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4. Katharina Becker

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Biography

Having studied prehistoric archaeology at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Cologne I graduated with an MA on Iron Age ringheaded pins in Ireland and Britain. I had spent a very enjoyable and formative year in UCD, studying Archaeology in second year as an exchange student and was very pleased to be able to return in 2001 to Ireland for my PhD on deposition in Bronze Age Ireland that was funded by the DAAD, the IRCHSS and a UCD Evening Degree Teaching Fellowship.

After  finishing my PhD I was employed as a research archaeologist for Margaret Gowen and Co. in Dublin, as a temporary lecturer in UCD and as a researcher in the National Museum of Ireland, working on the archives of Joseph Raftery's excavations at Lough Gara, Co. Sligo and Loughcrew, Co. Meath. I then got the opportunity to work on Barry Raftery's excavation at Rathgall and to manage the final phase of the preparation of the publication of this important Late Bronze Age site in Co. Wicklow for the UCD School of Archaeology.

In 2011 I moved to the University of Bradford where I worked with Ian Armit and Graeme Swindles of Leeds University on the 'new' Irish Iron Age, initially as a post-doc on a British Academy funded project and more recently as an AHRC Fellow. Most recently I have moved back to Ireland to lecture and research Irish later prehistory here in the Department of Archaeology in UCC.
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Research Interests

My research interests span a variety of aspects of the archaeology of Later Prehistoric Ireland, including the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age. In previous and current projects I have worked on the site record of these periods ranging from settlement, industrial to burial and other ritual sites.This focused in two past projects I was involved in in particular on the datasets contained in the so-called 'grey literature' and I continue to explore elements of this record, as for example currently the later prehistoric burial record. I also have an interest in methodological issues associated with the analysis of 14C radiocarbon sets. Other research, including my PhD research dealt with the interpretation of artefact deposition. Artefact studies, particular of metalwork are an ongoing interest of mine. Besides issue of typo-chronology I have recently started to investigate Iron Age sheet metal working technology. These different strands of the archaeologcial record inform my broader research interests in to the articulation of social and cultural identities and their change.

Research Grants

	Project	Funding Body	Start Date	End Date	Award
	New Pastures: Livestock and lifeways of the Irish Iron Age	Irish Research Council	01-SEP-22	31-AUG-24	€218,060.00
	Iron Age Kinship and infant mortality	Royal Irish Academy	03-MAY-22		€4,950.00
	Loughnashade Landscape	Royal Irish Academy	03-MAY-21	05-JUL-22	€2,900.00
	Communicating Hidden Archaeological Monuments and Heritage Landscapes to Different Audiences through Advanced Digital Technologies.	Irish Research Council	01-AUG-20	30-NOV-22	€12,472.00
	Middle of the road or at the top of the game? Settlement and Economy in South-East Ireland during the Middle Bronze Age (1600-1250 BC)	Irish Research Council	01-OCT-18	31-MAR-22	€74,625.00
	Seeing beyond the site - Settlement and landscape in later prehistoric Ireland	Heritage Council	01-MAR-15	29-NOV-18	€120,000.00
	Seeing beyond the site. Landscape and Settlement in Later Prehistoric South-East	Transport Infrastructure Ireland	01-MAR-15	29-NOV-18	€25,000.00
	Materials, Matters and Identity. Social identity in the Periphery of the La Tène Iron Age world.	Irish Research Council	01-SEP-22	31-AUG-26	€110,000.00

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Publications

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Books

	Year	Publication
	(2022)	Rathgall hillfort. Raftery, Barry, Becker, Katharina (2022) Rathgall hillfort. Bray: Wordwell Books. [Details]

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Book Chapters

	Year	Publication
	(2022)	'Reuse of Megalithic Monuments in the Irish Iron Age' Becker, K. (2022) 'Reuse of Megalithic Monuments in the Irish Iron Age' In: R. Schumann, M. Augstein, J. Fries-Knoblach, St. Gentner, M. Kirchmayr, M. Kohle, H. Wendling (eds). Eisenzeitliche Erinnerungskulturen. Zum Umgang eisenzeitlicher Gemeinschaften mit Relikten der Vergangenheit. Beiträge zur Sitzung der AG Eisenzeit auf dem digitalen DAK in Kiel im September 2020. Langenweissenbach: Beiträge zur Ur- und Frühgeschichte in Mitteleuropa. [Details]
	(2022)	'From Kilmurry to Kernenried' Becker, K., Hamilton, D. (2022) 'From Kilmurry to Kernenried' In: Cattelain, P., Delvaux, L. and De Mulder, G (eds). De l’Escaut au Nil Bric-à-brac en hommage à Eugène Warmenbol à l’occasion de son 65e anniversaire. Treignes: Cedarc/Musée du Malgré-Tout. [Details]
	(2021)	'Copper Alloy Artefacts' Becker, K. (2021) 'Copper Alloy Artefacts' In: Connolly, M (eds). Stone, Bone & Belonging. Tralee: Kerry County Council. [Details]
	(2019)	'Iron Age settlement in mid-west Ireland' Becker, K. (2019) 'Iron Age settlement in mid-west Ireland' In: D. Cowley, M. Fernández-Götz, T. Romankiewicz, H. Wendling (eds). Relating buildings, landscape and people in the European Iron Age. Leiden: Sidestones Press. [Full Text] [Details]
	(2019)	'The Bronze Age metalwork' Becker, Katharina; Cowie, Trevor, Troalen, Lore (2019) 'The Bronze Age metalwork' In: Armit, I. and Bűster, L (eds). Sculptor’s cave excavation. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. [Details]
	(2017)	'New perspectives on the Irish Iron Age: The impact of NRA development on our understanding of Later Prehistory' Armit, I. and Swindles, G. in press. New perspectives on the Irish Iron Age: The impact of NRA development on our understanding of Later Prehistory (2017) 'New perspectives on the Irish Iron Age: The impact of NRA development on our understanding of Later Prehistory' In: Stanley, M (eds). Stories of our past. Bray: Wordwell Books. [Details]
	(2017)	'L’étude des matières blanches dans des sépultures: intérêt d’une démarche scientifique raisonnée' Schotsmans E.M.J., Brettell R., Becker K., Chapoulie R. & Castex D. (2017) 'L’étude des matières blanches dans des sépultures: intérêt d’une démarche scientifique raisonnée' In: S. de Larminat, R. Corbineau, A. Corrochano, Y. Gleize & J. Soulat (eds.) (eds). Rencontre autour de nouvelles approches de l’archéologie funéraire, Actes de la 6e Rencontre du Groupe d’anthropologie et d’archéologie funéraire, 4-5 April 2014. Paris: Reugny, GAAF. [Details]
	(2017)	'The Bronze Age and Iron Age bronze finds from Irish caves' Becker, K. (2017) 'The Bronze Age and Iron Age bronze finds from Irish caves' In: Dowd, M (eds). Underground Archaeology. Studies on human bones and artefacts from Ireland’s Caves Oxford. Oxford: Oxbow books. [Details]
	(2017)	'Corrosion and wear in the Pile Hoard' Becker, K. (2017) 'Corrosion and wear in the Pile Hoard' In: Vandkilde, H (eds). The metal hoard from Pile in Scania, Sweden. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press. [Details]
	(2016)	'Seeing beyond the site—an innovative approach to examining later prehistoric Ireland’' Becker, K., Gearey, B, Eogan, J, McClatchie, M, Nagle, C & Armit, I. (2016) 'Seeing beyond the site—an innovative approach to examining later prehistoric Ireland’' In: Stanley, M (eds). Above and Below: the archaeology of roads and light rail. Dublin: Transport Infrastructure Ireland. [Details]
	(2013)	'Iron Age Tara in context. In: M. O’Sullivan, C. Scarre and M. Doyle (eds)' Becker, K. (2013) 'Iron Age Tara in context. In: M. O’Sullivan, C. Scarre and M. Doyle (eds)' In: Tara—from the past to the future. Towards a new research agenda. Bray: Wordwell Books. [Details]
	(2012)	'The introduction of iron working to Ireland' Becker, K. (2012) 'The introduction of iron working to Ireland' In: In: Kern, A. and Koch, J (eds). Technologieentwicklung und – transfer in der Eisenzeit. Tagungsbericht der AG Eisenzeit, Hallstatt 2009. Langenweissenbach: Beiträge zur Ur-und Frühgeschichte Mitteleuropas. [Details]
	(2012)	'Several entries' Becker, K. (2012) 'Several entries' In: In: S. Sievers, O.H. Urban, P. Ramsl (eds) (eds). Lexikon der keltischen Archäologie. Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. [Details]
	(2012)	'The parallel La Tène. Kunst der vorrömischen Eisenzeit in Irland' Becker, K. (2012) 'The parallel La Tène. Kunst der vorrömischen Eisenzeit in Irland' In: In: Archäologisches Landesmuseum Baden-Württemberg / Landesmuseum Württemberg /Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungs-präsidium Stuttgart (eds). Die Welt der Kelten. Zentren der Macht - Kostbarkeiten der Kunst. Ausstellungskatalog Stuttgart. Jan. Ostfildern 2012. 501-507: Thorbecke Verlag. [Details]
	(2012)	'Redefining the Irish Iron Age' Becker, K. (2012) 'Redefining the Irish Iron Age' In: In: Potterton, M. and Corlett C. (eds) (eds). Life and death in Iron Age Ireland. Bray: Wordwell Books. [Details]
	(2011)	'The Irish Iron Age: Continuity, change and identity' Becker, K. (2011) 'The Irish Iron Age: Continuity, change and identity' In: In: Moore, T. and Armada, X. (eds) (eds). Atlantic Europe in the First Millennium BC. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2010)	'Relics of old decency. Archaeological studies in later prehistory' Becker, K. (2010) 'Relics of old decency. Archaeological studies in later prehistory' In: Cooney, G., Becker, K., Coles, J., Ryan, M. and Sievers, S. (eds) (eds). Iron Age Ireland. Finding an invisible people. Bray: Wordwell Books. [Details]
	(2009)	'But I still haven't found what I am looking for' Becker, K. (2009) 'But I still haven't found what I am looking for' In: Karl, R. and Leskovar, J. (eds) (eds). Interpretierte Eisenzeiten. Fallstudien, Methoden, Theorie. Tagungsbeiträge der 3. Linzer Gespräche zur interpretativen Eisenzeitarchäologie. Linz: Linz. [Details]
	(2009)	'Medieval metal artefacts; Metal working moulds' Becker, K. (2009) 'Medieval metal artefacts; Metal working moulds' In: M. McQuade, B. Molloy and C. Moriarty (eds) (eds). In the shadows of the Galtees. Dublin: National Roads Authority. [Details]

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Edited Books

	Year	Publication
	(2010)	Relics of old decency. Archaeological studies in later prehistory. Festschrift for Barry Raftery Cooney, G., Becker, K., Coles, M., Ryan, M. and Sievers, S (Ed.). (2010) Relics of old decency. Archaeological studies in later prehistory. Festschrift for Barry Raftery Relics of old decency. Archaeological studies in later prehistory. Festschrift for Barry Raftery. Bray: Wordwell books. [Details]

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Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2021)	'A Multi-Proxy Holocene Palaeoenvironmental Record of Climate Change and Prehistoric Human Activity from Lough Cullin, southeast Ireland' Kearney, K., Gearey, B., Hegarty, S., Richer, S.; Ferreira, C., O'Carroll, E., Becker, K., Hamilton, D., Eogan, J, McClatchie M., Armit, I., Nagle, C., Taylor, K, Hull, G. 2021. (2021) 'A Multi-Proxy Holocene Palaeoenvironmental Record of Climate Change and Prehistoric Human Activity from Lough Cullin, southeast Ireland'. The Holocene, 32 (4) [Details]
	(2020)	'On the brink of Armageddon? Climate change, the archaeological record and human activity across the Bronze Age–Iron Age transition in Ireland' Benjamin Gearey, Katharina Becker, Rosie Everett and Seren Griffiths (2020) 'On the brink of Armageddon? Climate change, the archaeological record and human activity across the Bronze Age–Iron Age transition in Ireland'. Proceedings of The Royal Irish Academy Section C-Archaeology Celtic Studies History Linguistics Literature, 120 :1-24 [Details]
	(2019)	'Irish Iron Age Settlement and Society: Reframing Royal Sites' Becker, K. (2019) 'Irish Iron Age Settlement and Society: Reframing Royal Sites'. Proceedings of The Prehistoric Society, 85 :273-306 [Details]
	(2014)	'Token explanations - Rathgall and the interpretation of cremation eposits in later prehistoric Ireland' Becker, K. (2014) 'Token explanations - Rathgall and the interpretation of cremation eposits in later prehistoric Ireland'. Archaeology Ireland, 28 (1.107):13-15 [Details]
	(2014)	'Rapid climate change did not cause population collapse at the end of the European Bronze Age' Armit, I., Swindles, G.T., Becker, K., Plunkett, G., Blaauw, M. (2014) 'Rapid climate change did not cause population collapse at the end of the European Bronze Age'. Proceedings of The National Academy of Science Usa, 111 (48):17045-17049 [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	'Centennial-scale climate change in Ireland during the Holocene' 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, 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.; Oksane, P.O.; Pritchard, O.; Stastney, P.; Stefanini, B.; Young, D.; Wheeler, J.; Becker, K.; Armit, I. (2013) 'Centennial-scale climate change in Ireland during the Holocene'. Earth science reviews, 126 :1-39 [Details]
	(2013)	'Transforming identities – New approaches to Bronze Age deposition in Ireland' Becker, K. (2013) 'Transforming identities – New approaches to Bronze Age deposition in Ireland'. Proceedings of The Prehistoric Society, 79 :1-39 [Details]
	(2013)	'From dates to demography in later prehistoric Ireland? Experimental approaches to the meta-analysis of large 14 C data-sets' Armit, I., Swindles, G. and Becker, K. (2013) 'From dates to demography in later prehistoric Ireland? Experimental approaches to the meta-analysis of large 14 C data-sets'. Journal of Archaeological Science, 40 (1):433-438 [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	'The dating of Late Bronze Age Dowris metalwork – a pilot study' Becker, K. (2013) 'The dating of Late Bronze Age Dowris metalwork – a pilot study'. Journal of Irish Archaeology, XXI :7-15 [Details]
	(2012)	'Later prehistoric radiocarbon dates from Ireland: an audit' Becker, K., Armit, I., Eogan, J. and Swindles, G. (2012) 'Later prehistoric radiocarbon dates from Ireland: an audit'. Journal of Irish Archaeology, XX :19-26 [Details]
	(2010)	'From data to knowledge – the new Irish Iron Age' Becker, K. Armit, K., Swindles, G. (2010) 'From data to knowledge – the new Irish Iron Age'. Archaeology Ireland, 24 (3):13-13 [Details]
	(2008)	'Iron Age Ireland: Finding an invisible people' Becker, K., Ó Néill, J. and O’Flynn, L. (2008) 'Iron Age Ireland: Finding an invisible people'. Archaeology Ireland, 22.2 (3) [Details]
	(2008)	'Left but not lost' Becker, K. (2008) 'Left but not lost'. Archaeology Ireland, 22 (1):12-15 [Details]
	(2008)	'Iron Age ring-headed pins in Ireland and Britain and on the Continent' Becker, K. (2008) 'Iron Age ring-headed pins in Ireland and Britain and on the Continent'. Archaologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 38 (4):513-520 [Details]
	(2007)	'The Iron Age ringheaded pin from Rochfort Demesne, Co. Westmeath' Becker, K. and Channing, J. (2007) 'The Iron Age ringheaded pin from Rochfort Demesne, Co. Westmeath'. Journal of The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 137 :41-45 [Details]

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Published Reports

	Year	Publication
	(2008)	In-situ preservation and piling-review 2006. Becker, K. (2008) In-situ preservation and piling-review 2006. INSTAR report, Appendix I in Simpson, L. Medieval Dublin an archaeological research framework. [Details]

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Field Guide

	Year	Publication
	(2010)	Rathgall, Co. Wicklow. OPW Heritage guide no. 51. Becker, K. (2010) Rathgall, Co. Wicklow. OPW Heritage guide no. 51. Field Guide [Details]

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Pamphlet

	Year	Publication
	(2010)	Rathgall, Co. Wicklow. Becker, K. (2010) Rathgall, Co. Wicklow. Pamphlet [Details]

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Unpublished Reports

	Year	Publication
	(2008)	'IRON AGE IRELAND: Finding an invisible people. Report to the Heritage Council. 2008 Archaeology Grant Scheme, Project 16365. Becker, K. Ó Néill, J. and O'Flynn, L. (2008) 'IRON AGE IRELAND: Finding an invisible people. Report to the Heritage Council. 2008 Archaeology Grant Scheme, Project 16365. Unpublished Reports   [Details]
	(2007)	Pilot Study on the Development of an Archaeological Excavation Archive for Dublin City. O’Donovan, E. and Becker, K. (2007) Pilot Study on the Development of an Archaeological Excavation Archive for Dublin City. Unpublished Reports [Details]

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Professional Activities

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Honours and Awards

	Year	Title	Awarding Body
	2014	Honorary Research Fellow	University of Bradford
	2013	Early Career Fellowship	AHRC
	2008	Research grant for: IRON AGE IRELAND: Finding an invisible people	Heritage Council
	2006	Travel Grant	College of Arts and Celtic Studies, University College Dublin
	2005	Research and Teaching BA Modular Evening Degree Fellowship	College of Arts and Celtic Studies, University College Dublin
	2005	UCD BA Evening Degree teaching Fellow	UCD School of Archaeology
	2004	PhD Scholarship	IRCHSS
	2003	PhD Scholarship	German Academic Exchange (DAAD)
	2002	PhD Scholarship	German Academic Exchange (DAAD)
	2001	PhD Scholarship	German Academic Exchange (DAAD)

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Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	Emania editorial board	Member of editorial board	/
	Journal of Irish Archaeology	Member of editorial board	2014 /

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Employment

	Employer	Position	From / To
	University of Bradford	AHRC Early Career Post-Doctoral Fellow	01-JAN-13 / 30-SEP-13
	UCD School of Archaeology, Dublin	Full-time lecturer	01-OCT-07 / 31-MAY-09
	UCD School of Archaeology, Dublin	Academic editor and manager of the Rathgall publication project	01-MAY-10 / 30-NOV-10
	University of Bradford	Post-doctoral researcher	01-DEC-10 / 30-NOV-11
	National Museum of Ireland, Dublin	Research archaeologist	01-OCT-09 / 31-MAR-10
	UCD School of Archaeology, Dublin	Academic editor and manager of the Rathgall publication project	01-JUN-12 / 31-DEC-12

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Education

	Year	Institution	Qualification	Subject
	2001	University of Cologne	MASTERS	Prehistoric Archaeology (Ur–und Frühgeschichte), Greek and Roman Archaeology, Anthropology
	2006	UCD	PHD	Archaeology