Courtneay Hopper

I am an archaeologist and biological anthropologist interested in the adoption of herding in the Namaqualand coastal desert of South Africa. My research interests combine archaeological excavations and lab-based analyses (e.g., proteomics, isotopes) to explore questions of subsistence, migration, and climatic change over the last 2,000 years in western South Africa. My current research is focused on deciphering dietary differences between early herders and foragers. In particular, I am interested in how low intensity herders living in Namaqualand incorporated this resource (sheep) into their day-to-day lives, what products (e.g., meat, milk, blood) were prioritised, and why.