John Marston is a distinguished environmental archaeologist renowned for his research into the long-term sustainability of agriculture and land use in ancient societies. His work primarily focuses on the Mediterranean, Near East, and central Asia, regions crucial to understanding the development of early civilizations and their interactions with their environments. Through meticulous analysis of archaeological plant remains and innovative application of ecological theory, Marston provides valuable insights into how past communities managed their resources and adapted to changing conditions.
Expertise in Paleoethnobotany and Ecological Approaches
As a specialist in paleoethnobotany, the study of ancient plant remains, John Marston has significantly contributed to the field by developing novel methods that bridge ecological theory with archaeological practices. This interdisciplinary approach allows for a deeper understanding of ancient agricultural and land-use strategies, reconstructed from the tangible evidence left behind in archaeological sites. His research delves into the decision-making processes of past peoples regarding land use, considering the influence of fluctuating economic, social, and environmental factors. He examines how these decisions shaped the environment at both local and broader regional scales, offering crucial perspectives on human-environment dynamics throughout history.
Research Focus: Sustainability, Resilience, and Adaptation
John Marston’s research interests are broad yet interconnected, encompassing environmental archaeology, sustainability and resilience studies, and agricultural risk management. He is deeply involved in the archaeology of the Mediterranean, Near East, and central Asia, regions offering rich case studies of long-term human-environment interactions. His work also engages with ecological and social theory, archaeological science, and writing pedagogy, reflecting a commitment to both rigorous research and effective communication of knowledge. Marston’s investigations extend to the comparative study of cultural adaptation to environmental and climate change, both in the past and present, highlighting the relevance of archaeological insights for contemporary challenges. He is also developing innovative methods to map the spatial distribution of land use using archaeological plant and animal remains, and exploring the complex ecology of plague in historical contexts.
Key Archaeological Projects and Fieldwork
John Marston’s extensive fieldwork and research projects span across critical geographical areas and time periods. His current projects include multi-proxy reconstruction of agriculture in Bronze and Iron Age urban centers in Turkey, providing detailed insights into the agricultural practices of these early urban societies. He also conducts research at Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Islamic sites in Israel, investigating agricultural economies and land use transformations across these significant historical periods. Furthermore, Marston is involved in projects in the Aegean region, including work at the Agora of Athens in Greece, and in central Asia with the Khorezm Ancient Agriculture Project in Uzbekistan. These diverse geographical locations and chronological periods reflect the breadth of his expertise and the wide-ranging impact of his research.
Publications and Scholarly Contributions
John Marston’s research is widely disseminated through numerous publications, including articles in leading academic journals and edited volumes. His representative publications showcase the depth and breadth of his scholarly contributions. Notable works include “Mapping land use with integrated environmental archaeological datasets” (2024), which explores advanced methodologies in archaeological research, and “Crop introductions and agricultural change in Anatolia during the long first millennium CE” (2023), examining agricultural transformations in Anatolia. His publications in Vegetation History and Archaeobotany on urban and Hellenistic agricultural economies at Ashkelon (2022) and agropastoral economies in Bronze Age western Anatolia (2022) further demonstrate his expertise in paleoethnobotanical analysis and regional studies. His comprehensive overview of “Archaeological approaches to agricultural economies” in the Journal of Archaeological Research (2021) is a key contribution to the methodological and theoretical frameworks of the field. Additionally, his book Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Change at Ancient Gordion (2017) is a seminal work in the environmental archaeology of the region.
John Marston’s ongoing research and publications continue to advance the field of environmental archaeology, providing crucial insights into the long-term interactions between humans and their environment and the factors that contribute to sustainable agricultural practices across millennia. His work is invaluable for understanding past societies and offers important lessons for addressing contemporary challenges related to sustainability and environmental change.
