Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

The archaeology of Early Medieval and Medieval craft activity and settlement in Ireland. Particular focus on secular settlement, economy, the continuation of traditional practice, and the creation of deliberate links with the past.

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Personal profile

Biography

Dr. Michelle Comber's research interests lie mainly in the archaeology of Ireland's Early Medieval period, especially its fine metalwork, economy, and settlement. Michelle is a graduate of the Department of Archaeology, NUI, Galway, having completed her primary degree in 1994 (in English and Archaeology), Masters degree in 1996 as an NUI Galway fellow (examining the production of fine metalwork in Early Medieval Ireland), and PhD in 2000 as one of the first IRCHSS scholars (exploring the economy of native Early Medieval settlement in Ireland). She then held a one-year post-doctoral research post at the Centre for the Study of Human Settlement and Historical Change (now the Moore Institute) at NUI, Galway, and has 30 years excavation experience. She has been tutoring and lecturing with the Archaeology department at NUI, Galway (now University of Galway) since 1994, initially directing the department's part-time diplomas in archaeology. She also served, until 2014, as Academic Co-ordinator of the Irish Studies Online programme, a series of web-based courses in Irish Studies developed by (then) NUI, Galway in conjunction with Regis University, Denver, Colorado, and - in addition -directed the university's diploma in Irish Studies until 2023.

Undergraduate and postgraduate lecturing and supervision concentrates on the archaeology of Ireland's Early Medieval and Medieval periods, artefact studies, and archaeological excavation and post-excavation. Modules include, for example, Archaeology and Irish Identity, Introduction to Archaeological Excavation, and Archaeological Post-excavation.

Michelle is currently writing up the results of a major research project examining the archaeological landscape of the Burren, Co. Clare, involving over a decade of excavations at Caherconnell in the heart of the Burren (where she was director of an international field school, the Caherconnell Archaeological Field School). 

In 2025, she is launching a new research project on the Maree peninsula, Co. Galway. This is designed to examine land-use through time, and will partner with other ENLIGHT universities and Ireland's Discovery Programme. It is hoped that its excavation element will help equip third-level students with useful career skills.

Public lectures and conference papers have been given throughout Ireland, Scotland, England, and the USA. Michelle has published two monographs based on her MA and PhD theses (2004 Native Evidence of Non-ferrous Metalworking in Early Historic Ireland. BAR International Series 1296, Oxford, and 2008 The Economy of the Ringfort and Contemporary Settlement in Early Medieval Ireland. BAR International Series 1773, Oxford), contributed chapters to a number of books, edited a festschrift, and written articles for academic and popular publications such as Medieval Archaeology, the Journal of the North Atlantic, the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, the Journal of Irish Archaeology, and Archaeology Ireland. Since 2003, Michelle has won over €250,000 in research grants from the Heritage Council, INSTAR (as joint Principal Investigator), the Royal Irish Academy, and the Irish Research Council.

Her work has featured widely online, in podcasts, filmed documentaries, and publications such as the Smithsonian Magazine, Archaeology Magazine, and National Geographic.

Research Interests

Primary research focus lies in Ireland's Early Medieval period and, to a slightly lesser degree, Medieval period. Fieldwork, settlement archaeology, and material culture are of particular interest. Current research projects include: The Caherconnell Archaeological Project The Burren Landscape through time, Garranes Ringfort, Co. Cork and its contemporary ringfort landscape, Ringforts and the settlement landscape of the Burren in the first millennium AD, and the MAREE project.

Teaching Interests

Teaching interests include the archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland, its settlement and economy in particular. Also, archaeological fieldwork, material culture, artefact recording, and landscape archaeology. Involved in Adult learning and online programme-development and delivery.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 4 - Quality Education

Related documents

Education/Academic qualification

BA, BA, PhD

External positions

Standing Committee for Archaeology, Royal Irish Academy()

Keywords

  • CC Archaeology
  • Archaeological excavation

Accepting PhD Students

  • Accepting PhD Students

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