1993-1995. I was offered a technical research position with Dr. Charles French and Dr. Wendy Mathews in the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge. It is here that I learned to produce thin-sections of archaeological  sediments for a SERC (pre-NERC) research funded project looking at 'Understanding the Occupational Sequences and Use of Space in Ancient Tell Sites of the Near East'. This project demanded the production of nearly 300 thin-sections from Tell Brak, Syria, Saar, Bahrain, and Catalhoyuk, Turkey. The results were so successful, that a further two years of funding was granted through the Leverhulme Trust.

1998-2007. After five years of contract research, I was officially offered a permanent position on the support staff of the Department of Archaeology as a Senior Research Technician with Dr. Charles French in the Charles McBurney Laboratory for Geoarchaeology. I taught thin-sectioning to the Archaeological Science MPhil and PhD students of the Department, as well as supporting the overall undergraduate teaching program on and off site in the field. During this period, I found friends and formed collaborative links within the Cambridge Quaternary Group. Together, with Dr. Steve Boreham of the Department of Geography and Dr. Charles French, we developed a linked graduate teaching program in 'Defining and Interpreting Palaeoenvironments' with the use of soil and sediment science. This cooperative teaching link still exists between the two Departments.

Some of my highlights at the Department of Archaeology:
 

• Department Training Excavations, for the second year undergraduates at Wandlebury Iron Age Fort, and the Over Monuments Excavations, Needingworth Quarry, (1995-2006). All of the Training Excavations were a collaborative effort between the Cambridge Archaeology Unit and Department. I remember them with great affection and a celebration of teaching Archaeology as a profession.

• I hosted the '1st Meeting of the 'Craft of Thin-sectioning' at the Department of Archaeology, (2001). Over forty fellow thin-sectioner's and researchers from the UK gathered together to discuss and share their work. 'The Society of Thin-sectioner's was founded at the meeting, and continues to meet to share ideas, the latest methodologies and the 'craft'.

• I collaborated with Dr. Wendy Matthews to create an exhibition on 'Life at the Ancient Tell Site of Catalhoyuk, Turkey', at the Science Museum of Minnesota (2002). Thin-sections slides from archaeological features were produced and displayed as 'musuem objects' to the public, in an effort to demonstrate and describe the fine microscopic details of everyday life in the ancient Neolithic city of Catalhoyuk, 7100-7300 BC(new dates).

• 'Long Term Landscape and Fire History of the Riparian areas of Northern New Mexico' (2002-2007), was a five year collaboration with Dr. Charles French and Dr. Richard Periman of the United States Department of Agriculture, at the Rocky Mountain Station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During the first three years of fieldwork, major standstill phases defining the last 5000 years of the Holocene erosion record were discovered in modern incisions of the Rio Puerco river just NW of Cuba, New Mexico. This included a very well developed phase of the Archaic period (2000-3000 BP), associated with ditch features which suggested floodplain management, possibly for maize agriculture. Please have a look in my Gallery for photos from this work. You can also read about this research in Geoarchaeology, Vol 24, Issue 5, pgs 638-676, September/October 2009.

• I was asked to produce forensic thin-sections in relation to the 'Soham Murders' case (2003), investigated by the Cambridgeshire police. The results of my work, along with other forensic specialists formed a substantial body of evidence, which helped secure a conviction in this case.

• 'Wild Food' (2006) with Ray Mears, UK television show. I joined Dr. Steve Boreham and Chris Rolfe, from the Department of Geography, as the support team for the deep coring of Holocene sediments from Hockham Mere, Norfolk. In the show, we were able to demonstrate through the sediment history evidence for food in the hunter-gatherer environment of c. 8000 BP. Please, have a look in my Photo Gallery.

2007.  I left the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, and started my own freelance business producing thin-sections for an international market, and pursuing my own research interests. Although, it has been very difficult, 'earthslides.com' is now in its fourth year of business. You might be interested to read about a few of the projects and activities I've been involved in with 'earthslides'.

2008.

• 'Hidden Worlds - A Journey in Geoarchaeology', World Archaeological Congress in Dublin, Ireland. This exhibition of soils and sediments gathered together the research work of some of my closest colleagues from the Department of Archaeology. My idea was to present the 'Science' of Geoarchaeology as 'Art'. Each donated thin-section was scanned and produced as an A1 poster. Visitors were provided with a gallery catalogue, and were able to view thin-sections from around the world in a new and truly unique format and space. Another aspect of the show, was to take a closer look at how Geoarchaeologists write about and describe the micromorphology images they create. The catalogue provided a 'science description' with a 'public description' for every image. This proved to be an exciting and enlightening exercise for the researchers and the gallery visitors alike.

• Star Carr, Yorkshire, UK. My husband, Dr. Steve Boreham, and myself were asked by English Heritage to advise and carry out extensive fieldwork and associated laboratory work on the organic sediments at Star Carr. In partnership with the excavation team, led by Dr. Nicky Milner and Dr. Chantal Conneller, we investigated the effect of these sediments on the preservation of the Mesolithic artifacts and wood at the site. Our results suggest that repeated drying out and re-wetting of the sediments due to climate and recent human interaction has now put the archaeology of Star Carr at high risk. English Heritage has offered to contribute further funding towards a managed excavation of the remaining preserved areas of the site, based on results of our work and other invited specialist consultants. Star Carr is unique, and one of very few existing Mesolithic sites in the UK and Europe. Have a look in my Gallery to see some of the fieldwork photos. Please visit the Star Carr website.
  

2009.

• 'Where are we now with Archaeological Soil Micromorphology?' I was an invited speaker at 'Archaeological Soil Micromorphology Workshop', in Poviglio, Italy. My presentation was entitled 'Hidden Worlds made Visible'. I was able to progress the ideas from the 'Hidden Worlds' exhibition by showing the participants micromorphology images set to music. I also talked about the need to understand the world of the thin-sectioner and the history of our craft.

•  I attended the 'Geoarchaeology 2009 - from the Field to Laboratory' Conference, at the University of Sheffield, Department of Geography. 

2010.