Christopher Nichols

PhD Student, Mark Collard

Areas of interest

Zooarchaeology; Bioarchaeology; Cognitive dimension of human–animal interactions; Post-humanism; Dogs; Falconry; Late Iron Age Europe

Education

  • Master of Arts (Distinction): Archaeology, Uppsala University (2018)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Hons): Archaeology, Simon Fraser University (2015)

Biography

Since fairly early into this strange journey of archaeology, my interests leaned into bioarchaeological topics—but my main interest is in animals and the interactions between different species and our own. I am interested in the cognitive dimensions of these relationships, whether cooperative, competitive, or predatory, and the ways in which the symbioses between humans and other animals have shaped societies, environments, and human evolution itself.

I have a particular interest in the human–dog dyad throughout history and prehistory, and the great flexibility of this special relationship across the world.

Other Activities

Outside my primary research, I’ve participated in fieldwork in South Africa, Italy, Egypt, and, of course, in breathtaking British Columbia.

When I do sometimes unplug from archaeology, I practice martial arts, boxing, and sword fighting, and I play the drums, piano, and guitar. I’ll also never say no to a game of chess.

Publications

Nichols, C. 2023. Three dogs from the Late Iron Age boat grave cemetery at Gamla Uppsala Prästgården, Sweden. European Journal of Archaeology, 27(1): 67-84.

Nichols, C. 2021. Domestic dog skeletons at Valsgärde cemetery, Uppland, Sweden: quantification and morphological reconstruction. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 36: 102875.