Dr Eileen Tisdall

Senior Lecturer

Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Eileen Tisdall

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About me

About me

Lecturer in Environmental Science

PhD ‘Holocene climate change in Glen Affric, Northern Scotland: A multi-proxy approach’, University of Stirling (2000) MSc Environmental Sciences, Trinity College Dublin (1996) BSc (Hons) Geology, University of Edinburgh (1993)

Background / Previous Posts Postdoctoral research assistant on Ben Lawers Historical Landscape Project. Part of a multi-disciplinary project examining change including peat spread and fluvial activity over the last 1000 years within a farming landscape funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage, National Trust for Scotland and Carnegie Trust For Scottish Universities. 2005-2006. Post doctoral research assistant (School of Biological and Environmental Sciences) and independent contract researcher (2000-2005). Research projects included: Literature review investigating the palaeoenvironmental setting of the Antonine wall, Central Scotland forming part of the proposal for UNESCO World Heritage Status for the Antonine Wall, in collaboration with Richard Tipping (University of Stirling) on behalf of Historic Scotland. Medieval and Post Medieval environmental reconstruction for Old Caerlaverock Castle Dumfriesshire. This project investigated the landscape around the castle during occupation and from sediments infilling the castle moat, determined possible reasons for its abandonment after only 50 years of occupation in collaboration with Richard Tipping (University of Stirling) and Martin Brann (Historic Scotland). Peat sediment analysis investigating changes in mire surface wetness identified using humification analysis at Loch Farlary, Sutherland, Scottish Natural Heritage. Later Mesolithic and Neolithic Landscape Reconstruction at Oliclette, near Wick, Caithness. The project involved investigating potential palynological sites and the spatial and temporal spread of blanket peat across the landscape, Historic Scotland and Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise. In collaborations with Richard Tipping (University of Stirling) and Amelia Pannett (University of Cardiff).

Research (10)

Current research interests are centered on investigating Holocene climate change in particular defining the record in terms of single climatic variables. Obtaining single climatic variables is highly desirable and so I am currently interested in the development and refining of climate proxies in particular peat stratigraphic techniques such as humification. In addition I am investigating the application of Chironomids as a proxy for Holocene temperature change and as a proxy for environmental change. Such well defined and highly resolved climate records could then be used to determine the influence of changes in ocean circulation patterns such as those in the North Atlantic. I am also interested in further developing chronological controls in particular the use of spheriodal carbonaceous particles to achieve a near annual resolution within the recent palaeoenvironmental record. This resolution is fundamental to inter-disciplinary research where landscape evolution can only be understood through the integration of past records of climate change and human activity, thus providing a model for future changes. Current research has also led me to Iceland where there is the opportunity to interpret changes in landscape as a response to both human activity and climate change over the past 1000 yrs. Iceland with its wealth of archaeological and documentary evidence is an exciting research area allowing the palaeoenvironmental record to reveal how the Norse peoples responded to and were drivers of change in this fascinating landscape. I am also keen to promote the application of palaeoenvironmental techniques to landscape conservation issues such as biodiversity and changes in habitat as a response to human activity and climate change.

Projects

Measuring medieval users' responses to manuscripts: new technological responses
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: The Leverhulme Trust

Dating, construction and function of cultivation terraces at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
PI: Dr Clare Wilson
Funded by: The British Academy

Long-term land use, archaeological and environmental changes in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Historic Environment Scotland

Ben Lomond environmental study
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: The National Trust for Scotland

Environmental Reconstruction of Moredun Top Iron Age Hill Fort
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust

SAGES Funding - ECR exchanges with Europe, North America, China, India
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society

The Flow Country Peatlands: Studying the past to shape the future
PI:
Funded by: The Carnegie Trust

Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction of Mesolithic Orkney evidence from Stronsay
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Orkney College

The use of Chironomidae larvae to define Holocene environmental change
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: The Carnegie Trust

Palaeoenvironmental study of early Holocene human settlement on Stronsay, Orkney
PI:
Funded by: Orkney College

Outputs (33)

Outputs

Article

McCulloch RD, Mansilla CA, Roberts SJ & Tisdall EW (2023) Late Quaternary climatic inferences from southern Patagonia (∼53°S): A holistic palaeoecological approach to tracking the behaviour of the southern westerly winds. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 631, Art. No.: 111822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111822


Article

McCulloch RD, Mansilla CA, Martin F, Borrero L, Staff RA & Tisdall EW (2021) The nature and timing of landscape change at Cerro Benítez, Última Esperanza, southern Patagonia (52°S): New insights into the history of megafaunal extinctions and human occupation. Quaternary International, 601, pp. 116-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2021.07.018


Research Report

Tipping R, McCulloch R & Tisdall E (2008) Field by Field. Historic Period Environmental Change on a Hill Farming Landscape at Ben Lawers - Final Report to the National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. The National Trust for Scotland; Scottish Natural Heritage; Historic Scotland; The Carnegie Trust. University of Stirling.


Conference Proceeding

Tipping R, Tisdall E, Davies A, Wilson C & Yendell S (2007) Living with peat in the flow country: prehistoric farming communities and blanket peat spread at Oliclett, Caithness, northern Scotland. In: Barber J, Clark C, Cressey M, Crone A, Hale A, Henderson J, Housley R, Sands R, Sheridan A & Scottish WAP( (eds.) Archaeology from the Wetlands: Recent Perspectives: Proceedings of the 11th WARP Conference, Edinburgh 2005. WARP Occasional Papers. 11th Annual WARP conference, Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, pp. 165-173. http://www.socantscot.org/partnumber.asp?cid=&pnid=116854


Conference Proceeding

Tipping R, Ashmore P, Davies A, Haggart BA, Moir A, Newton A, Sands R, Skinner T & Tisdall E (2007) Peat, pine stumps and people: interactions behind climate, vegetation change and human activity in wetland archaeology at Loch Farlary, northern Scotland. In: Barber J, Clark C, Cressey M, Crone A, Hale A, Henderson J, Housley R, Sands R, Sheridan A & Scottish WAP( (eds.) Archaeology from the Wetlands: Recent Perspectives: Proceedings of the 11th WARP Conference, Edinburgh 2005. WARP Occasional Papers. 11th Annual WARP conference, Edinburgh. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, pp. 157-164. http://www.socantscot.org/partnumber.asp?cid=&pnid=116854


Book Chapter

Tipping R & Tisdall E (2004) Continuity, crisis and climate change in the Neolithic and early Bronze Age periods of north-west Europe. In: Shepherd I & Barclay G (eds.) Scotland in Ancient Europe. The Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Scotland in their European Context. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, pp. 71-82. http://www.socantscot.org/partnumber.asp?pnid=116827


Book Chapter

Tipping R, Davies A, Dawson A, Smith D, Tisdall E & Tyler A (2004) Landscape development and the Medieval coastline. In: Brann M (ed.) Excavations at Caerlaverock Old Castle 1998-99. Dumfries: Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, pp. 9-15.


Book Chapter

Tipping R, Davies A, Dawson A, Dawson S, Kontrowitz M, Smith DE, Tisdall E & Tyler A (2004) Medieval coastal impacts on Caerlaverock Castle. In: Brann M (ed.) Excavations at Caerlaverock Old Castle 1998-99. Dumfries: Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, pp. 99-109.


Book Chapter

Tipping R, Davies A, Reid E & Tisdall E (2003) Late Quaternary landscape evolution of Glen Affric and Kintail. In: Tipping R (ed.) The Quaternary of Glen Affric and Kintail: Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association field guides. London: Quaternary Research Association, pp. 9-28. http://qra.org.uk/publications/field_guides


Book Chapter

Tipping R, Tisdall E & Davies A (2003) Peat development in West Glen Affric. In: Tipping R (ed.) The Quaternary of Glen Affric and Kintail: Field guide. Quaternary Research Association field guides. London: Quaternary Research Association, pp. 49-54. http://qra.org.uk/publications/field_guides


Book Chapter

Tipping R, Davies A & Tisdall E (1999) The West Affric Forest Restoration Initiative: Palaeoecological Approaches. In: Tipping R (ed.) Using the Past in the Future of Scotland’s New Native Woodlands. Scottish Woodland History Discussion Group Notes, 4. St Andrews: Scottish Woodland History Group, pp. 13-21. http://nwdg.org.uk/doc/SWHDG_Notes04_1999.pdf


Book Chapter

Davies A, Tipping R & Tisdall E (1997) Palaeoenvironmental perspectives on woodland sustainability. In: Smout T (ed.) Scottish Woodland History Discussion Group: 2nd Meeting. Notes, II. Lochgilphead: Scottish Woodland History Discussion Group, pp. 18-21. http://nwdg.org.uk/doc/SWHDG_Notes02_1997.pdf