Senior Lecturer
Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
I am a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Geography and I use palaeoenvironmental techniques to better understand the interactions between people and their environment in the past so that we can inform the future.
Biography •Lecturer/Senior lecturer in Environmental Geography (2007 onwards- University of Stirling) •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 (Historic Environment Scotland); Medieval and Post Medieval environmental reconstruction for Old Caerlaverock Castle Dumfriesshire (Historic Environment Scotland); Later Mesolithic and Neolithic Landscape Reconstruction at Oliclette, near Wick, Caithness (Historic Environment Scotland and Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise). •PhD Holocene climate change in Glen Affric, Northern Scotland: A multi-proxy - University of Stirling (2000) •MSc Environmental Sciences, Trinity College Dublin (1996) •BSc (First Class Hons) Geology, University of Edinburgh (1993)
I am very much a generalist and an interdisciplinary researcher, combining earth and natural sciences with the arts and humanities. Current research interests are centred on investigating Holocene and Late Glacial climate change in particular defining the record in terms of single climatic variables. I am currently investigating the application of Chironomids as a proxy for temperature and environmental change in Tierra del Fuego, Chile. I actively 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. Current research interests are also focused on the novel application of palaeoenvironmental techniques, here the presence of pollen and other organic remains on Medieval manuscripts.
Developing a skill-based pedagogical framework for sustainability
PI: Mr Neil McDonald
Funded by: The British Ecological Society
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Measuring medieval users' responses to manuscripts: new technological responses
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: The Leverhulme Trust
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Dating, construction and function of cultivation terraces at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
PI: Dr Clare Wilson
Funded by: The British Academy
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Long-term land use, archaeological and environmental changes in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Historic Environment Scotland
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Ben Lomond environmental study
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: The National Trust for Scotland
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Environmental Reconstruction of Moredun Top Iron Age Hill Fort
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust
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SAGES Funding - ECR exchanges with Europe, North America, China, India
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society
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The Flow Country Peatlands: Studying the past to shape the future
PI:
Funded by: The Carnegie Trust
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Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction of Mesolithic Orkney evidence from Stronsay
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: Orkney College
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The use of Chironomidae larvae to define Holocene environmental change
PI: Dr Eileen Tisdall
Funded by: The Carnegie Trust
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Palaeoenvironmental study of early Holocene human settlement on Stronsay, Orkney
PI:
Funded by: Orkney College
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Article
Mcculloch RD, Bentley MJ, Fabel D, Fernández-Navarro H, Garcia JL, Hein AS, Huynh C, Jamieson SSR, Lira M, Lüthgens C, Nield GA, San Román M & Tisdall EW (2024) Resolving the paradox of conflicting glacial chronologies: Reconstructing the pattern of deglaciation of the Magellan cordilleran ice dome (53–54°S) during the last glacial – interglacial transition. Quaternary Science Reviews, 344, Art. No.: 108866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108866
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
Tisdall E & Miller AD (2022) Recognising geodiversity and encouraging geoconservation—Some lessons from Callander, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2022.08.001
Article
Possible climatically driven, later prehistoric woodland decline on Ben Lomond, central Scotland
Barclay R, Ferreira C, Ballantyne E, Tipping R & Tisdall E (2022) Possible climatically driven, later prehistoric woodland decline on Ben Lomond, central Scotland. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-022-00871-4
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
Article
McCulloch RD, Tisdall EW & Cressey M (2021) Roman Frontiers and Landscapes of Occupation: Road Building and Landscape Change in the Hadrianic-Antonine Frontier Zone. Environmental Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.1080/14614103.2021.1877511
Website Content
Children’s access to a system of complaints and redress in family law: accountability for children
Morrison F & Tisdall K (2020) Children’s access to a system of complaints and redress in family law: accountability for children. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 24.08.2020. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2020/08/24/childrens-access-to-a-system-of-complaints-and-redress-in-family-law-accountability-for-children/
Article
Late glacial and Holocene climate variability, southernmost Patagonia
McCulloch RD, Blaikie J, Jacob B, Mansilla CA, Morello F, De Pol-Holz R, Román MS, Tisdall E & Torres J (2020) Late glacial and Holocene climate variability, southernmost Patagonia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 229, Art. No.: 106131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.106131
Article
McCulloch RD, Mansilla CA, Morello F, De Pol-Holz R, San Roman M, Tisdall E & Torres J (2019) Late glacial and Holocene landscape change and rapid climate and coastal impacts in the Canal Beagle, southernmost Patagonia. Journal of Quaternary Science, 34 (8), pp. 674-684. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3167
Article
Tisdall E, Barclay R, Nichol A, McCulloch R, Simpson I, Smith H & Vésteinsson O (2018) Palaeoenvironmental evidence for woodland conservation in Northern Iceland from settlement to the twentieth century. Environmental Archaeology, 23 (3), pp. 205-216. https://doi.org/10.1080/14614103.2018.1437105
Article
Tisdall E, McCulloch R, Sanderson D, Simpson I & Woodward N (2013) Living with sand: A record of landscape change and storminess during the Bronze and Iron Ages Orkney, Scotland. Quaternary International, 308-309, pp. 205-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2013.05.016
Article
Shieling Areas: Historical Grazing Pressures and Landscape Responses in Northern Iceland
Brown J, Simpson I, Morrison S, Adderley WP, Tisdall E & Vésteinsson O (2012) Shieling Areas: Historical Grazing Pressures and Landscape Responses in Northern Iceland. Human Ecology, 40 (1), pp. 81-99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-011-9456-1
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.
Article
Response to late Bronze Age climate change of farming communities in north east Scotland
Tipping R, Davies A, McCulloch R & Tisdall E (2008) Response to late Bronze Age climate change of farming communities in north east Scotland. Journal of Archaeological Science, 35 (8), pp. 2379-2386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2008.03.008
Article
Tipping R, Ashmore P, Davies A, Haggart BA, Moir A, Newton A, Sands R, Skinner T & Tisdall E (2008) Prehistoric Pinus woodland dynamics in an upland landscape in northern Scotland: the roles of climate change and human impact. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 17 (3), pp. 251-267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-007-0120-z
Conference Paper (published)
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 Paper (published)
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
Article
The landscape context of the Antonine Wall: a review of the literature
Tipping R & Tisdall E (2005) The landscape context of the Antonine Wall: a review of the literature. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 135, pp. 443-469. http://www.socantscot.org/publications.asp
Book Chapter
Tipping R, McCulloch R, Tisdall E, Senior A & McEwen A (2005) Peat Stratigraphic Approaches to Historic Landscape and Ecological Changes on Ben Lawers National nature Reserve. In: The Ben Lawers Historic Landscape Project Annual Report 2004-2005. Edinburgh: National Trust for Scotland, pp. 22-23.
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
Landscape development and the Medieval coastline
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
Medieval coastal impacts on Caerlaverock Castle
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
Davies A, Tisdall E & Tipping R (2004) Holocene climatic variability and human settlement in the Scottish Highlands: fragility and robustness. In: Housley R & Coles G (eds.) Atlantic Connections & Adaptations. Symposia of the Association for Environmental Archaeology, 21. Oxford: Oxbow Books, pp. 2-11. http://www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/atlantic-connections-and-adaptations.html
Other
Trees and wild land values in West Glen Affric: a personal view
Tipping R, Davies A & Tisdall E (2004) Trees and wild land values in West Glen Affric: a personal view. Wild Land News, (61), pp. 14-17. http://www.swlg.org.uk/uploads/6/3/3/8/6338077/61_-_autumn_2004.pdf
Other
Between a rock and a hard place: the persistence of people in the Scottish Highlands
Tipping R, Davies A, Tisdall E & Reid E (2004) Between a rock and a hard place: the persistence of people in the Scottish Highlands. Earth Heritage, (21), pp. 22-23. http://www.earthheritage.org.uk/ehpdf/EH-21.pdf
Book Chapter
Late Quaternary landscape evolution of Glen Affric and Kintail
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
Peat development in West Glen Affric
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, Tisdall E & Davies A (2003) Delayed deglaciation from the Loch Lomond Readvance: radiocarbon dated sequences from West Glen Affric. In: Tipping R (ed.) The Quaternary of Glen Affric and Kintail: Field guide. Quaternary Research Association field guide. London: Quaternary Research Association, pp. 85-92. http://qra.org.uk/publications/field_guides
Research Report
Tipping R, Ashmore P, Davies A, Haggart BA, Moir A, Newton A, Sands R, Skinner T & Tisdall E (2003) The Chronology, Significance and Environmental Context of Later Prehistoric Axe Marks on in situ Pine trees at Farlary, near Golspie, Sutherland. Historic Scotland. Historic Scotland.
Research Report
Tipping R, Davies A, Dawson A, Dawson S, Kontrowitz M, Smith D, Tisdall E & Tyler A (2002) Impacts of High Relative Sea Levels and Coastal Floods at Old Caerlaverock Castle in and after the 13th Century AD. Historic Scotland. Archive Report. Historic Scotland.
Other
Tipping R, Davies A & Tisdall E (1999) The West Affric Restoration Initiative: Palaeoecological Approaches to New Native Woodland Restoration. Views, 30 (53) p. 53-55.
Book Chapter
The West Affric Forest Restoration Initiative: Palaeoecological Approaches
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
Article
Woodland biodiversity, palaeo-human ecology and some implications for conservation management
Tipping R, Buchanan J, Davies A & Tisdall E (1999) Woodland biodiversity, palaeo-human ecology and some implications for conservation management. Journal of Biogeography, 26 (1), pp. 33-43. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.1999.00282.x
Book Chapter
Palaeoenvironmental perspectives on woodland sustainability
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
I currently lead/teach on the following modules: •ENVU1BP – Building Planet Earth (module coordinator) •SCIU3FS – Field Skills for Sustainable Solutions (module coordinator) •GEOU3BE – Biogeography •GEOU9IC- Scotland Field Class •UNIU9A1- Wicked Problems, Sustainable Solutions •ENVU6SP – Sustainable Landscapes •SCIU9PS/SCIU9PS – Undergraduate Dissertation •ENMPG30/ENMPG18 – MSc Dissertation
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy I am Deputy Programme Director for Environmental Geography I chair the University of Stirling Embedding Sustainability in Learning Teaching and Research working group.
