Building a Better Egg Timer?
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Fossil and DNA evidence suggests that our species, Homo sapiens, emerged nearly 200,000 years ago in Africa, but until recently it seemed that many of the signs of what we would consider 'modern behaviour' were not evident until after 50,000 years ago. The archaeological evidence for this crucial period is exceedingly sparse and poorly dated. The dramatic climate and environmental changes that occurred during this period were likely to be critical influences, but in the absence of reliable dating methods it is difficult to link the patchy human record with existing continuous global climate records, or regional records where they exist. The picture has begun to change with the development of new dating methods and accumulating evidence for the early occurrence of modern behaviours, such as marine resource exploitation and the appearance of decorated or decorative objects in several sites. The latter include indications that ostrich eggs were used as containers and as decorative beads. However, at present none of these artefacts can be dated directly and precisely. One method that can be used to date shells and eggshells directly is amino acid racemization (AAR) geochronology, which measures the decay of proteins. Because the decay rate is driven by time and temperature, the relative age can be deduced by comparison with other samples. Determination of an absolute date is more challenging. In order to provide a robust and precise age estimate, the mechanisms that drive the decay reaction must be understood. We have been developing a refinement of amino acid geochronology, called 'Intra-crystalline Protein Decomposition' (IcPD), isolating and analysing only the protein from a particular fraction of shells, where the proteins have been trapped within the shell crystals. This effectively forms a protein 'time capsule', within which changing concentrations of the products and reactants of protein decay should enable us to pick apart the reaction pathways. In the past we have been limited by crude measurements of decay, but technological advances, notably in mass spectrometry, now enable us to observe both products and reactants in considerable detail. We plan to explore the reaction pathways in ostrich eggshell fragments, the ultimate 'egg-timer'. Preliminary results reveal the first evidence of a decay pathway in the main protein entrapped in ancient shell, called struthiocalcin. The protein first appears to split into three pieces and each piece is 'nibbled away' from one end. By using a combination of model systems (synthetic peptides, heated shells and shell proteins) and shell fragments recovered from the stratified and well-dated archaeological sequence in Elands Bay Cave, South Africa, we can explore how this initial pattern develops. Once a more complete picture of decay is understood, we will put together a model of the decay path (which identifies the temperature sensitivity of key reactions). We will then apply this model to estimate the age of eggshell fragments found in a rich archaeological sequence at Pinnacle Point, South Africa, to refine the chronological framework of these early modern human sites. But the ostrich eggshells are more than just egg-timers - if we look at the isotopic composition of the eggshells, this also reveals information about climate and environment. Thus we can establish a robust, directly dated record of changes in vegetation and importantly, in aridity, for the region. This data can be linked to longer climate records to build up a more complete picture of the relationships between changing human behaviour and changing environments.
Organisations
- University of York (Lead Research Organisation)
- George Washington University (Collaboration)
- University of Colorado Denver (Collaboration)
- Arizona State University (Collaboration)
- Northern Arizona University (Project Partner)
- Aberystwyth University (Project Partner)
- Arizona State University (Project Partner)
Publications


Crisp M
(2013)
Isolation of the intra-crystalline proteins and kinetic studies in Struthio camelus (ostrich) eggshell for amino acid geochronology
in Quaternary Geochronology

Crisp Molly Katherine
(2013)
Amino acid racemization dating : method development using African ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggshell

Crisp, M.
(2011)
Application of AAR Dating to OES from South Africa

Crisp, M.
(2011)
Try new XXX Ultra: nothing analyses your fossils faster...

Crisp, M.
(2010)
Try new XXX Ultra: nothing analyses your fossils faster...


Demarchi B
(2016)
Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time.
in eLife

Demarchi B
(2013)
New experimental evidence for in-chain amino acid racemization of serine in a model peptide.
in Analytical chemistry
Description | Through this award we have discovered that one amino acid racemises in chain, which is important for medical applications, and recovered the oldest verified intact sequences of protein from 3.8 million year old eggshells. |
Exploitation Route | The protein degradation work is useful for understanding degenerative diseases. The dating work is useful for providing ages for sites from the last 2.6 million years. The longevity of the protein sequences discovered allows evolutionary pictures to be developed from fossil samples. The enhanced understanding of protein-mineral interactions is important for biomineralisation and materials science studies. |
Sectors | Environment Healthcare Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Our work has formed the basis for several public outreach events, from schoolchildren to the general public, through events, articles and podcasts, informing on how analytical chemistry can be used to understand our human and Earth's history. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | English Heritage Scientific Advisors meeting |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | The advice given to the English Heritage Science Advisors has influenced their management of Pleistocene site research. |
Description | Teacher training |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Has enabled science teachers to incorporate current research into their teaching for 6th formers. |
Description | Outreach grant |
Amount | £1,550 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2017 |
Description | Wisdom teeth: refining our understanding of mammalian evolution through dating dental enamel |
Amount | £796,345 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/S010211/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2019 |
End | 07/2022 |
Title | Inter-laboratory proficiency test |
Description | We have developed 6 materials for use in inter-laboratory proficiency tests and collaborative trials for the worldwide amino acid community. We have already undertaken a proficiency test with all the active AAR labs, published in 2013. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Conducted the first AAR laboratory proficiency test, settings the groundwork for a full collaborative trial. |
URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2012.11.001 |
Description | Acheulean Hominin Behavior at Elandsfontein, South Africa |
Organisation | George Washington University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Helped devise the dating strategy, write the amino acid dating portion of the grant. Will process samples and feed data into the geochronology of the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | Devised main project. |
Impact | No outputs yet. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Paleoscape: NSF, IPG - Developing and Testing an Integrated Paleoscape Model for the early Middle and Late Pleistocene of the South Coast of South Africa ( led by C. Marean (ASU) $1,000,000), participating scientist |
Organisation | Arizona State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Participating scientist in NSF, IPG - Developing and Testing an Integrated Paleoscape Model for the early Middle and Late Pleistocene of the South Coast of South Africa (PI C. Marean (ASU) $1,000,000), |
Collaborator Contribution | PI |
Impact | Contribution of Curtis Marean to Building a better Eggtimer project (samples, collaboration, workshop, articles in prep) |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Tracing eggshell and hence human movement through strontium isotopes. |
Organisation | University of Colorado Denver |
Department | Department of Anthropology |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The archaeological samples which we collected C & N isotope and amino acid data on were used for a study looking at the variation in strontium in a palaeontological and an archaeological site, to look at whether it is feasible to use them to track movement & trade. |
Collaborator Contribution | Strontium isotope analyses |
Impact | A manuscript has been submitted for publication as a book chapter, and is currently under review. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Article in Chemistry Review: Cracking the eggtimer |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The article gave an overview of how chemistry can be used to understand the past. At least one student was inspired to apply to our university to do a Chemistry degree based on the article. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/schools/chemrev/index/ |
Description | Article in World Archaeology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An article written about amino acid dating for World Archaeology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.world-archaeology.com/features/expanding-amino-acid-dating/ |
Description | Article on amino acid dating and its importance for understanding climate change; for Yorkshire Post, Jan 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview and resulting article about the amino acid dating work and its role in understanding past climate change. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk |
Description | Article on amino acid dating for BBC Radio York, Sep 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | BBC Radio York interview on amino acid dating, sparked by a Nature paper on recovering protein from 1.8 Ma rhino enamel. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Article on amino acid dating for Yorkshire Post, Sep 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview and resulting article on amino acid dating for Yorkshire Post, Sep 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk |
Description | Article on chiral amino acid analysis for Chemistry World, Mar 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Article on chiral amino acid analysis and its importance for understanding the past; Chemistry World, Mar 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/unlocking-geological-time-capsules-with-analytical-chemistry/401... |
Description | Broadcast on amino acid dating and relevance to climate for BBC Radio York, Jan 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview for BBC Radio York on amino acid dating and its role for understanding climate change. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p081m6yr |
Description | Chem@Work event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Workshop activity based around our research which was undertaken by ~ 100 KS4 schoolchildren. Sparked questions and discussions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Chemistry World article: Dating the Age of Humans |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for magazine article about research on amino acid dating and its importance for dating early human sites. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2015/11/archaeological-dating-age-humans-cave-art |
Description | Chemistry World podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for a podcast about the Chemistry World article on dating early human sites. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2016/02/podcast-december-2015-cataracts-chocolate-kit-origins |
Description | Departmental seminar - Aberystwyth University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Departmental seminar at Aberystwyth University |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Departmental seminar - University of Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Departmental seminar at the University of Oxford |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Eggtimer website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | website made research accessible People contacted me after having read the website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/a/palaeo.eu/eggtimer/ |
Description | Game Changers event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Game Changers: 9 Young scientists Transforming Our World Talk given at the Banqueting House, London. Relating to the Blavatnik awards |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.nyas.org/events/2020/game-changers-9-young-scientists-transforming-our-world/ |
Description | INQUA AAR spin-out workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | The INQUA Congress in July 2011 provided an excellent opportunity for the small AAR community to meet for the first time in 13 years. In conjunction with Prof. Darrell Kaufman (Northern Arizona University), Dr. Kirsty Penkman organised a dedicated AAR session as part of the Congress, followed by a day-long break-out workshop and dinner for all the active international AAR laboratories (report in Eos: Wehmiller et al., 2011). It gave the community a great forum to discuss some of the major issues facing the field, as well as some of the more nitty-gritty aspects of our work, and presentations and discussions were led by a range of researchers from across the labs. The two inter-laboratory trials and the NSF-funded development of an AAR database (hosted by NOAA to enable long-term data preservation) were discussed in detail, alongside methodological developments and data processing issues. Kirsty Penkman and Darrell Kaufman edited a special issue of Quaternary Geochronology arising out of the session, and new collaborative grant proposals are also being submitted. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Interview for "Analytical Scientist" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Kirsty Penkman was interviewed for the "Analytical Scientist" magazine, which resulted in a multi-page article. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/1117/on-the-dating-scene/ |
Description | Invited lecture: Manchester Metropolitan University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited lecture to the Chemistry and related departments at Manchester Metropolitan University, at which our research was showcased. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited lecture: University of Reading |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited lecture to the Chemistry and related departments at University of Reading, at which our research was showcased. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited lecture: the Open University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited lecture to the Chemistry and related departments at the Open University, at which our research was showcased. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited talk to celebrate 10 years of Gold Athena Swan at York Chemistry, May 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Talk given which showcased our research and the power of collaborating across disciplines. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited talk to school students from Archbishops Holgate School at the National Science Learning Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Talk given to showcase our research to school students, parents and the general public, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited talk to the Association Française pour l'Étude du Quaternaire, Paris, Dec 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited speaker to a conference at the French Geological Society, run by the Association Française pour l'Étude du Quaternaire. Sparked questions and considerable discussion, and requests for further work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited talk, Royal Society of Chemistry Yorkshire section, Leeds, March 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited lecture to the Royal Society of Chemistry Yorkshire secion, at which our research was showcased. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Leeds Geological Society invited talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The talk led to questions and discussion. Interest from the members of the society, and an invite to return to give another talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2012 |
Description | Media interviews for the elife paper, Sep 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | There was considerable media interest in the elife paper arising from the Eggtimer project, with coverage in international news outlets, including an interview with the BBC. The Daily mail, Science Explorer, Science Daily, Forbes International and the BBC covered the story. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37473388 |
Description | Meet the 2020 Blavatnik Award UK Chemistry Honorees youtube video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A youtube video about the winners of the 2020 Blavatnik chemistry honorees. The video feactures a section on Kirsty Penkman's research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iX_AqNxMNU |
Description | Nursery visit to introduce science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | An outreach activity was designed and delivered for nursery-age children to introduce them to "science" and what a scientist does. This sparked fantastic questions and discussions with both children and staff. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Our Changing Climate: Understanding Complex Science and Contentious Policy; public lecture series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards Not known |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Outreach event at York Festival of Ideas |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Outreach activity; audience of all ages. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2022/be-part/ |
Description | Outreach for Iziko museum, South Africa |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Developed materials for the Iziko museum in Cape Town, South Africa, designed to be used for museum visits by children and adults. Development of collaboration with museums in South Africa. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
Description | Palaeo Centre launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The talk and posters led to a lot of interest and discussion. After the talk I was approached by several members of the public eager to learn more about our work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Pittcon Analytical Chemistry conference, Chicago, March 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Keynote speech at major international conference. Key contacts made. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Poster at INQUA conference, Dublin, July 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster Presentation at the 2019 INQUA (International Quaternary) congress, Dublin. Details: Kirsty Penkman, Beatrice Demarchi, Molly Crisp, Peter Tomiak, Marc Dickinson, Lucy Wheeler, Martina Conti & Sheila Taylor, 2019. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Amino Acids Found There. INQUA 2019 Congress, Dublin, Ireland. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.inqua2019.org/ |
Description | Poster presentation at American Association of Physical Anthropologists Annual Meeting, Atlanta, April 2016. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation (Lee-Thorp, J., Penkman, K., Ecker, M. Crisp, M., Demarchi, B. & Marean, C. 2016. Two proxies from one biomineral: AAR chronology and isotopic palaeoaridity indices from ostrich eggshell in archaeological sites. African Environments Symposium, American Association of Physical Anthropologists Annual Meeting, Atlanta, April 2016). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Poster presentation at Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology conference, Salt Lake City, USA, Oct 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation given (Presslee, S., Macphee, R., Farrell, A., Holden, A., Southon, J. & Collins, M. & Penkman, K. 2016. Radiocarbon dating and proteomic analysis of highly purified bone collagen derived from Rancho La Brea mammal fossils. Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology conference, Oct 2016, Salt Lake City, Utah), using expertise and techniques developed from the Eggtimer project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Reconstructing prehistoric hunter gatherer mobility symposium, Montreal, Feb 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation (Hodgkins J, le Roux P, Copeland SR, Marean CW, Penkman K, Lee-Thorp J. Negrino, F, Benazzi S, Miller C, Orr C, Peresani M, Riel Salvatore J, Strait D, Meyer D. 2016. Using information from archaeological faunal remains, ecological reconstructions, and strontium isotopes to answer questions about hominin mobility). Used data from the Eggtimer project and expanded it to a new research question using strontium isotopes to track movement of eggshells in archaeology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Science Uncovered, Natural History Museum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Hands-on event allowing detailed discussions Audience very interested in how analytical chemistry can help us understand the past |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Talk at INQUA conference, Dublin, July 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation at the 2019 INQUA (International Quaternary) congress, Dublin. Details: Kirsty Penkman, Richard Preece, Simon Parfitt, Tom Meijer, Nicole Limondon-Lozouet, Pavel Frolov, Vadim Titov, Alexey Tesakov, 2019. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Amino Acids Found There. INQUA 2019 congress, Dublin, Ireland |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk at International Symposium of Biomolecular Archaeology, Oxford, Sep 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation (Beatrice Demarchi, Shaun Hall, Teresa Roncal-Herrero, Colin Freeman, Jos Woolley, Molly Crisp, Julie Wilson, Anna Fotakis, Roman Fischer, Benedikt Kessler, Rosa Rakownikow Jersie-Christensen, Jesper Olsen, James Haile, Jessica Thomas, Curtis Marean, John Parkington, Samantha Presslee, Julia Lee-Thorp, Peter Ditchfield, Jacqui Hamilton, Martyn W. Ward, Chunting Michelle Wang, Marvin D. Shaw, Terry Harrison, Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo, Ross D. E. MacPhee, Amandus Kwekason, Michaela Ecker, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Michael Chazan, Roland Kröger, Jane Thomas-Oates, John H. Harding, Enrico Cappellini, Kirsty Penkman, Matthew Collins2016. Survival of eggshell peptides over millions of years in Africa is due to mineral binding. International Symposium of Biomolecular Archaeology, Oxford, Sep 2016). Gained considerable interest in audience and reported in the media. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Talk at QRA conference, Leeds, 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation at the QRA 2020 Annual Discussion Meeting, Leeds, January 2020. Details: Dickinson, Herridge, Frolov, Titov, Tesakov, Lister, Penkman, 2020. Intra-crystalline protein degradation dating of enamel. QRA 2020 Annual Discussion Meeting, Leeds, January 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://qraleeds2020.com/ |
Description | Talk at QRA conference, Leeds, 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote presentation at the QRA Annual Discussion Meeting, Leeds, 2020. Details: Kirsty Penkman, 2020. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Amino Acids Found There. QRA Annual Discussion Meeting, Leeds, 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://qraleeds2020.com/ |
Description | Talk at University Open Day, Sep 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Research talk at University of York Open Day, showcasing inter-disciplinary science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk for Manchester Literary & Philosophical Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk given to a scientific society; sparked questions & discussions afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.manlitphil.ac.uk/resources/summer-2022-programme |
Description | The great egg RACEmisation game |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | An outreach event, involving a lecture and a game, which brought together chemistry and its application to archaeology and geology. The success of this event has led to it being used several times over the last year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015 |
Description | York Festival of Ideas "Discovery Zone" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presented our work at a public outreach event, with attendance by over 1500 individuals. The focus was on how chemistry can be used to understand the past, and through development of a range of activities around a "bog body", we were able to showcase the advances our research has made in this area. The feedback was excellent, with many reporting increased interest in science because of the event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2018/community/discovery-zone-2/ |
Description | York Festival of Ideas "Science out of the lab" event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presented our work at a public outreach event, with attendance by over 2500 individuals. The focus was on how chemistry can be used to understand the past, and through development of a range of activities around a "bog body", we were able to showcase the advances our research has made in this area. The feedback was excellent, with many reporting increased interest in science because of the event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2017/community/science-out-lab-fri/ |
Description | York Festival of Ideas "Science out of the lab" event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presented our work at a public outreach event, with attendance by over 1000 individuals. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2016/community-events/science-out-of-the-lab-2/ |
Description | YorkTalks 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public lecture as part of the launch of the University of York's research strategy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/public-lectures/spring-2015/york-talks-2015/ |
Description | Yornight 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Hands-on display enabled public to see and touch materials, and allowed discussions about how science can tell us about the past. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://yornight.com/2015/ |
Description | Yornight 2020 public outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presented our work at a public outreach event, with attendance by over 3500 individuals. The focus was on how chemistry can be used to understand the past, and through development of a range of activities around a "bog body", we were able to showcase the advances our research has made in this area. The feedback was excellent, with many reporting increased interest in science because of the event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/yornight/2020/ |
Description | Yornight at York Archaeological Trust |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Hands-on display enabled public to see and touch materials, and allowed discussions. Arose interest in audience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://yornight.com/ |