Dr Michael James Grant PhD, MSc, BSc

Enterprise Fellow in Marine Archaeology

Dr Michael James Grant is Enterprise Fellow in Marine Archaeology within Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton at the University of Southampton.

Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Oceanography with Physical Geography. Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton (2001)

MSc Geoarchaeology. School of Human and Earth Sciences, University of Reading (2002)

PhD: Physical Geography (Palaeoecology). Geography and Environment, University of Southampton (2005)

Employment
PDRA, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Kingston University (2006-2008)
Senior Environmental Archaeologist, Wessex Archaeology (2008-2013)
Enterprise Fellow, Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton (2013-present)

Research

Responsibilities

Publications

Contact

Research interests

Michael's research is related to Quaternary science and archaeology, specialising in palaeoecology, geoarchaeology and geochronology. He is best known as a pollen analyst and for the development of scheme-wide deposit and archaeological predictive models, as well as the production of archaeological scheme-based integrated reports and syntheses.

Early research was focused around vegetation history, most notably within ancient woodlands such as the New Forest. This led to the development of a Leverhulme Trust funded postdoctoral position, at Kingston University, focused upon understanding the effects of woodland management techniques upon pollen production and dispersal, enabling improved interpretations of palaeoenvironmental records. Current research is focused on developing our understanding of natural and anthropogenic driven processes within terrestrial and coastal wetlands.

Michael is experienced in the delivery of commercial archaeology projects, having worked previously at Wessex Archaeology for over five years. He was instrumental in several major multi-period terrestrial and marine infrastructure projects including High Speed 1, A46 Newark to Windmerpool Improvements and the London Olympic Park. Michael has substantial experience of working on a wide range of marine infrastructure projects including port developments, renewable energy projects, marine aggregates and channel dredging. As part of this commercial work he was actively involved in several internationally important research projects including the Dunbridge Lower Palaeolithic handaxe site, Farndon Fields Late Upper Palaeolithic site and the English Heritage NHPP Actively 4G1 Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic in the Middle Kennet Valley Project.

His current position, as an Enterprise Fellow, is situated within the University of Southampton enterprise unit entitled 'Coastal and Offshore Archaeological Research Services (COARS)'. This suitably combines his research and commercial fields of expertise. He is responsible for overseeing the delivery of a wide variety of archaeology consultancy and research projects for the benefit of commercial partners, ensuring that projects are delivered on schedule and to high industry quality standards. So far this has included working on several major marine infrastructure projects, including Hinkley Point and Sizewell C Nuclear Power Stations and the London Array offshore wind farm.

Affiliate research groups: Centre for Maritime Archaeology, SMMI

Research group

Geology and Geophysics

Michael is the main contact regarding the enterprise unit ‘Coastal and Offshore Archaeological Research Services (COARS)' and is responsible for the delivery of maritime archaeological projects in conjunction with commercial partners.

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Articles

Nicola, P., Andrew, M., Enid, A., Cobain, S., Geber, J., Grant, M., ... Sommerville, J. (2017). An Iron Age and early Roman farmstead at Calvestone Road, Cawston, near Rugby: excavations in 2012. Birmingham & Warwickshire Archaeological Society Transactions, 119, 13-49.
Grant, M., & Sturt, F. (2017). Clement Reid (FRS FLS FGS) - remembering a 19th century pioneer in British Quaternary Science at the centenary of his death. Quaternary Newsletter, 141, 22-25.
Waller, M., Carvalho, F., Grant, M. J., Bunting, M. J., & Brown, K. (2017). Disentangling the pollen signal from fen systems: modern and Holocene studies from southern and eastern England. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 238, 15-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2016.11.007
Henry, R., Grant, M., Pelling, R., & Roberts, D. (2017). The Pewsey vessel hoard, an initial assessment. Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, 110, 230-233.
Andrews, P., Thompson, S., Barclay, A. J., Dinwiddy, K. E., Grant, M. J., Harding, P., ... Wyles, S. F. (2016). An Early Beaker funerary monument at Porton Down, Wiltshire. Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, 109, 71-74.
Bunting, M. J., Grant, M. J., & Waller, M. (2016). Approaches to quantitative reconstruction of woody vegetation in managed woodlands from pollen records. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 225, 53-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.10.012
Bunting, M. J., Grant, M. J., & Waller, M. (2016). Pollen signals of ground flora in managed woodlands. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 224(2), 121-133. DOI: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.10.001
Griffiths, S., Sturt, F., Dix, J. K., Gearey, B., & Grant, M. J. (2015). Chronology and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in the sub-tidal zone: a case study from Hinkley Point. Journal of Archaeological Science, 54, 237-253. DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2014.12.008
Grant, M. J., Stevens, C. J., Whitehouse, N. J., Norcott, D. N., Macphail, R. I., Langdon, C., ... Ellis, C. (2014). A palaeoenvironmental context for Terminal Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic activity in the Colne Valley: Offsite records contemporary with occupation at Three Ways Wharf, Uxbridge. Environmental Archaeology, 19(2), 131-152. DOI: 10.1179/1749631413Y.0000000015
Grant, M. J., Hughes, P. D. M., & Barber, K. E. (2014). Climatic influence upon early to mid-Holocene fire regimes within temperate woodlands: a multi-proxy reconstruction from the New Forest, southern England. Journal of Quaternary Science, 29(2), 175-188. DOI: 10.1002/jqs.2692
Grant, M. J., & Harding, P. (2014). Farndon Fields, Nottinghamshire: in situ multi-phased Late Upper Palaeolithic activity on the floodplain. PAST: Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society, 76, 2-3.
Thompson, S., Manning, A., Barnett, C., Chandlet, J., Grant, M. J., Leivers, M., ... Wyles, S. F. (2014). Late prehistoric settlement and post-medieval industrial activity on the route of the A3 Hindhead Improvement Scheme. Surrey Archaeological Collections, 98, 1-27.
Sturt, F., Dix, J. K., Grant, M. J., Steadman, S., Scaife, R. G., Edwards, R., ... Jones, J. (2014). Life below the waves: palaeolandscapes preserved within the sub-tidal Bristol Channel. Archaeology in the Severn Estuary, 22, 41-66.
Dix, J. K., Sturt, F., Grant, M. J., & Steadman, S. (2014). Wrecks of Bridgwater Bay: a review of their status, history and significance. Archaeology in the Severn Estuary, 22, 93-104.
Clelland, S. E., Wyles, S. F., Grant, M. J., Norcott, D., Mepham, L., & Mckinley, J. I. (2013). Results of an archaeological watching brief on land adjacent to Warnford Road, Corhampton, Hampshire. Hampshire Studies: Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society, 68, 1-9.
Davis, B. A. S., Zanon, M., Collins, P., Mauri, A., Bakker, J., Barboni, D., ... Kaplan, J. O. (2013). The European Modern Pollen Database (EMPD) project. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 22, 521-530. DOI: 10.1007/s00334-012-0388-5
Fyfe, R. M., Twiddle, C., Sugita, S., Gaillard, M-J., Barratt, P., Caseldine, C. J., ... Waller, M. (2013). The Holocene vegetation cover of Britain and Ireland: overcoming problems of scale and discerning patterns of openness. Quaternary Science Reviews, 73, 132-148. DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.05.014
Harding, P., Bridgland, D. R., Allen, P., Bradley, P., Grant, M. J., Peat, D., ... White, T. S. (2012). Chronology of the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in NW Europe: developer-funded investigations at Dunbridge, Hampshire, southern England. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 123(4), 584-607. DOI: 10.1016/j.pgeola.2012.03.003
Grant, M. J. (2012). Climate-vegetation-fire interactions during the Holocene within the New Forest, Southern England. Quaternary International, 279-280, p176. DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2012.08.257
Waller, M., & Grant, M. J. (2012). Holocene pollen assemblages from coastal wetlands: differentiating natural and anthropogenic causes of change in the Thames estuary, UK. Journal of Quaternary Science, 27(5), 461-474. DOI: 10.1002/jqs.1570
Grant, M. J., & Stevens, C. J. (2012). Illuminating the hidden secrets of the London Olympic Park: significance of the environmental archaeology investigations. Association for Environmental Archaeology Newsletter, (18), 18-23.
Groves, J. A., Waller, M. P., Grant, M. J., & Schofield, J. E. (2012). Long-term development of a cultural landscape: the origins and dynamics of lowland heathland in southern England. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 21(6), 453-470. DOI: 10.1007/s00334-012-0372-0
Waller, M., Grant, M. J., & Bunting, M. J. (2012). Modern pollen studies from coppiced woodlands and their implications for the detection of woodland management in Holocene pollen records. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 187, 11-28. DOI: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2012.08.008
Clelland, S. E., Chandler, J., Grant, M. J., Leivers, M., Norcott, D., Pelling, R., & Seager Smith, R. (2012). Prehistoric to post-medieval occupation at Dowd’s Farm, Hedge End, Hampshire. Hampshire Studies: Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society, 67(1), 142-173.
Grant, M. J. (2012). Separating the signal from the noise: multi-site reconstructions of Holocene vegetation change (the Tilia and Ulmus declines) in lowland Britain. Quaternary International, 279-280, p176. DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2012.08.256
Grant, M. J. (2012). The Holocene evolution of the River Lea and surrounding landscape. Quaternary International, 279-280, p176. DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2012.08.258
Edwards, M. E., & Grant, M. J. (2011). Long-term perspectives on an iconic landscape: origins and future trajectories of the “Ancient and Ornamental Woodland”, New Forest, UK. PAGES News, 19(2), 51-53.
Grant, M. J., Waller, M. P., & Groves, J. A. (2011). The Tilia decline: vegetation change in lowland Britain during the mid and late Holocene. Quaternary Science Reviews, 30(3-4), 394-408. DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.11.022
Grant, M. J., & Edwards, M. E. (2008). Conserving idealized landscapes: past history, public perception and future management in the New Forest (UK). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 17(5), 551-562. DOI: 10.1007/s00334-007-0100-3
Ritchie, K., Allen, M. J., Chisham, C., Cooke, N., Crowther, J., Gale, R., ... Stevens, C. J. (2008). Environment and land use in the Lower Lea Valley c.12,500 BC – c.600 AD: Innova Park and the former Royal Ordnance Factory, Enfield. Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, 59, 1-38.
Gaillard, M-J., Sugita, S., Bunting, M. J., Middleton, R., Broström, A., Caseldine, C., ... Grant, M. J. (2008). The use of modelling and simulation approach in reconstructing past landscapes from fossil pollen data: a review and results from the POLLANDCAL network. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 17(5), 419-443. DOI: 10.1007/s00334-008-0169-3

Book Chapters

Barclay, A., & Grant, M. (2017). Dating the Cauldron Pit. In A. Baldwin, & J. Joy (Eds.), A Celtic Feast: The Iron Age Cauldrons from Chiseldon, Wiltshire (Vol. 203, pp. 95-96). [11] London: The British Museum.
Sturt, F., Dix, J., & Grant, M. J. (2017). Industry-linked research: submerged landscapes in English waters. In G. N. Bailey, J. Harff, & D. Sakellariou (Eds.), Under the Sea: Archaeology and Palaeolandscapes of the Continental Shelf (pp. 425-436). [28] (Coastal Research Library; Vol. 20). Cham, CH: Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53160-1_28
Grant, M. (2017). Palynology. In S. L. López Varela (Ed.), The SAS Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences Wiley Blackwell.
Grant, M. (2017). Pollen. In L. Higbee, & L. Mepham (Eds.), Living on the Edge: Archaeological investigations at Steart Point, Somerset (pp. 72-74). (Wessex Archaeology Occasional Paper). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Grant, M., & Waller, M. (2017). Resolving complexities of pollen data to improve interpretation of past human activity and natural processes. In M. Williams, T. Hill, I. Boomer, & I. Wilkinson (Eds.), The archaeological and forensic applications of microfossils: a deeper understanding of human history (pp. 103-119). Bath, GB: The Geological Society.
Grant, M. (2015). Pollen. In A. Barclay, L. Mepham, A. P. Powell, & C. J. Stevens (Eds.), Imperial College Sports Grounds and RMC Land, Harlington: The development of prehistoric and later communities in the Colne Valley and on the Heathrow Terraces (pp. 283-293). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Grant, M. J. (2015). Pollen analyses. In L. Tizzard, A. Bicket, & D. DeLoecker (Eds.), Seabed Prehistory: Investigating the Palaeogeography and Early Middle Palaeolithic Archaeology in the Southern North Sea (pp. 46-66). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Cooke, N., & Grant, M. J. (2014). Bingham Basin environs: early holocene to iron age environment and activity. In N. Cooke, & A. Mudd (Eds.), A46 Nottinghamshire: The Archaeology of the Newark to Widmerpool Improvement Scheme, 2009 (pp. 71-96). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Harding, P., Ellis, C., & Grant, M. J. (2014). Late upper palaeolithic Farndon Fields. In N. Cooke, & A. Mudd (Eds.), A46 Nottinghamshire: The Archaeology of the Newark to Widmerpool Improvement Scheme, 2009 (pp. 12-70). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Grant, M. (2013). Pollen Analysis. In M. Papworth (Ed.), Excavations at Thorncombe Beacon, Doghouse Hill and Golden Cap on the Golden Cap Estate, West Dorset (pp. 205-247). (Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society; Vol. 134). Dorchester, GB: Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society.
Barnett, C., Grant, M. J., Bates, M., Cameron, N., Harding, P., Smith, D., ... Wyles, S. F. (2013). The Lea Valley. In M. Bates, & E. Stafford (Eds.), A geoarchaeological approach to the investigation of the river floodplain for High Speed I, 1994-2003 (pp. 59-72). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Wyles, S. F., Stevens, C. J., & Grant, M. J. (2012). Economic plants: charred and waterlogged remains, and pollen. In A. B. Powell (Ed.), By River, Fields and Factories: The Making of the Lower Lea Valley – archaeological and cultural heritage investigations on the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (pp. 313-326). (Wessex Archaeology Report). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Stevens, C. J., Grant, M. J., Northcott, D., & Wyles, S. F. (2012). Environmental and Geoarchaeological Investigations. In A. B. Powell (Ed.), By River, Fields and Factories: The Making of the Lower Lea Valley – archaeological and cultural heritage investigations on the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (pp. 329--408). (Wessex Archaeology Report). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Stevens, C. J., Powell, A. B., & Grant, M. J. (2012). The origins and early occupants of the Lea Valley. In A. B. Powell (Ed.), By River, Fields and Factories: The Making of the Lower Lea Valley – archaeological and cultural heritage investigations on the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (pp. 17-32). (Wessex Archaeology Report). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Grant, M. J. (2011). Appendix V: Pollen Analysis. In J. Russell, L. Tizzard, & D. DeLoecker (Eds.), Seabed Prehistory: Site Evaluation Techniques (Area 240). Synthesis: Appendices (pp. 36-45). Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology. DOI: 10.5284/1008287
Grant, M. J., & Waller, M. P. (2010). Holocene fire histories from the edge of Romney Marsh. In M. Waller, E. Edwards, & L. Barber (Eds.), Romney Marsh: Persistence and Change in a Coastal Lowland (pp. 53-73). Sevenoaks, GB: Romney Marsh Research Trust.
Grant, M. J., Barber, K. E., & Hughes, P. D. M. (2009). Early to mid-Holocene vegetation-fire interactions and responses to climatic change at Cranes Moor, New Forest. In R. M. Briant, M. R. Bates, R. T. Hosfield, & F. F. Wenban-Smith (Eds.), The Quaternary of the Solent Basin and West Sussex Raised Beaches: Field Guide (pp. 198-214). London, GB: Quaternary Research Association.
Hosefield, R. T., Wenban-Smith, F. F., & Grant, M. J. (2009). Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Archaeology of the Solent Basin and western Sussex region. In R. M. Briant, M. R. Bates, R. T. Hosfield, & F. F. Wenban-Smith (Eds.), The Quaternary of the Solent Basin and West Sussex Raised Beaches: Field Guide (pp. 215-233). London, GB: Quaternary Research Association.
Grant, M. J., Barber, K. E., & Hughes, P. D. M. (2009). True ancient woodland? – 10,000 years of continuous woodland cover at Mark Ash Wood, New Forest. In R. M. Briant, M. R. Bates, R. T. Hosfield, & F. F. Wenban-Smith (Eds.), The Quaternary of the Solent Basin and West Sussex Raised Beaches: Field Guide (pp. 215-229). London, GB: Quaternary Research Association.

Conference

Foteu Madio, E. S., Dykes, A. P., Waller, M. P., Hughes, P. D. M., & Grant, M. J. (2012). Botanical and geotechnical influences on peat instability. In E. Eberhardt, C. Froese, K. Turner, & S. Leroueil (Eds.), Landslides and Engineered Slopes: Protecting Society through Improved Understanding, Proceedings of the 11th International & 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides, Alberta, Canada, June 2012 (pp. 421-427). Boca Raton, US: CRC Press.

Reports

Sturt, F., Standen, T., Grant, M., Dix, J., Marshall, P., Cameron, N., & Hughes, P. (2016). Determining potential: onshore/offshore prehistory. Southampton, GB: University of Southampton.
Grant, M. J., Dix, J. K., & Sturt, F. (2014). NHPP 2D2 (Project 6205): Development and delivery of a pilot marine geotechnical training course for archaeologists: Market Intelligence Gathering Report. Southampton, GB: COARS, University of Southampton. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1125.2321
Grant, M. J., Norcott, D., & Stevens, C. J. (2012). By river, fields and factories: the making of the Lower Lea Valley – archaeological and cultural heritage investigations on the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Section 1: Palaeo-environmental. Salisbury, GB: Wessex Archaeology.
Hughes, P. D. M., & Grant, M. J. (2006). Radiocarbon dating of the fen deposits at Cors Wern Goch, Coedydd Aber NNR, North Wales. (Reports from PLUS; No. 2006/01). Southampton, UK: PLUS.
Hughes, P. D. M., & Grant, M. J. (2005). A stratigraphic and palynological investigation of the fen deposits at Cors Wern Goch, Coedydd Aber NNR, North Wales. (Reports from PLUS; No. 2005/01). Southampton, UK: PLUS.

Dr Michael James Grant
Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Southampton
Avenue Campus, Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BF
United Kingdom

Room Number: NOCS/184/17

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