Astrid Caseldine BSc, PGCE
Contact Details
School of Archaeology, History and AnthropologyE-mail: a.caseldine@trinitysaintdavid.ac.uk
Campus
Lampeter CampusJob Title
Research Fellow in Environmental Archaeology - CADW Environmental Archaeologist for Wales
Role in the University
Lecturer and Researcher in Environmental Archaeology - CADW Environmental Archaeologist
Academic Interests
Astrid's main research interests include the reconstruction of past environments, focusing particularly on the relationship between anthropogenic activity and environmental change, and the development of crop husbandry practices inWales. Her research includes the investigation of human activity and environmental change at both the wider landscape level and the local site level through the techniques of pollen and plant macrofossil analysis. Major areas of research include the investigation of spatial and temporal environmental changes in wetland areas using multiple pollen profiles combined with associated archaeological evidence.
One major project currently in progress with Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust is the investigation of the environmental conditions contemporary with the construction of the short dykes in Powys. This also entails a detailed radiocarbon dating to determine the date of the monuments. Initial results concerning the date of the monuments have already been published in the Archaeological Journal (see below). Another significant area of work is the investigation of environmental evidence associated with funerary and ritual monuments inWales. Some results have already been published (see below) while current investigations include analysis of evidence from Pant y Butler round barrows and Fan round barrow in Ceredigion, excavated by Dyfed Archaeological Trust, and further studies of sites in the Walton Basin excavated by Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust.
Other work currently being undertaken includes an investigation of the environmental conditions associated with a Bronze Age wooden trough and burnt mound excavated by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust at Porth Neigwl and the investigation of the environmental context of early fields in north-west Wales, also with Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Recent wetland work in southWaleshas included the investigation of the environmental conditions associated with a wooden trackway, excavated by Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, at Oystermouth inSwanseaBay. Astrid is also contributing to the preparation of a monograph, with Professor Martin Bell (ReadingUniversity), on Bronze Age sites in the inter-tidal area of the Severn Estuary.
Astrid has also contributed towards developing a research agenda for Walesand is currently preparing the second edition of Environmental Archaeology in Wales. She is responsible for palaeoenvironmental work on all Cadw-funded excavations inWales. She teaches palaeobotanical aspects of courses within the department.
Publications
Some recent publications include:
Caseldine, A.E. with Davies, J.L. 2010 The military impact on the environment and economy. In Burnham, B.C. and Davies, J.L.(Eds.), Roman Frontiers in Wales and the Marches, 147-157.
Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J. 2010 Charred plant remains and charcoal. In Gibson, A. Excavation and Survey at Dyffryn Lane Henge Complex, Powys, and a Reconsideration of the Dating of Henges. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 76, 241-242.
Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J. 2010 Charcoal and charred plant remains. In Jones, N.W., Womaston Neolithic causewayed enclosure, Powys: survey and excavation 2008. Archaeologia Cambrensis 158 (2009), 31-34.
Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J. 2010, Charred plant remains, charcoal, and pollen analysis. In Jones, N.W., Meusydd timber circles and ring-ditch, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys: excavation and survey, 2007. Archaeologia Cambrensis 158 (2009), 59-63.
Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J., 2009 The Environment and Economy at Skenfrith Castle. In Evans, P., Trott, K and Pannett, A., Excavations at Skenfrith Castle. Archaeologia Cambrensis, 156 (2007), 73-122.
Britnell, W.J., Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J. 2008 Partial excavation of a round barrow on Corndon Hill in 2006. Archaeology in Wales 48, 17-25.
Armour-Chelu, M., Bell, M., Brayshay, B., Britnell, W.J., Cameron, N., Caseldine, A.E., Dresser, P.Q., Fancourt, E., Gonzalez, S., Healey, E., Johnson, S., Norris-Hill, J., Schulting, R. and Thomas, D. 2007 Shell middens and their environment at Prestatyn, north Wales. In M. Bell, Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in western Britain.CBA Research Report 149, 263-317, CD20.17-23, CD20.38-44.
Brayshay, B. and Caseldine, A.E. 2007 Pollen Analysis. In Bell, M., Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in Western Britain, CBA Research Report 149, 287-295, CD20.17-CD20.20.
Caseldine,A.E. 2007 Plant macrofossil analysis. In Bell, M., Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in Western Britain. CBA Research Report 149. 295-296
Caseldine, A. 2007 Report on plant macrofossils from Melyd Avenue, Prestatyn. In Bell, M., Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in Western Britain. CBA Research Report 149, CD 20.41, 20.42.
Norris-Hill, J. and Caseldine, A. 2007 Report on pollen analysis from Melyd Avenue, Prestatyn. In Bell, M., Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in Western Britain. CBA Research Report 149, CD 20.38, CD 20.39, CD 20.40, CD 20.43 and CD 20.44.
Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J. 2006 The charred plant remains. In K. Murphy and T.J. Evans, Excavation of Neolithic pits, three ring-ditches and a palisaded enclosure at Cwm Meudwy, Llandysul, Ceredigion, 2003. Archaeologia Cambrensis 155, 42.
Caseldine, A. 2006 The environment and deserted rural settlements in Wales: Potential and possibilities for palaeoenvironmental studies. In K. Roberts (ed.) Lost Farmsteads Deserted Rural Settlements in Wales. CBA Research Report 148, 133-153.
Hankinson, R. and Caseldine, A. 2006 Short Dykes in Powys and their Origins. Archaeological Journal 163, 264-269.
Caseldine, A. and Earwood, C. 2004 A Neolithic Wetland Site at Abercynafon, Talybont, South Wales. Journal of Wetland Archaeology 4, 1-53.
Caseldine, A.E. 2004 Charred plant remains from the burnt timber. In B.C. Burnham and H. Burnham, Dolaucothi-Pumsaint: survey and excavations at a Roman gold-mining complex 1987-1999, 158-159. Oxford, Oxbow.
Caseldine, A.E. 2004 Pollen analysis from the pre-rampart and rampart area. In B.C. Burnham and H. Burnham, Dolaucothi-Pumsaint: survey and excavations at a Roman gold-mining complex 1987-1999, 153-158. Oxford, Oxbow.
Caseldine, A.E. 2004 The environmental evidence. In P. Muckle and D. Longley Excavations at Castellior, Anglesey. Archaeology in Wales 44, 40-41.
Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J. 2004 Palaeoenvironmental evidence from the Bronze Age house. In P. Crane, Excavations at Newton, Llanstadwell, Pembrokeshire. Archaeology in Wales 44, 9-10.
Caseldine, A.E. and Griffiths, C.J. 2004 Palaeoenvironmental evidence from the corn drying kiln. In P. Crane, Excavations at Newton, Llanstadwell, Pembrokeshire. Archaeology in Wales 44, 14-17.
Caseldine, A., Johnson, S. & Hunter, K. 2004 Plant macrofossils. In N. Nayling & S. McGrail, The Barland's Farm Romano-Celtic Boat. CBA Research Report 138, 40-49.
Walker, M.J.C. & Caseldine, A. 2004 Environmental overview. In N. Nayling & S. McGrail, The Barland's Farm Romano-Celtic Boat. CBA Research Report 138, 70-71.
