Richard Madgwick

I am an archaeological scientist who uses molecular, microscopic and macroscopic methods in the analysis of animal and human remains. I am particularly interested in the analysis of mobility, animal management and the pre- and post-depositional treatment of human and faunal remains. I have worked on projects ranging from the Mesolithic to Post-Medieval period at sites across Europe and beyond. Specific themes I’m interested in include:

· The application of multi-isotope analysis (carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, strontium, lead) on osseous remains for investigating diet and mobility

· Animal management and provisioning

· Feasting in prehistory

· Macroscopic and microscopic bone taphonomy

· The treatment of human and animal remains in funerary contexts

Current and recent projects include:

FRAME: Feeding the Roman Army, Making the Empire (PI, €2m ERC-funded, 2025-2030)
RoBMobS: Roman Britannia: Mobility and Society (Co-I, £1.49m AHRC-funded, 2025-2028)
ENDURE: Urban Life in a Time of Crisis (Co-I, €2m UKRI-funded [ERC-awarded], 2023-2028)
FRAB: Feeding the Roman Army in Britain (PI, £356k, Leverhulme Trust-funded, 2022-2025)
FEASTNET: Feasting networks and Resilience at the end of the British Bronze Age (PI, £261k, AHRC/UKRI-funded, 2021-2024)
PHEMOR: PostHumous Exhumation and Movement of Osteological Remains: An innovative iso-histological approach to Prehispanic Maya mortuary practices and migration (Supervisor, £186k, Marie Skłodowska Curie Individual Fellowship [Asta Rand], 2023-2025)
ZOOCRETE: The ZOOarchaeology of Historical CRETE: A Multiscalar Approach to Animals in Ancient Greece (Supervisor, £198k, Marie Skłodowska Curie Individual Fellowship [Flint Dibble], 2021-2024)
BONEZ: Baltic Paganism, Osteology, and New Examinations of Zooarchaeological Evidence (Supervisor, £197k, Marie Skłodowska Curie Individual Fellowship [Katie French], 2021-2023)
Animal Mobility and Biomechanics (Supervisor, €119k, Margarita Salas Fellowship [Roger Alcàntara Fors], 2022-2025)
Multi-Isotope Analysis: Exploring Commercial Opportunities (PI, £49k, UKRI-Funded, 2023-2024)