Linda Fibiger

After completing my BA in Archaeology at University College Dublin in 1997 I spent three years working in field archaeology in Ireland. One of the first sites I worked on was a Medieval cemetery in the centre of Dublin, and my interest in human skeletal remains developed from there. In 2001 I completed an MSc in Human Osteology and Palaeopathology at the University of Bradford and returned to Ireland to work as a consultant osteoarchaeologist. In 2009 I completed my DPhil on inter-personal violence in Neolithic Europe at the University of Oxford. From 2009 to 2011 I was based at Cardiff University, first as a Post-Doctoral Researcher on the AHRC-funded LBK Lifeways project and then as Lecturer in Archaeology. In 2011 I also held a Wenner-Gren Foundation Hunt Post-Doctoral Fellowship. I joined the School in January 2012, when I was appointed as Lecturer in Human Osteoarchaeology and Senior Lecturer in 2018.

Research summary
Places:

Britain & Ireland
Europe
Mediterranean
Themes:

Ancient Civilisations
Bioarchaeology & Human Origins
Gender
Medicine, Science & Technology
Society
War
Periods:

Prehistory
Early Historic
Medieval
Early Modern
Research interests
Human skeletal remains are central to understanding past lifeways and I am interested in all aspects of human osteology, palaeopathology and the contextual interpretation of the skeletal record. More specifically, this includes:

Interpersonal violence and conflict
Experimental bioarchaeology
Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe
The bioarchaeology of prehistoric, Medieval and Post-Medieval Irish burials
Human skeletal remains from caves
Activity-related trauma
Professional standards, ethics and legislation in human osteoarchaeology.

I have also carried out the osteological analysis of a number of skeletal assemblages from across Ireland, with a particular focus on Early Christian Cemeteries. I have analysed the battle-related mass graves from the post-medieval castle site of Carrickmines, Co. Dublin and was the project osteologist for the Human Remains from Irish Caves Project, involving the (re-)analysis of human remains from 23 Irish caves.

Current research activities
My most recent work is focusing on conflict archaeology, interpersonal violence and cranial trauma. I am particularly interested in how age and gender influence involvement in violent interaction in prehistoric Europe and the mechanisms of head injury observed during this period. To this end I am developing my work further through experimental bioarchaeology.

I am currently a Research Scientist on the Fall of 1200 BC European Research Council project (GA #772753) where I am leading the osteoarchaeological analysis of human skeletal remains from the Balkans, with a particular focus on population relationships, lifestyle and indicators of crisis and conflict.

www.thefall1200.eu

I was recently involved in TRACES (2016-2019), a European-funded project (European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, GA #693857) that focused on the challenges and opportunities inherent in transmitting contentious cultural heritage in contemporary Europe. As part of the Creative Co-Production 'Dead Images' I worked with artists, anthropologists and art historicans to develop an exhibition and educational programme focusing on the complex legacy of historical human skull collections in Europe.