Professor Adrian Parker

BSc (Hons), DPhil (Oxon)

Professor in Geography

School of Law and Social Sciences

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Geography (BA (Hons), BSc (Hons))

Modules taught

I am the module leader for Quaternary Environmental Change and I contribute to Arid Zone Environments.

Research Students

Name	Thesis title	Completed
Sophie Edwards	A Comparison of Craniodental Morphology of Hominoids of the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene in relation to Contemporary Climate Change and Paleoecological Shifts	Active
Kira Raith	Quaternary climate change and landscape evolution of Southeast Arabia	Active

Research

Prehistory of the Middle East, North Africa, Southern Africa and southern England. Quaternary science, geoarchaeology, geomorphology, environmental archaeology, palaeoecology. Application of multi proxy techniques e.g. Phytoliths, pollen, geochemistry.

Projects as Principal Investigator, or Lead Academic if project is led by another Institution

Proposal for geomorphological survey and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction – Julfar al-Mataf, Julfar al-Nudud, Kush and Shimal (01/04/2024 - 31/12/2024), funded by: Government of Ras al Khaimah, funding amount received by Brookes: £41,900
Phytolith Analysis Univ. Michigan (01/08/2023 - 31/07/2024), funded by: University of Michigan, funding amount received by Brookes: £1,563

Publications

Turnbull M Parker AG Jankowski NR, The history of phytolith research in Australasian archaeology and palaeoecology
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 32 (2023) pp.655-677 ISSN: 0939-6314 eISSN: 1617-6278 The history of phytolith research in Australasian archaeology and palaeoecology Open Access version on RADAR
Patalano Robert, Arthur Charles, Carleton William Christopher, Challis Sam, Dewar Genevieve, Gayantha Kasun, Gleixner Gerd, Ilgner Jana, Lucas Mary, Marzo Sara, Mokhachane Rethabile, Pazan Kyra, Spurite Diana, Morley Mike W., Parker Adrian, Mitchell Peter, Stewart Brian A., Roberts Patrick, Ecological stability of Late Pleistocene-to-Holocene Lesotho, southern Africa, facilitated human upland habitation
Communications Earth & Environment 4 (2023) ISSN: 2662-4435 eISSN: 2662-4435 Ecological stability of Late Pleistocene-to-Holocene Lesotho, southern Africa, facilitated human upland habitation Open Access version on RADAR
Woodbridge J, Fyfe R, Smith D, de Varielles A, Pelling R, Grant MJ, Batchelor R, Scaife R, Greig J, Dark P, Druce D, Garbett G, Parker A, Hill T, Schofield EJ, Simmonds M, Chambers F, Barnett C, Waller M, Agricultural systems regulate plant and insect diversity and induce ecosystem novelty
Anthropocene 41 (2023) ISSN: 2213-3054 eISSN: 2213-3054
Mueller, D., Raith, K., Bretzke, K., Fülling, A. Parker, A.G., Parton, A., Preston, G.W., Jasim, S., Yousif, E., Preusser, F. , Luminescence chronology of fluvial and aeolian deposits from the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE
Quaternary Research: An Interdisciplinary Journal 112 (2022) pp.111-127 ISSN: 0033-5894 eISSN: 1096-0287 Luminescence chronology of fluvial and aeolian deposits from the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE Open Access version on RADAR
Samaya K, Parker AG, Parton A, Viles H, Developing a Geocultural Database of Quaternary Palaeoenvironmental sites and Archaeological sites in Southeast Arabia: inventory, endangerment assessment, and a roadmap for conservation
Sustainability 14 (2022) ISSN: 2071-1050 eISSN: 2071-1050 Developing a Geocultural Database of Quaternary Palaeoenvironmental sites and Archaeological sites in Southeast Arabia: inventory, endangerment assessment, and a roadmap for conservation Open Access version on RADAR
Cohen TJ, Arnold LJ, Gázquez F, May JH, Marx SK, Jankowski NR, Chivas AR, Garćia A, Cadd H, Parker AG, Jansen JD, Fu X, Waldmann N, Nanson GC, Jones BG, Gadd P,, Late Quaternary climate change in Australia's arid interior: Evidence from Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre
Quaternary Science Reviews 292 (2022) ISSN: 0277-3791 eISSN: 1873-457X
Bretzke K, Preusser F, Jasim S, Miller C, Preston G, Raith K, Underdown SJ, Parton A, Parker AG, Multiple phases of human occupation in Southeast Arabia between 210,000 and 120,000 years ago
Scientific Reports 12 (2022) ISSN: 2045-2322 eISSN: 2045-2322 Multiple phases of human occupation in Southeast Arabia between 210,000 and 120,000 years ago Open Access version on RADAR
Forbes M, Cohen T, Jacobs Z, Marx S, Barber E, Dodson J, Zamora A, Cadd H, Francke A, Constantine M, Mooney S, Short S, Tibby J, Parker A, Cendón D, Peterson M, Tyler J, Swallow E, Haines H, Gadd P, Woodward C,, Comparing interglacials in eastern Australia: A multi-proxy investigation of a new sedimentary record
Quaternary Science Reviews 252 (2020) ISSN: 0277-3791 eISSN: 1873-457X
Parker AG, Morley MW, Armitage SJ, Engel M, Parton A, Preston GW, Russ H, Drechsler P, Palaeoenvironmental and sea level changes during the Holocene in Eastern Saudi Arabia and their implications for Neolithic populations
Quaternary Science Reviews 249 (2020) ISSN: 0277-3791 eISSN: 1873-457X Palaeoenvironmental and sea level changes during the Holocene in Eastern Saudi Arabia and their implications for Neolithic populations Open Access version on RADAR
Jones MD, Abu-Jibar N, Alshdaifat A, Baird D, Cook BI, Cuthbert MO, Dean JR, Djamali M, Eastwood W, Fleitmann D, Haywood A, Kweicien O, Larsen J, Maher LA, Metcalfe SE, Parker A, Petrie CA, Primmer N, Richter T, Roberts N, Roe J, Tindall JC, Unal-Imer E, Weeks L, 20,000 years of societal vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in southwest Asia
WIREs: Water 6 (2) (2019) ISSN: 2049-1948 eISSN: 2049-1948 20,000 years of societal vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in southwest Asia Open Access version on RADAR
Parton A, Clark-Balzen L, Parker A, Preston G, Sung WW, Breeze PS, Leng M, Groucutt H, White T, Alsharekh A, Petraglia M, Middle-Late Quaternary Palaeoclimate Variability from Lake and Wetland Deposits in the Nefud Desert, Northern Arabia
Quaternary Science Reviews 202 (2018) pp.78-97 ISSN: 0277-3791 eISSN: 1873-457X Middle-Late Quaternary Palaeoclimate Variability from Lake and Wetland Deposits in the Nefud Desert, Northern Arabia Open Access version on RADAR
Jennings RP, Parton A, Clark-Balzan L, White TS, Groucutt HS, Breeze PS, Parker AG, Drake NA, Petraglia MD, Human occupation of the northern Arabian interior during early Marine Isotope Stage 3
Journal of Quaternary Science 31 (8) (2016) pp.953-966 ISSN: 0267-8179 Human occupation of the northern Arabian interior during early Marine Isotope Stage 3 Open Access version on RADAR
Engel M, Matter A, Parker AG, Parton A, Petraglia MD, Preston GW, Preusser F, Lakes or wetlands? A comment on ‘The middle Holocene climatic records from Arabia: Reassessing lacustrine environments, shift of ITCZ in Arabian Sea, and impacts of the southwest Indian and African monsoons’ by Enzel et al.
Global and Planetary Change 148 (2016) pp.258-267 ISSN: 0921-8181 Lakes or wetlands? A comment on ‘The middle Holocene climatic records from Arabia: Reassessing lacustrine environments, shift of ITCZ in Arabian Sea, and impacts of the southwest Indian and African monsoons’ by Enzel et al. Open Access version on RADAR
Parker A, Preston G, Parton A, Walkington H, Jardine P, Leng M, Hodson M, Low-latitude Holocene hydroclimate derived from lake sediment flux and geochemistry
Journal of Quaternary Science 31 (4) (2016) pp.286-299 ISSN: 0267-8179 Low-latitude Holocene hydroclimate derived from lake sediment flux and geochemistry Open Access version on RADAR
Farrant AR, Duller GAT, Parker AG, Parton A, Roberts HM, Knox RWO, Bide T, Developing a framework of Quaternary dune accumulation in the northern Rub' al-Khali, Arabia
Quaternary International 382 (2015) pp.132-144 ISSN: 1040-6182
Groucutt HS, White TS, Clark-Balzan L, Parton A, Crassard R, Shipton C, Jennings RP, Parker AG, Breeze PS, Scerri EML, Alsharekh A, Petraglia MD, Human occupation of the Arabian Empty Quarter during MIS 5: evidence from Mundafan Al-Buhayrah, Saudi Arabia
Quaternary Science Reviews 119 (1 July 2015) (2015) pp.116-135 ISSN: 0277-3791 eISSN: 1873-457X
Parton A, White TS, Parker AG, Breeze PS, Jennings R, Groucutt HS, Petraglia MD, Orbital-scale climate variability in Arabia as a potential motor for human dispersals.
Quaternary International 382 (2015) pp.82-97 ISSN: 1040-6182 Orbital-scale climate variability in Arabia as a potential motor for human dispersals. Open Access version on RADAR
Parton A, Farrant AR, Leng MJ, Telfer MW, Groucutt HS, Petraglia MD, Parker AG, Alluvial fan records from southeast Arabia reveal multiple windows for human dispersal
Geology 43 (4) (2015) pp.295-298 ISSN: 0091-7613 eISSN: 1943-2682
Preston GW, Thomas DSG, Goudie AS, Atkinson OAC, Leng MJ, Hodson MJ, Walkington H, Charpentier V, Mery S, Borgi F, Parker AG, A multi-proxy analysis of the Holocene humid phase from the United Arab Emirates and its implications for southeast Arabia's Neolithic populations
Quaternary International 382 (2015) pp.277-292 ISSN: 1040-6182
Jennings R, Singarayer J, Stone ., Krebs-Kanzow U, Khon V, Kerim H, Nisancioglu KH, Parker AG, Parton A, White T, Groucutt H, Petraglia M, The greening of Arabia: an ensemble of climate model simulations infers multiple opportunities for human occupation of the Arabian Peninsula during the Upper Pleistocene.
Quaternary International 382 (24 Sept. 2015) (2015) pp.181-199 ISSN: 1040-6182
Hilbert Y, White TS, Parton A, Clark-Balzan L, Crassard R, Groucutt HS, Jennings RP, Breeze P, Parker A, Shipton C, Al-Omari A, Alsharekh AM, Petraglia MD, Epipalaeolithic occupation and palaeoenvironments of the southern Nefud desert, Saudi Arabia, during the Terminal Pleistocene and Early Holocene
Journal of Archaeological Science 50 (2014) pp.460-474 ISSN: 0305-4403
Parton A, Farrant AR, Leng MJ, Schwenninger JL, Rose JI, Uerpmann HP, Parker AG, An Early Mis 3 Pluvial Phase in Southeast Arabia: Climatic and Archaeological Implications
Quaternary International 300 (2013) pp.62-74 ISSN: 1040-6182
Drake NA, Breeze P, Parker A, Palaeoclimate in the Saharan and Arabian Deserts During the Middle Palaeolithic and the Potential for Hominin Dispersals
Quaternary International 300 (2013) pp.48-61 ISSN: 1040-6182
Bretzke K, Armitage SJ, Parker AG, Walkington H, Uerpmann HP, The Environmental Context of Paleolithic Settlement at Jebel Faya, Emirate Sharjah, UAE
Quaternary International 300 (2013) pp.83-93 ISSN: 1040-6182
, Understanding the evolution of the Holocene Pluvial Phase and its impact on Neolithic populations in south-east Arabia
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 24 (2013) pp.87-94 ISSN: 0905-7196 eISSN: 1600-0471
Mitchell P, Plug I, Bailey G, Charles R, Esterhuysen A, Thorp JL, Parker A, Woodborne S, Beyond the Drip-line: a High-resolution Open-air Holocene Hunter-gatherer Sequence From Highland Lesotho
Antiquity 85 (2012) pp.1225-1242 ISSN: 0003-598X eISSN: 1745-1744
Preston GW, Parker AG, Walkington H, Leng MJ, Hodson MJ, From nomadic herder-hunters to sedentary farmers: the relationship between climate change and ancient subsistence strategies in south-eastern Arabia
Journal of Arid Environments 86 (November) (2012) pp.122-130 ISSN: 0140-1963
Petraglia MD, Alsharekh A, Breeze P, Clarkson C, Crassard R, Drake NA, Groucutt HS, Jennings R, Parker AG, Parton A, Roberts RG, Shipton C, Matheson C, al-Omari A, Veall MA, Hominin Dispersal Into the Nefud Desert and Middle Palaeolithic Settlement Along the Jubbah Palaeolake, Northern Arabia
PLoS ONE 7 (11) (2012) ISSN: 1932-6203 eISSN: 1932-6203
Parker A G, Lee-Thorp J, Mitchell P, Late holocene neoglacial conditions from the Lesotho highlands, southern Africa: phytolith and stable carbon isotope evidence from the archaeological site of Likoaeng
Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 122 (1) (2011) pp.201-211 ISSN: 0016-7878
Petraglia M D, Alsharekh A, Crassard R, Drake N, Huw Groucutt H, Parker A G, Roberts, R, Middle paleolithic occupation on a marine isotope stage 5 lakeshore in the Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia
Quaternary Science Reviews 30 (13-14) (2011) pp.1555-1559 ISSN: 0277-3791
Armitage S J, Jasim S A, Marks A E, Parker A G, Usik V I, Uerpmann H-P, The Southern Route "Out of Africa": Evidence for an Early Expansion of Modern Humans into Arabia
Science 331 (6016) (2011) pp.453-456 ISSN: 0036-8075 eISSN: 1095-9203
Telfer M W, Thomas D S G, Parker A G, Walkington H, Finch A A, Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating and palaeoenvironmental studies of pan (playa) sediment from Witpan, South Africa
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 273 (1-2) (2009) pp.50-60 ISSN: 0031-0182
Parker A G, Goudie A S, Geomorphological and palaeoenvironmental investigations in the southeastern Arabian Gulf region and the implication for the archaeology of the region
Geomorphology 101 (3) (2008) pp.458-470 ISSN: 0169-555X
Barton N, Bouzouggar A, Humphrey L, Berridge P, Collcutt S, Gale R, Parfitt S, Parker A, Rhodes E, Schwenninger JL, Human burial evidence from the Hattab II cave and the question of continuity in late Pleistocene-Holocene mortuary practices in northwest Africa
Cambridge Archaeological Journal 18 (2) (2008) pp.195-214 ISSN: 0959-7743 eISSN: 1474-0540
Hodson M, Parker A G, Leng M J, Sloane H J, Silicon, oxygen and carbon isotope composition of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phytoliths: implications for palaeoecology and archaeology
Journal of Quaternary Science 23 (4) (2008) pp.331-339 ISSN: 0267-8179
Parker AG, Preston G, Walkington H, Hodson MJ, Developing a Framework of Holocene Climatic Change and Landscape Archaeology for the Lower Gulf Region, Southeastern Arabia
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 17 (2007) pp.125-130 ISSN: 0905-7196 eISSN: 1600-0471
Carr S, Engel Z, Kalvoda J, Parker A, Sedimentary Evidence for Extensive Glaciation of the Upa Valley, Krkonoge Mountains, Czech Republic
Annals of Geomorphology 46 (2003) pp.523-537 ISSN: 0372-8854 eISSN: 1864-1687
White K, Goudie A, Parker A, Al-Farraj S, Mapping the Geochemistry of the Northern Rub Al Khali Using Multispectral Remote Sensing Techniques
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 26 (2001) pp.735-748 ISSN: 0197-9337 eISSN: 1096-9837
Goudie AS, Colls A, Stokes S, Parker A, White K, Al-Farraj A, Latest Pleistocene and Holocene Dune Construction at the North-eastern Edge of the Rub Al Khali, United Arab Emirates
Sedimentology 47 (2000) pp.1011-1021 ISSN: 0037-0746 eISSN: 1365-3091

Parker AG, Underdown SJ, Environmental Controls on Human Dispersal and Adaptation
in Pollard AM, Armitage RA, Makarewicz CA, (ed.), Handbook of Archaeological Sciences, Wiley (2023)
Parker AG, Armitage SJ, Engel M, Morley MW, Parton A, Preston GW, Russ H, Geomorphology, Geoarcheology and Paleoenvironments
in Philipp Drechsler (ed.), Dosariyah Reinvestigating a Neolithic coastal community in eastern Arabia, Archaeopress Publishing Ltd (2018) ISBN: 9781784919627 eISBN: 9781784919634 (e-Pdf)
Stewart BA, Parker AG, Dewar G, Morley MW, Allott LF, Follow the Senqu: Maloti-Drakensberg Paleoenvironments and Implications for Early Human Dispersals into Mountain Systems.
in Africa from MIS 6-2, Springer (2016) ISBN: 9789401775199 eISBN: 9789401775205
Méry S, Gasparini D, Basset G, Berger J-F, Berthelot A, Borgi F, Parker A, Preston G, McSweeney K, Mort violente en Arabie: La sépulture multiple d’Umm al-Quwain UAQ2 (Émirats arabes unis), VIe millénaire BC
in Catherine Dupont, Gregor Marchand (ed.), Archaeology of maritime hunter-gatherers. From settlement function to the organization of the coastal zone, Société préhistorique française (2016) ISBN: 2-913745-65-2 eISBN: 2263-3847 Mort violente en Arabie: La sépulture multiple d’Umm al-Quwain UAQ2 (Émirats arabes unis), VIe millénaire BC Open Access version on RADAR
Parker A G, Pleistocene climate change in Arabia: Developing a framework for hominin dispersal over the Last 350 kyr late quaternary climate change in Arabia: lacustrine records from MIS 9-1
in The evolution of human populations in Arabia, Springer (2009) ISBN: 9789048127184
, Early to Middle Holocene Climate Change and Vegetation Dynamics in the Northern Oman Peninsula: An Ecogeographical Synthesis of the Jebel al-Buhais Environment
in The Archaeology of Jebel al-Buhais: Volume 2: The Natural Environment of Jebel al-Buhais: Past and Present, Kerns Verlag (2008)
, Younger Dryas Glaciation of the Brecon Beacons: Cwm Pwlffa
in The Quaternary of the Brecon Beacons, Quaternary Research Association (2006)

Méry S, Degli Esposti M, Aoustin D, Borgi F, Gallou C, Leroyer C, Lidour K, Lindauer S, Preston GW, Parker AG, Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE: the case of Umm al-Quwain UAQ36 vs. UAQ2 and Akab shell-middens
49 (2019) pp.223-240 ISSN: 0308-8421 ISBN: 978-1-78969-230-3
Bull PA, Parker A, Morgan RM, The Forensic Analysis of Soils and Sediment Taken From the Cast of a Footprint
Forensic Science International 162 (2006) pp.6-12 ISSN: 0379-0738
Morgan RM, Wiltshire P, Parker A, Bull PA, The Role of Forensic Geoscience in Wildlife Crime Detection
Forensic Science International 162 (2006) pp.152-162 ISSN: 0379-0738

Jennings RP, Pacheco FG, Barton RNE, Collcutt SN, Gale R, Gleed-Owen CP, Lopez JMG, Higham TFG, Parker A, Price C, Rhodes E, Perez AS, Schwenninger JL, Turner E, review of New Dates and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic Occupation of Higueral De Valleja Cave, Southern Spain
28 (2009) pp.830-839

Professional information

Memberships of professional bodies

Fellow of the the Society of Antiquaries (FSA)
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS)
Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (FRAI)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Further details

Former interests include the restoration of vintage lawnmowers and at one stage I had over 30 in my collection induling makes such as Ransomes, Webb, Dennis, Atco. I have also restored several vintage motorcycles (BSA, Royal Enfield) and tractors (David Brown).