Wales in Antiquity (14)

Award

PhD Research Bursary

Supervisors/Schools:

Professor Raimund Karl (School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology)
Dr Gary Robinson (main supervisor) (School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology)
Professor Nancy Edwards (School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology)

Description of Project:

This bursary will focus on later prehistory / early historic archaeology (late Bronze Age – Roman), in line with the University of Wales’ funded 'Early Celtic Societies in North Wales' project currently run by the School. The project will concentrate on a landscape archaeology / history study examining an aspect of social evolution / emergence during this formative period of Welsh history. Interdisciplinary collaboration will primarily be with the Schools of Ocean Sciences, Environment and Natural Resources, Computer Sciences as well as externally with the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. A possible specific topic might be the examination of later Iron Age and Romano-British settlements and landscapes on the Llyn peninsula.

The ‘Early Celtic Societies in North Wales’ project examines the processes of social evolution changing the small-scale, local communities of later prehistory into the larger societies of early medieval Wales (the early Welsh kingdoms attested in historical sources). Based on social complexity theory and agent-based interactivity theories (e.g. actor network theory), the evolution of social mechanisms of cooperation, and the role of conflict and competition is examined based on archaeological, historical and linguistic sources. The successful candidate for the bursary is expected to support this project by his/her own research for the thesis, which can be on any topic supporting the overall aims of improving the understanding of social evolution in Wales between the (late) Bronze Age and the early mediaeval period.

Supervisory Team

Professor Raimund Karl is primarily interested in the emergence of 'Celtic' societies between late prehistory and the mediaeval period and archaeological theory, with a secondary focus on the heritage industry. He is currently working on finalising three major monographs ('Becoming Welsh – the emergence of Welsh societies c. 1200 BC - AD 1200', 'The legacy of logical positivism in German-speaking archaeology' [in German], 'and Archaeological Heritage Management in Austria - Practice and Problems' [in German]).

Dr Gary Robinson has a primary research interest in Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain and Ireland with a strong secondary focus on landscape and seascape archaeology. He is currently completing a major co-authored monograph (with V. Cummings, UCLan) on collaborative fieldwork in Kintyre and an edited volume on the human habitation of the sea.

Professor Nancy Edwards is primarily interested in Early Medieval Wales, with a secondary interest in the work of Welsh antiquarians from the 17th century onwards and how their research relates to changing perceptions of Welsh identity. She is currently in the process of finalising a major monograph on early mediaeval stone sculpture in North Wales, the third in a highly acclaimed, groundbreaking series of studies of the subject for all of Wales.

For full details of the terms and conditions of this award see

Queries prior to a formal application concerning this research project should be addressed to:
Professor Raimund Karl (r.karl@bangor.ac.uk)

Application:

The application deadline is noon on Friday 30 April 2010. For more information on how to apply, please visit here.

Applicants will be contacted during the month of June 2010 with information relating to their submissions.