Olivia Russell
Olivia's subject area is archaeology. Her PhD project title is 'In Life, Through Death: Bracteate Biographies and the Polysemy of Bracteates in Late Antique Europe'
14 March 2024
Project title
In Life, Through Death: Bracteate Biographies and the Polysemy of Bracteates in Late Antique Europe
Supervisors:
Project Description
I will use bracteates (gold disc pendants found in Late Antique/early medieval contexts across Europe) to provide innovative ways of engaging with Late Antique material culture and harbour a new understanding of 5th and 6th century Europe. Combining use-wear analysis, landscape archaeology, and a relational-biographical approach, I will investigate how all stages of a bracteate's life, from manufacture to deposition, show how Late Antique individuals used bracteates to articulate their identities and deconstruct bracteate studies by breaking free from the rigid, pan-Germanic interpretations that have dominated the field for decades.
Research Grants: Iland Postgraduate Research Studentship
Publications
- Russell, O.N. “The Undercurrent of Female Power in the North Atlantic,” review of The Valkyries Loom: The Archaeology of Cloth Production and Female Power in the North Atlantic by Smith, M.H. American Anthropological Association Anthropology Book Forum. 2021. https://anthrobookforum.americananthro.org/?book-review=the-undercurrent-of-female-power-in-the-north-atlantic
Conference Papers:
- Russell, O.N., Bracteate Biographies: An Investigation into the Usefulness of a Relational-Biographical Approach. TAG_2021 (Antiquity), Session 6: 'Living in Material Worlds'. (December 2021)
- Russell, O.N., Heirlooms and Amulets: The Social Significance of Bracteates in Early Medieval England. White Rose Medieval Graduate Conference (University of York - University of Leeds); Panel: 'Adorned Selves'. (June 2021)
Qualifications
- RPA 4636 (Registered professional Archaeologist) Autumn 2020 – Present.
- MA in Archaeology: Artefacts and Technologies from Newcastle University (Distinction). Dissertation Title – Heirlooms and Amulets: The Social Significance of Bracteates in Early Anglo-Saxon England. Autumn 2019 – Autumn 2020.
- BA in Anthropology and Liberal Arts with a concentration in Art History from Louisiana State University (Summa Cum Laude) Autumn 2016 – Spring 2019.
Fieldwork and Lab Experience
- Assistant Project Manager II, R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc. (October 2021 – August 2022) Aided in the management and completion of various commercial archaeology projects in Louisiana and the southeastern US from logistics coordination and field work to report writing
- Archaeologist II, R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc. (February 2021 – October 2021) Conducted archaeological surveys in Louisiana and the southeastern US. Aided in artifact processing and other post-excavation tasks when necessary
- Archaeological Field Technician III, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc. (October 2020 – January 2021) Conducted archaeological surveys near and around Shreveport, Louisiana, US
- Field Crew Member and Field School Student (June 2019 – July 2019) Archaeological Field School at Bamburgh Castle in Bamburgh, Northumberland, UK (conducted through the Bamburgh Research Project). Conducted excavations and lab work at the primarily early medieval site
- Volunteer Archaeological Lab Technician, LSU Museum of Natural Science, Archaeology Lab in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (September 2017 – May 2019) Responsible for the analysis, classification and organization of faunal remains and lithics from Native American sites in the Southeastern US
- Field Crew Member and Field School Student (May 2018 – June 2018) Archaeological Field School at the Feltus Site near Natchez, Mississippi, US (conducted through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Conducted excavations and lab work at the primarily Late Woodland Period mound site