Contacts
Mary Dillon
Mary first started working in archaeology when she was seventeen. She studied for her degree at the National University of Ireland, Galway and qualified in 2001 with an honours degree in Archaeology and Philosophy. As a student she spent her summers working with Oxford University and University of Porto on some enigmatic excavations. After graduation, she worked on archaeological excavations in Ireland for a couple of years. She played a major role in the NUI, Galway Granard deserted village project, where she supervised the excavations and completed the post- excavation work.
She realized that she could combine her interests in the environment and archaeology by studying the environmental remains from excavations. She returned to Galway to do a research masters in wood and charcoal from Irish archaeological sites – a joint project between the Palaeo-environmental Unit and the Department of Archaeology. In her thesis she explored various aspects of wood and charcoal analysis and paid particular attention to the selective use of wood for ceremonial purposes – a topic on which she has given various lectures at home and abroad. In 2006, after graduating with a MSc, she worked for two years for Eachtra Archaeological Projects where she was also trained in macro plant remains.
Mary is currently working as a freelance archaeobotanist. She has a keen interest in all aspects of environmental archaeology in Ireland and is involved with both the Irish Wood Anatomy Association and the Archaeobotany Discussion Group.
Email: Mary
