in Kühtai, Austria
6. 3. and 27. 3. 2004
"Herstellung von mittelalterlichen Knochenkämmen und Geräten aus Geweih"
[Manufacture of Medieval Bone Combs and Implements from Antler]
Presentation at the Focke-Museum Bremen, Germany
16. 2. 2004
"Let's skate together! Skating on bones in the past and today"
Presentation at the Archaeological Department, Helsinki University, Finland
30. 8. 2003
"Let's skate together: Skating on bones in the past and today"
Presentation at the 4th International Meeting of the ICAZ Worked Bone Research Group (WBRG) in the Institute of History Tallinn, Estonia
9.–16. 8. 2003
"Knochenarbeit im Mittelalter"
[Bone Working in the Middle Ages]
Workshops in medieval bone handicraft within a holiday program for children in Bremen, Germany
14.–16. 6. 2002
Exhibition and presentation of medieval bone handicraft at the Archae-Market in Dörverden-Westen, Germany
8. 9. 2001
"Report about three excavations in Germany: Kemnitz (Brandenburg), Daverden and Cloppenburg (Niedersachsen)"
Presentation at the 3rd International Meeting of the ICAZ Worked Bone Research Group (WBRG) in Basel, Switzerland
7. 3. – 14. 5. 2000
Presentation of archaeozoological results in the exhibition "Siedler, Söldner und Piraten – Chauken und Sachsen im Bremer Raum"
[Settler, Soldiers and Pirates – Chauci and Saxons in the Region of Bremen]
in the Focke-Museum Bremen, Germany
3. 2. 1999
"Die Tierknochenfunde der Grabung Kirschnersheck, Mörfelden"
[Animal Bone Finds of the Excavation Kirschnersheck, Mörfelden]
Paper presented at the Museum Mörfelden, Germany
1995 – 1996
Exhibition of research results on bowfins (Amia calva, Cyclurus kehreri) in the Faculty of Geosciences of the University of Bremen, Germany

Until today I worked at the following excavations:

• Oldenburg, Niedersachsen • medieval town center • 5-7/2010, 2-6/2011
• Emstek, County Cloppenburg, Niedersachsen • Early Iron Age settlement • 9/2003, 10-11/2004, 3-4/2005, 3-4/2010
• Aramus, County Kotayk, Armenia • Urartian fortress • 9-10/2004, 9-10/2005, 9-10/2006, 9/2007, 9/2008
• Langwedel, County Verden, • Early Modern fortress • 4/2007
• Straguth, County Anhalt-Zerbst, Sachsen-Anhalt • Bronze Age features • 10/2005
• Uelsen, County Grafschaft Bentheim, Niedersachsen • Bronze Age Urn Cemetary • 5/2005
• Verden, Niedersachsen • late medieval house • 6-7/2004
• Stade-Wiepenkathen, Niedersachsen • Bronze Age urn cemetery and medieval settlement • 11/2001
• Cloppenburg • medieval settlement • 7-10/2001
• Kemnitz, County Potsdam-Mittelmark, Brandenburg • Middle till Late Bronze Age settlement • 6-7/2001
• Neuzelle, County Oder-Spree, Brandenburg • Late Iron Age settlement • 5/2001
• Groß Beuchow, County Oder-Spreewald-Lausitz, Brandenburg • early medieval Slavic settlement • 4/2001
• Cottbus, Brandenburg • medieval town center • 4/2001
• Bremen-Kirchhuchting • Migration Period Saxon settlement • 4-10/1997, 9/2000
• Bremen-Bockhorn • Early Iron Age settlement • 8/2000
• Dötlingen, County Wildeshausen, Niedersachsen • pipeline construction • 6-7/2000
• Börnicke, County Havelland, Brandenburg • early medieval Slavic settlement • 11-12/1999
• Meckelstedt, County Cuxhaven, Niedersachsen • Neolithic and Iron Age features • 9/1999
• Verden, Niedersachsen • medieval town center • 10/1998 - 1/1999
• Palaeontological excavation near Korbach, Hessen • Permian • 9-10/1998
• Bremen-Hemelingen • Roman Iron Age features • 10-11/1997, 4-7/1998
• Bremen-Rekum • graves from 1st century BC til 6th century AD, medieval settlement • 5/1998
• Daverden, County Verden, Niedersachsen • Bronze Age settlement • 11-12/1997
• Bremen-Hutfilterstraße • medieval town center • 7/1997
• Palaeontological excavation in the Messel pit near Darmstadt, Hessen • Eocene • 9/1988, 8/1992

During my work on these excavations I gathered skills and experiences in archaeological prospection, surveying, field direction, treatment and documentation of excavation areas, features and finds.

• Experimental archaeology experiences in manufacturing of longbows, arrows, atlatl, bone and antler artefacts
• Speleological experiences in Germany, France and Spain (9/1993, 10/1995, 10/1996, 9/1997, 9/1999, 10/2000, 9/2002, 8/2004)
• Participation in longbow contests (9/2000, 7/2004)
• Participation in the disassembly of 18th century saxon farm buildings in Carum (3-4/2002) and Dinklage (7-8/2003), County Vechta, Niedersachsen, Germany
• Participation in an arts exhibition in the Galerie Herold, Bremen, Germany with an archaeozoological installation (4/2002)
• Maintainance of this website since 1/2001
• Study trips to archaeological sites and museums in Germany, England (3/1990), Malta (10/1991) and Ireland (5/1991, 7/1993)
• Ecological practical course in the Station Umwelterziehung Iffens, Niedersachsen, Germany (8/1984)

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