Vaughan Grimes

Position

Professor
Cross-Appointed to Department of Earth Sciences
Head of Department

Contact

Email: vgrimes@mun.ca
Phone: (709) 864-8861/(709) 864-8192
Office: QC 2008/QC 2002
Labs: QC1019/QC1004/ER5053

Academics

D.Phil. University of Bradford, UK, 2007
M.Sc. University of Bradford, UK, 2002
B.A. (Hons.) Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998

Research Interests

My research encompasses the fields of archaeological science, biomolecular archaeology and human skeletal biology. Specifically I focus on how culture, biological adaptations and climate change have influenced subsistence, settlement, migration and mobility patterns in the past. The primary analytical tool I use to address these issues is the analysis of stable and radiogenic isotopes (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and strontium) from biological tissues (bone, teeth and hair), which are complemented by traditional morphologic-based methods of analyzing skeletal remains. Other areas of my research include the development of isotope-based analytical methodologies and unraveling the complex nature of isotopic and morphological variability within and between animal species.

For more information, please visit the Memorial Applied Archaeological Sciences webpage.

Student Resources

The Archaeology department has dedicated space for the chemical analysis of biological remains and comparative collections are available for osteoarchaeological research (read more on our facilities page).

Courses Taught
Undergraduate

ARCH 1000: Introduction to Archaeology
ARCH 2430: Principles of Bioarchaeology
ARCH 2450: Principles of Archaeological Science
ARCH 2492: Forensic Archaeology
ARCH 2495: Archaeological Frauds, Myths and Mysteries (Online)
ARCH 3020: What is Human?
ARCH 3040: The Human Skeleton
ARCH 4041: Palaeopathology
ARCH 4043: Biomolecular Archaeology

Student supervision
Ph.D. Dissertations
  • Wallace, Euan (in progress)
  • Munkittrick, Jessica (in progress). Regional insights into childhood lead exposure from historical North American skeletal remains.
  • Melo, Linda (in progress). Paleobiology, funerary practices and mobility of the Late Neolithic human remains exhumed from the funerary monuments of João da Horta 1 and 2. (Co-supervised with Dr. Ana-Maria Silva, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
  • Rand, Asta (2021). Prehispanic and colonial Maya subsistence and migration: contributions from stable sulfur isotope analysis.
  • Bower, Megan (2017). Exploring the Potential of Strontium Isotope Analysis to Detect Archaeological Migration Events in Southern Ontario, Canada.
M.A. Theses
  • Garlie, Megan (2022). An Isotopic Investigation of the Diet and Origins of 18th- and 19th-Century Individuals from Newfoundland and Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. (Co-supervised with Dr. Amy Scott, University of New Brunswick).
  • Brydon, Rachelle (Withdraw). Migration and Mobility in Roman Spain.
  • Merner, Courtney (2017). Reconstructing southeast Iberian Copper Age mobility: a strontium isotope analysis of the Camino del Molino mass burial.
  • Harris, Alison (2017). Stable Isotope Evidence for Amerindian Subsistence in Newfoundland.
  • Munkittrick, Jess (2016): A Nursery for Seamen: Life Histories from the St. John's Royal Naval Hospital Cemetery, Newfoundland.
  • Young-Boyle, Chandra (2016). Archaeological otoliths as environmental recorders: high resolution sampling of pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) otoliths from Kiska Island, Alaska.
  • Ellerbrok, Brittany (2014). Reconstructing the life history of individuals from a 17th century mass burial at Fortress Louisbourg using isotope analysis.
  • Pike, Kelly-Anne (2014). Bearing Identity: A Bicultural Analysis of Human Remains from Old Mission Point, New Brunswick. (Co-supervised with Dr. Michael Deal).
  • Guiry, Eric  (2012). Dogs as dietary analogues: assessing the cross-contextual validity of the canine surrogacy approach for stable isotope palaeodiet reconstructions.
B.A. Honours Essays
  • Kenney, Andrew (2021). Investigating Diet and Mobility of a Nineteenth Century Population from Ajnala, India: A Strontium, Carbon, and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis Study.
  • Janes, Madison (2021). Creating a faunal baseline using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis for paleodietary reconstruction at the site of San Giuliano, Italy.
  • Conlan, Christine (2018). Implications for using compound specific isotope analysis of amino acids (δ13C) in bone collagen to reconstruct archaeological human and faunal diets from Newfoundland.
  • Morry, Alicia (2017). The hunt for red ochre: potential applications of ochre characterization in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Rees, Daniel (2017). A possible case of Litterer-Siwe disease in the Maritime Archaic of the eastern sub-arctic: an analysis and retro-diagnosis using scanning electron microscopy.
  • Harris, Alison (2014). Distinguishing archaeological wild and domestic canids from Labrador, NL, Canada with stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen.
  • Dawe, Kendra (2012). Reconstructing diet of the Beothuk: a biomolecular pilot study.
  • Holmes, Andrew (2012). An Examination of Seasonal Temperature Variation During the Lower Magdalenian Period at El Miron Cave (Cantabria, Spain) Through the Use of Stable Isotope Analysis.
  • Desson, Rae (2011). An osteological study of human remains from the 17th century fishing plantation site of Dos de Cheval, Newfoundland.
  • Hill, Caitlyn (2009). ChAe-13, The Bay Bulls Burial: an osteological analysis and possible historical context of unidentified human remains.
Publications
Presentations
  • Rand, A. Freiwald, C., and Grimes, V. (2020). ‘Ancient Maya catchment use: stable sulphur isotopic evidence from Caledonia, Cayo District, Belize’ 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, 4-6 November 2020, Virtual.
  • Munkittrick, J., Scott, A, and Grimes, V. (2020). ‘Childhood lead exposure in 18th-19th century North Atlantic fisheries’48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, 4-6 November 2020, Virtual.
  • Scott, A., MacInnes, S., Pitcher, D., Grimes, V., Munkittrick, J., Garlie, M., Moran, M., Fonzo, M. (2019). ‘The Rochefort Point Cemetery: An interdisciplinary approach to understanding mortuary patterns and cemetery composition at the 18th century Fortress of Louisbourg.’ 47th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, 23-25 October 2019, Banff, AB, Canada.
  • Garlie, M., Scott, A., Munkittrick, J., Grimes, V. (2019). ‘Block 3 and Ste. Marie: An isotopic comparison of two cemetery populations from the Fortress of Louisbourg.’ 47th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, 23-25 October 2019, Banff, AB, Canada.
  • Grimes, V., Mant, M., Fuller, B., Van d Vijver, K., Ervynck, A., Van Biesen, G., Van Neer, W. (2019). “… and (no) thanks for all the fish! Diet reconstruction in medieval to post-medieval Belgium using carbon isotope analysis of bone collagen amino acids. UK Archaeological Science Conference, 24-26 April, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester, UK.
  • Munkittrick, J., Scott, A., Grimes, V. (2019). Exploring sources of lead in children during colonial settlement of northeastern North America during the 18th and 19th centuries. UK Archaeological Science Conference, 24-26 April, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester, UK.
  • Britton, K., Jimenez, E-L., le Corre, M., Wright, J., Grimes, V., Côté, S.D., Renou, S., Rendu, W., Richards, M., Hublin, J.J., and Soressi, M. (2019). Shifting baselines: exploring plasticity in herbivore dietary ecology in Late Pleistocene France using stable isotope analysis. UK Archaeological Science Conference, 24-26 April, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester, UK.
  • Harris, A., Elliott, D., Feuerborn, T., Eriksson, G., and Grimes, V. (2018). ‘Inuit sled dogs in the contact landscape: an isotopic investigation of dog provisioning in 16th – 19th century Labrador, Canada.’ 83rd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 11 – 15 April 2018, Washington, D.C., USA.
  • Munkittrick, J., and Grimes, V. ‘Exploring childhood health through lead trace element and isotope analyses: a case study of historic populations in Newfoundland, Canada. (2018). ’ 83rd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 11 – 15 April 2018, Washington, D.C., USA.
  • Duggan, A.T., Harris, A., Marciniak, S., Marshall, I., Grimes, V., Poinar, H. (2017). ‘A mitochondrial DNA and stable isotope study of the Beothuk and Maritime Archaic populations from Newfoundland and Labrador’ 44th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, 25-28 October 2017, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
  • Harris, A., Van Biesen, G., Duggan, A.T., Marciniak, S., Poinar, H., and Grimes, V. (2017). 7500 years by the sea: A compound specific isotope approach to aboriginal palaeodiet in Northeastern Canada.’ UK Archaeological Science Conference, 5-8 April, University College London, London, UK
  • Grimes, V., Harris, A., Duggan, A., Marciniak, S., and Poinar, H. (2017). Strontium and oxygen isotope evidence for Maritime Archaic mobility patterns at the site of Port au Choix-3, Newfoundland.’ 82nd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 29 March-2 April, Vancouver, Canada
  • Harris, A., Duggan, A.T., Marciniak, S., Poinar, H., and Grimes, V. (2017). Maritime Archaic subsistence in Newfoundland, Canada: Insights from d13C and d15N of bulk bone collagen and amino acids.’ 82nd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 29 March-2 April, Vancouver, Canada
  • Young-Boyle, C., Grimes, V., and Neville, V. (2016). Archaeological cod otoliths as environmental indicators: high resolution sampling of Pacific cod otoliths from Kiska Island, Alaska.’ 49th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association, 4-7 May, Whitehorse, YK, Canada
  • Grimes, V., Boaventura, R., Hillier, M., Silva, A-M., and Valera, A.C. (2016). Strontium isotope evidence for Late Neolithic mobility in South-Central Portugal.’ 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 6-10 April, Orlando, FL, USA
  • Munkittrick, J., Harris, A., Pike, K-A., and Grimes, V. (2016). They are one with the Tides of the Sea”: Diets of Settlers and Sailors in Newfoundland during the 17th to 19th centuries. 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 6-10 April, Orlando, FL, USA
  • Harris, A., Duggan, A.T., Marciniak, S., Poinar, H. and Grimes, V. (2016). Stable isotope evidence for precontact Amerindian diet in Newfoundland, Canada. 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 6-10 April, Orlando, FL, USA
    Harris, A., Duggan, A.T., Marciniak, S., Marshall, I., Poinar, H. and Grimes, V. (2015). Dating the human occupation of Newfoundland and Labrador: Challenges and progress.’ 43rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, 28-31 October, Winnipeg, MA, Canada
  • Harris, A. and Grimes, V. (2015). Exploring human-canid interactions among the Dorset using carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 15-19 April, San Francisco, CA, USA
  • Munkittrick, J., and Grimes V. (2015). From cod to convoy: Dietary life histories from the St. John’s Naval hospital cemetery, NL. 47th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association, 29 April – 2 May, St. John’s, NL, Canada
  • Dussault, F., Bell, T., and Grimes, V. (2015). Archaeoentomological perspectives on Dorset occupations in Newfoundland: preliminary results from Phillip’s Garden (EeBi-1) and Stock Cove (CkAl-3).’ 47th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association, 29 April – 2 May, St. John’s, NL, Canada.
  • Grimes, V. (2015). Tooth chemistry and migration events in archaeology: from hominins to Vikings’ McMaster University Anthropology Colloquium Series, 24 March, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Research Funding and Grants
  • 2022-2024 The Villanovan to Etruscan mortuary transition: building a radiocarbon chronological framework at the site of San Giuliano, Italy. Memorial University SSHRC Explore Grant. Role: Applicant.
  • 2020-2022 From womb to tomb: a bioarchaeological exploration of childhood health in 18th and 19th century Halifax, Canada. SSHRC Insight Development Grant. Role: Co-Applicant with Drs. Amy Scott, University of New Brunswick, and Tracy Betsinger, State University of New York-Oneonta.
  • 2018-2021 Integrative approaches to Late Pleistocene herbivore ecology, ranging and diet. The Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant. Role: Co-Applicant with (PA) Dr. Kate Britton (Aberdeen), Dr. J. Wright (Aberdeen), Prof. S. Cote (Laval).
  • 2014-2017 A biomolecular archaeology study of prehistoric North Americans from Newfoundland and Labrador. SSHRC Insight Grant (Role: Co-PI with Hendrik Poinar, McMaster University).
  • 2014-2018 Investigating lead exposure patterns in Royal Navy populations from the colonial era.’ SSHRC Insight Grant (Role: Co-PI with T. Varney, Lakehead University; D. Cooper and I. Coulthard, University of Saskatchewan).
  • 2013-2017 Understanding cultural resilience and climate change on the Bering Sea through Yup’ik Ecological Knowledge, Lifeways, Learning and Archaeology (ELLA)’ AHRC Research Grant. (Role: Collaborator with PI Richard Knecht, Co-investigator Kate Britton, and Co-investigator Charlotta Hillerdal, University of Aberdeen, UK).
  • 2013 A biomolecular archaeology study of prehistoric Native North Americans from Newfoundland and Labrador.’ Memorial University Office of Research Grant. (Role: PI)
  • 2012 Compositional and isotopic characterization of complex organic mixture for the study of origin and preservation of hydrocarbons and biomarkers. Canada Foundation for Innovation – Leaders Opportunity Fund and Research and Development Corporation – Leverage R&D Program, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (Role: Co-PI with Penny Morrill, Department of Earth Sciences, MUN).
  • 2012-2016 The Dorset Palaeoeskimo site of Phillip's Garden, northwestern Newfoundland: late phase occupation and site abandonment.’ SSHRC Insight Grant. (Role: Co-PI with M.A.P. Renouf and P. Wells, Department of Archaeology, MUN)
  • 2012 Developing a new chronology for prehistoric human occupations of Newfoundland and Labrador.’ Memorial University Arts Research Initiative. (Role: PI)
  • 2010 Establishment of the Memorial University biomolecular archaeology research group facility. Research and Development Corporation - IRIF program, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (Role: PI)
  • 2009 Reconstructing diet and migration of the Beothuk: a multi-isotope biogeochemical pilot study. Provincial Archaeology Office and Community Economic Development Program, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (Role: PI)