Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology

© Jana Ilgner

Patrick Roberts

Research Group Leader

Department of Archaeology
isoTROPIC
+49 3641 686-730

006

Curriculum Vitae

Patrick Roberts received a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology, an MSc in Archaeological Science, and DPhil in Archaeological Science at the University of Oxford. As Independent W2 Research Group Leader of the isoTROPIC Research Group and Lead Scientist of the Department of Archaeology, Patrick is committed to pioneering and applying multidisciplinary approaches to studying past human interactions with climatic and environmental change as well as the deep roots of the Anthropocene and our species’ influencing of Earth systems. As PI of the ERC-funded PANTROPOCENE project and the isoTROPIC Research Group, Patrick is particularly interested in exploring the degree to which past human land use and landcover change in the tropics led to major shifts in the operation of different Earth systems on local, regional, and global scales, as well as what this means for contemporary conservation and sustainability challenges. He is author of the academic monograph ‘Tropical; Forests in Prehistory, History Modernity’ published by Oxford University Press and the popular book ‘Jungle: How Tropical Forests Shaped the World and Us’ published by Penguin/Viking Random House.

As part of his research, Patrick applies a variety of different methodologies to the study of human and planetary history, including stable isotope analysis, palaeoecology, dendrochronology, remote sensing, and land use and land cover modelling. He set up and oversees the isotope laboratory, dendrochronology unit, and remote sensing facility at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology. Patrick is also committed to close collaboration with Indigenous and local stakeholder communities and has coordinated repatriation processes and the adaptation of research into policy. He has taken part in UNESCO symposia that bring together archaeologists and anthropologists together to discuss potential solutions for the conservation of ecological and cultural heritage in global tropical forest environments. Patrick is also co-founder of the Pantropica Research Network. In 2021, Patrick was awarded the Heinz Maier Leibniz Prize, the top award for early career investigators in Germany and the first time that it has been awarded to an archaeologist. He is also a National Geographic Explorer.

Full Academic Publication List

Book (2)

1.

Book

Roberts, P.: Jungle: how tropical forests shaped the world - and us. Basic Books, New York (2021), 432 pp.

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2.

Book

Roberts, P.: Tropical forests in prehistory, history, and modernity. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2019), XVI, 350 pp.

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table-of-contents

Book Chapter (5)

3.

Book Chapter

Patalano, R.; Roberts, P.: Climate Proxies. In: The encyclopedia of ancient history: Asia and Africa, eahaa00609 (Eds. Potts, D. T.; Harkness, E.; Neelis, J.; McIntosh, R.) (2021)

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4.

Book Chapter

Roberts, P.: Foreword [to Bioarchaeology and Dietary Reconstruction across Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages in Tuscany, Central Italy / Giulia Riccomi]. In: Bioarchaeology and Dietary Reconstruction across Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages in Tuscany, Central Italy, pp. x - xi. Archaeopress, Summerville (2021)

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5.

Book Chapter

Roberts, P.; Krigbaum, J.; Lee-Thorp, J.: Hunting and gathering in prehistoric rainforests: insights from stable isotope analysis. In: Foraging in the past: archaeological studies of Hunter-Gatherer Diversity, pp. 119 - 158 (Ed. Lemke, A. K.). University Press of Colarado, Louisville (2019)

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6.

Book Chapter

Roberts, P.; Hendy, J.; Boivin, N. L.: Scientific Practice. In: The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences, pp. 1526 - 1530 (Ed. López Varela, . L.). Wiley, Hoboken (2018)

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7.

Book Chapter

Perera, N.; Roberts, P.; Petraglia, M. D.: Bone Technology from Late Pleistocene Caves and Rockshelters of Sri Lanka. In: Osseous Projectile Weaponry, pp. 173 - 188 (Ed. Langley, M. C.). Springer (2016)

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Journal Article (131)

1.

Journal Article

King, C. L.; Buckley, H. R.; Petchey, P.; Kinaston, R.; Millard, A. R.; Nowell, G.; Roberts, P.; Ilgner, J.; Gröcke, D. R.: Seeking their fortunes on the Otago goldfields, New Zealand: constructing isotopic biographies of colonial goldminers. Journal of Archaeological Science 157, 105836, pp. 1 - 12 (2023)

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Journal Article

Huber, B.; Hammann, S.; Loeben, C. E.; Jha, D.; Giddings Vassão, D.; Larsen, T.; Spengler III, R. N.; Fuller, D. Q.; Roberts, P.; Devièse, T. et al.; Boivin, N. L.: Biomolecular characterization of 3500-year-old ancient Egyptian mummification balms from the Valley of the Kings. Scientific Reports 13 (1), 12477 (2023)

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3.

Journal Article

Ciesielska, J. A.; Stark, R. J.; Obłuski, A.; Boivin, N. L.; Lucas, M.; Le Roux, P.; Roberts, P.: Multi-isotopic investigation of population dynamics and mobility among rural medieval Christian communities at Ghazali, Northern Sudan. Journal of African archaeology, 10028, pp. 1 - 23 (2023)

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Journal Article

Roberts, P.; Hixon, S.; Hamilton, R. J.; Lucas, M.; Ilgner, J.; Marzo, S.; Hawkins, S.; Luu, S.; Gosden, C.; Spriggs, M. et al.; Summerhayes, G.: Assessing Pleistocene–Holocene climatic and environmental change in insular Near Oceania using stable isotope analysis of archaeological fauna. Journal of Quaternary Science, 3555 (2023)

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5.

Journal Article

Amano, N.; Wedage, O.; Ilgner, J.; Boivin, N.; Petraglia, M.; Roberts, P.: Of forests and grasslands: human, primate, and ungulate palaeoecology in Late Pleistocene-Holocene Sri Lanka. Frontiers in Earth Science 11, 1133281 (2023)

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6.

Journal Article

Patalano, R.; Arthur, C.; Carleton, W. C.; Challis, S.; Dewar, G.; Gayantha, K.; Gleixner, G.; Ilgner, J.; Lucas, M.; Marzo, S. et al.; Mokhachane, R.; Pazan, K.; Spurite, D.; Morley, M. W.; Parker, A.; Mitchell, P.; Stewart, B. A.; Roberts, P.: Ecological stability of Late Pleistocene-to-Holocene Lesotho, southern Africa, facilitated human upland habitation. Communications Earth & Environment 4 (1), 129 (2023)

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7.

Journal Article

Tang, L.; Wilkin, S.; Richter, K. K.; Bleasdale, M.; Fernandes, R.; He, Y.; Li, S.; Petraglia, M.; Scott, A.; Teoh, F. K. Y. et al.; Tong, Y.; Tsering, T.; Tsho, Y.; Xi, L.; Yang, F.; Yuan, H.; Chen, Z.; Roberts, P.; He, W.; Spengler III, R. N.; Lu, H.; Wangdue, S.; Boivin, N.: Paleoproteomic evidence reveals dairying supported prehistoric occupation of the highland Tibetan Plateau. Science Advances 9 (15), eadf0345 (2023)

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8.

Journal Article

Pérez-Ramallo, P.; Ignacio Lorenzo-Lizalde, J.; Staniewska, A.; Aiestaran, M.; Aguirre, J.; Semas Sesma, J.; Marzo, S.; Lucas, M.; Ilgner, J.; Chivall, D. et al.; Higham, T.; Rodríguez-Varela, R.; Götherström, A.; Etxeberria, F.; Grandal-d'Anglade, A.; Alexander, M.; Roberts, P.: To the field of stars: stable isotope analysis of medieval pilgrims and populations along the Camino de Santiago in Navarre and Aragon, Spain. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 48, 103847 (2023)

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9.

Journal Article

Willis, A.; Roberts, P.; Kyaw, M. M.; Win, T. T.; Pradier, B.; King, C.; Ilgner, J.; Lucas, M.; Cook, A.; Piper, P. et al.; Pryce, T.O.: Living in the dry zone: stable isotope insights into palaeodiet in ancient Myanmar. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 48, 103900 (2023)

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Journal Article

Cerasoni, J. N.; Hallett, E.; Orijemie, E. A.; Ashastina, K.; Lucas, M.; Farr, L.; Höhn, A.; Kiahtipes, C. A.; Blinkhorn, J.; Roberts, P. et al.; Manica, A.; Scerri, E. M. L.: Human interactions with tropical environments over the last 14,000 years at Iho Eleru, Nigeria. iScience 26 (3), 106153 (2023)

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11.

Journal Article

Cocozza, C.; Teegen, W.-R.; Vigliarolo, I.; Favia, P.; Giuliani, R.; Muntoni, I. M.; Oione, D.; Clemens, L.; Groß, M.; Roberts, P. et al.; Lubritto, C.; Fernandes, R.: A Bayesian multi-proxy contribution to the socioeconomic, political, and cultural history of late medieval Capitanata (southern Italy). Scientific Reports 13 (1), 4078 (2023)

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12.

Journal Article

Taylor, W. T. T.; Librado, P.; Hunska Tašunke Icu, M.; Shield , C.; Arterberry, J.; Luta Wiƞ, A.; Nujipi, A.; Omniya, T.; Gonzalez, M.; Means, B. et al.; High Crane, S.; Yellow Bull, W. W. (.; Dull Knife, B.; Wiƞ, W.; Tecumseh Collin, C.; Ward, C.; Pasqual, T. A.; Chauvey, L.; Tonasso-Calviere, L.; Schiavinato, S.; Seguin-Orlando, A.; Fages, A.; Khan, N.; Der Sarkissian, C.; Liu, X.; Wagner, S.; Ginondidoy Leonard, B.; Manzano, B. L.; O’Malley, N.; Leonard, J. A.; Bernáldez-Sánchez, E.; Barrey, E.; Charliquart, L.; Robbe, E.; Denoblet, T.; Gregersen, K.; Vershinina, A. O.; Weinstock, J.; Rajić Šikanjić, P.; Mashkour, M.; Shingiray, I.; Aury, J.-M.; Perdereau, A.; Alquraishi, S.; Alfarhan, A. H.; Al-Rasheid, K. A. S.; Trbojević Vukičević, T.; Buric, M.; Sauer, E.; Lucas, M.; Brenner-Coltrain, J.; Bozell, J. R.; Thornhill, C. A.; Monagle, V.; Perri, A.; Newton, C.; Hall, W. E.; Conver, J. L.; Le Roux, P.; Buckser, S. G.; Gabe, C.; Belardi, J. B.; Barrón-Ortiz, C. I.; Hart, I. A.; Ryder, C.; Sponheimer, M.; Shapiro , B.; Southon, J.; Hibbs, J.; Faulkner, C.; Outram, A.; Patterson Rosa, L.; Palermo, K.; Solé, M.; William, A.; McCrory, W.; Lindgren, G.; Brooks, S.; Eché, C.; Donnadieu, C.; Bouchez, O.; Wincker, P.; Hodgins, G.; Trabert, S.; Bethke, B.; Roberts, P.; Jones, E. L.; Collin, Y. R. H.; Orlando, L.: Early dispersal of domestic horses into the Great Plains and northern Rockies. Science 379 (6639), adc9691, pp. 1316 - 1323 (2023)

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13.

Journal Article

Roberts, P.; Kaplan, J.; Findley, D. M.; Hamilton, R. J.; Caetano Andrade, V. L.; Amano, N.; Kay, A.; Renn, J.; Winkelmann, R.: Mapping our reliance on the tropics can reveal the roots of the Anthropocene. Nature Ecology & Evolution, s41559-023-01998-x (2023)

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14.

Journal Article

Le Moyne, C.; Roberts, P.; Hua, Q.; Bleasdale, M.; Desideri, J.; Boivin, N.; Crowther, A.: Ecological flexibility and adaptation to past climate change in the Middle Nile Valley: a multiproxy investigation of dietary shifts between the Neolithic and Kerma periods at Kadruka 1 and Kadruka 21. PLoS One 18 (2), e0280347 (2023)

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15.

Journal Article

Wang, X.; Skourtanioti, E.; Benz, M.; Gresky, J.; Ilgner, J.; Lucas, M.; Morsch, M.; Peters, J.; Pöllath, N.; Ringbauer, H. et al.; le Roux, P.; Schultz, M.; Krause, J.; Roberts, P.; Stockhammer, P. W.: Isotopic and DNA analyses reveal multiscale PPNB mobility and migration across Southeastern Anatolia and the Southern Levant. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 120 (4), e2210611120 (2023)

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16.

Journal Article

Martínez-Minchero, M.; Cobo, A.; Méndez-Vicente, A.; Pisonero, J.; Bordel, N.; Gutiérrez-Zugasti, I.; Roberts, P.; Arrizabalaga, Á.; Valdiande, J.; Mirapeix, J. et al.; López-Higuera, J. M.; García-Escárzaga, A.: Comparison of Mg/Ca concentration series from Patella depressa limpet shells using CF-LIBS and LA-ICP-MS. Talanta 251, 123757, pp. 1 - 11 (2023)

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17.

Journal Article

Spengler III, R. N.; Kienast, F.; Roberts, P.; Boivin, N. L.; Begun, D. R.; Ashastina, K.; Petraglia, M.: Bearing fruit: Miocene Apes and Rosaceous Fruit evolution. Biological theory, s13752-022-00413-1 (2023)

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18.

Journal Article

Tang, L.; Wilkin, S.; Richter, K. K.; Bleasdale, M.; Fernandes, R.; He, Y.; Li, S.; Petraglia, M.; Scott, A.; Teoh, F. K. Y. et al.; Tong, Y.; Tsering, T.; Tsho, Y.; Xi, L.; Yang, F.; Yuan, H.; Chen, Z.; Roberts, P.; He, W.; Spengler III, R. N.; Lu, H.; Wangdue, S.; Boivin, N.: Paleoproteomic evidence reveals dairying supported prehistoric occupation of the highland Tibetan Plateau. Science Advances 9 (15), eadf0345 (2023)

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19.

Journal Article

Patalano, R.; Hu, J.; Leng, Q.; Liu, W.; Wang, H.; Roberts, P.; Storozum, M.; Yang, L.; Yang, H.: Ancient Great Wall building materials reveal environmental changes associated with oases in northwestern China. Scientific Reports 12 (1), 22517 (2022)

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20.

Journal Article

Vaezi, A.; Routh, J.; Djamali, M.; Gurjazkaite, K.; Tavakoli, V.; Beni, A. N.; Roberts, P.: New multi-proxy record shows potential impacts of precipitation on the rise and ebb of Bronze Age and imperial Persian societies in southeastern Iran. Quaternary Science Reviews 298, 107855, pp. 1 - 12 (2022)

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21.

Journal Article

Hixon, S.; Domic, A. I.; Douglass, K. G.; Roberts, P.; Eccles, L.; Buckley, M.; Ivory, S.; Noe, S.; Kennett, D. J.: Cutmarked bone of drought-tolerant extinct megafauna deposited with traces of fire, human foraging, and introduced animals in SW Madagascar. Scientific Reports 12 (1), 18504 (2022)

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22.

Journal Article

Roberts, P.; Stock, J.; Kulatilake, S.; Boivin, N.; Petraglia, M. D.; Deraniyagala, S.; Perera, N.: From forests to the coast: multidisciplinary investigation of human adaptations at the Mini-athiliya Shell Midden, Sri Lanka. Ancient Lanka 1, 650 (2022)

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23.

Journal Article

Pérez-Ramallo, P.; Grandal-d´Anglade, A.; Organista, E.; Santos, E.; Chivall, D.; Rodríguez-Varela, R.; Götherström, A.; Etxeberria, F.; Ilgner, J.; Fernandes, R. et al.; Arsuaga, J. L.; Le Roux, P.; Higham, T.; Beaumont, J.; Koon, H.; Roberts, P.: Multi-isotopic study of the earliest mediaeval inhabitants of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 14 (11), 214 (2022)

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24.

Journal Article

Picin, A.; Wedage, O.; Blinkhorn, J.; Amano, N.; Deraniyagala, S.; Boivin, N.; Roberts, P.; Petraglia, M.: Homo sapiens lithic technology and microlithization in the South Asian rainforest at Kitulgala Beli-lena (c. 45 – 8,000 years ago). PLoS One 17 (10), e0273450 (2022)

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25.

Journal Article

Haponava, V.; Kots, A.; Lucas, M.; Both, M.; Roberts, P.: Medieval and early modern diets in the Polack region of Belarus: A stable isotope perspective. PLoS One 17 (10), e0275758 (2022)

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