MISS JOVITA FAWCETT

Biography

Jovita graduated with a BSc in Archaeology (First Class Honours) from the University of Aberdeen in 2020. During her degree she became particularly interested in bioarchaeology and, more specifically, the uses of stable isotopes in understanding past human-animal interactions. Her undergraduate dissertation focused on animal husbandry practices in early medieval Scotland (Picts) using carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur stable isotope analysis of faunal bone collagen to investigate the diet of animals.

In 2020, Jovita commenced her MSc in Bioarchaeological Science at the University of Aberdeen with her dissertation building upon her previous early medieval research by using oxygen and strontium isotope analysis of cattle tooth enamel to investigate seasonality/dairying practices and cattle movement at the Pictish site of Burghead. Through her MSc Jovita was also able to pursue her other bioarchaeological interests of osteoarchaeology and palaeogenetics. Upon graduation in 2022 (with Distinction), Jovita spent six months as a research assistant in the University of Aberdeen Department of Archaeology working further with early medieval stable isotope data.

Jovita is currently undertaking an AHRC-funded SGSAH DTP PhD entitled ‘Zootropolis: Multi-species archaeological, ecological and historical approaches to animals in medieval urban Scotland’, an exciting project looking into the roles of animals in medieval Aberdeen. She is continuing to use stable isotope analysis of faunal remains while expanding into history with analysis of the medieval Aberdeen burgh records. This combination of archaeological and historical approaches will provide a picture of how humans and animals interacted with each other and the environment, and show the varied niches occupied by animals in medieval cities.