Elizabeth Velliky M.A.
Abteilung Ältere Urgeschichte und Quartärökologie
Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters
Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen
Burgsteige 11, Schloss Hohentübingen
D-72070 Tübingen
Room: Raum 113
Mail: elizabeth.velliky@uni-tuebingen.de
Education
2015 | PhD Candidate, dissertation title:
Department of Archaeology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
Joint program with Universität Tübingen, Institut für Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie, Tübingen, Germany |
| 2013 | Master of Arts in Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada |
| 2009 | Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA |
Research topic
The archaeological assemblage from the Upper Palaeolithic levels (ca. 44-14.5 kcal. BP) of Hohle Fels
cave in southwestern Germany has become central to our understanding of the beginnings of
anatomically modern humans (AMHs) in Europe and their behaviours, including the capacity for
symbolic mediation. The use and manipulation of mineral pigments is understood to be one of the
earliest forms of symbolic expression, and plays a pivotal role in our understanding of behavioural
modernity and complexity. Of the mineral pigments, a series of Fe-oxide based materials colloquially
referred to as “ochre” are among the oldest and most widespread pigment found at archaeological
sites worldwide. Understanding its role in human behaviours, the intricacies surrounding its
collection and use, and the lasting imprint it left is thus of utmost relevance in order to investigate
the behavioural evolution of our hominin lineage. The goal of this project is to use a holistic
approach to conduct a diachronic study of the ochre assemblage from Hohle Fels cave. The specific
research aims are to investigate the ways in which humans interacted with ochre in order to expand
our understanding of symbolic behaviours during the earliest onset of the Aurignacian (ca. 44kcal.
BP) and how these changed and flourished over time. Since ochre is a multi-faceted item with a
range of uses and it occurs in a variety of geological contexts, a diverse approach is best suited to
explore its life-cycle and in what ways humans shaped and were impacted by their interactions with
ochre. In order to do so, this project includes a classic qualitative approach to describing the ochre
assemblage, as well as an archaeometric-based approach using a variety of analytical techniques
(SEM, XRD, NAA) to examine the geochemical components of the artefacts. Coupled with data from
systematic ochre surveys in the region, the results will potentially illuminate the complexities
surrounding ochre collection and behavioural structures during the Upper Palaeolithic of Germany.
This will expand our knowledge on human interactions with mineral pigments and how these
materials were intertwined into the symbolic and cultural fabric of early populations in Central
Europe.
Research interests
Palaeolithic Archaeology, Symbolic behaviours, Mineral pigments, Rock art, Archaeometry
Selected fellowships/scholarships/awards
2017 | UWA Postgraduate Students’ Association (PSA) Conference Travel Award |
| 2016 | Society for Archaeological Sciences (SAS) Student Research International Travel Grant |
| 2015 | International Postgraduate Research Scholarship/Australian Postgraduate Award, University of Western Australia |
| 2015 | Safety Net Top-Up Scholarship, University of Western Australia |
| 2013 | Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) “People’s Choice” presenter award |
| 2013 | Conference Student Scholarship; International Federation of Rock Art Organizations (IFRAO) Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM |
2012 | Roy L. Carlson Graduate Scholarship in Prehistoric British Columbian Archaeology |
| 2012 | Travel and Minor Research Award, Simon Fraser University |
| 2011 | Graduate Student Fellowship, Simon Fraser University |
| 2009 | Michigan Merritt Award; Michigan State University |
Publications
- Velliky, E.C., M. Porr and N.J. Conard (2018) Ochre and pigment use at Hohle Fels cave: Results of the first systematic review of ochre and ochre-related artefacts from the Upper Palaeolithic in Germany. PLOS ONE 13(12):e0209874.
- Wolf, S., R. Dapschauskas, E.C. Velliky, N.J. Conard, H. Floss, & A.W. Kandel (2018) The Use of Ochre and Painting During the Upper Paleolithic of the Swabian Jura in the Context of the Development of Ochre Use in Africa and Europe. Open Archaeology 4(1), 185-205.
- Karakostis, Fotios Alexandros, Elizabeth C. Velliky and Andrew W. Kandel (2017) Sixth annual meeting of the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution. Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews 26(1):7-8.
- Velliky, Elizabeth (2016) Identifying anthropogenic modification on archaeology ochre materials by early hominin populations. SAS Bulletin, 39(2):4-6.
- Velliky, Elizabeth and Rudy Reimer (2013) Rock Paintings of Squamish Valley, British Columbia: Geochemical Analysis of Pigments Using Portable ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (pXRF). American Indian Rock Art 39:130-141.
Selected conference presentations/posters
| 2018 | Velliky, E., S. Münzel, B.L. MacDonald, M. Porr, D. Stalla, N.J. Conard (Paper) “Reindeer teeth pendants: Investigating red ochre residues on personal ornaments from Magdalenian and Gravettian contexts at Hohle Fels using SEM-EDS.” UISPP, Paris, France. |
| 2018 | Wolf, S., R. Dapschauskas, E.C. Velliky, N.J. Conard, H. Floss, & A.W. Kandel (2018) The Use of Ochre and Painting During the Upper Paleolithic of the Swabian Jura in the Context of the Development of Ochre Use in Africa and Europe. Open Archaeology 4(1), 185-205. |
| 2018 | Velliky, E., M. Porr, B.L. MacDonald, N.J. Conard (Paper) “The Law of the Land: The selection and utilization of pigments in the Upper Palaeolithic of Central Europe.” Images, Gestures, Voices and Words: What can we learn from Palaeolithic Art? Tübingen, Germany. |
| 2018 | Velliky, E., N.J. Conard (Paper) “The ochre that binds: Investigating the effects of intensive water-screening on artefacts with ochre residues and organic binders.” Africa Conference for Experiment Archaeology (ACE), Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| 2017 | Velliky, E., M. Porr and N.J. Conard (Paper) “Red ochre at Hohle Fels, Germany: The use of pigment and space at an Upper Paleolithic cave site.” Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. |
| 2016 | Velliky, E., M. Porr and N.J. Conard (Poster) “Modified ochre pieces, ochre-related artefacts, and symbolic behaviours at Hohle Fels Cave in southwestern Germany.” European Society for the study of Human Evolution (ESHE) Annual Meeting, Madrid, Spain. |
| 2013 | Velliky, E. (Paper) “Informed and Formal Perspective on Squamish Rock Art.” International Federation of Rock Art Organizations (IFRAO) Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. |
| 2013 | Velliky, E. (Paper) “The Background Effect: Investigations on Geochemically Isolating Mineral Pigments in Rock Art.” Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA) Annual Meeting, Whistler, BC. |
2012 | Velliky, E. and R. Reimer (Paper) “Rock Paintings of Squamish Valley: An Analysis of Pigments and Ochre Sources using Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (PXRF).” American Rock Art Research Association (ARARA), St. George, Utah, USA. |
Invited talks
| 2018 | “Identifying diachronic changes in ochre behaviours throughout the Upper Palaeolithic (ca. 40-12.5kya) of Southwestern Germany.” |
| 2018 | “The selection and exploitation of ancient pigments: Identifying diachronic trends in ochre use through NAA at Hohle Fels Cave, Germany.” |
| 2017 | “Rötel- und Ockerartefakte aus dem Hohle Fels: Farbpigmente und Kunst von der Schwäbischen Alb” |
| 2016 | “Ochre pigments and symbolic artefacts in the Swabian Jura: A case study of the relationships between hominins, ochre materials, and early symbolic expression in the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic of Europe” |
2015 | “Use of portable ED-XRF (PXRF) to characterize ochre pigments and in-situ rock art in British Columbia, Canada” |
| 2013 | “Ochres, Pictographs and Paints: A Geochemical Analysis of Sources and Rock Paintings in Squamish, B.C.” |
Fieldwork experience
| 2018 | Klipdrift Cave and Rockshelter, De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa |
| 2017 | Sotrasambandet, Bergen, Norway |
| 2014-2016 | Hohle Fels Cave, Schelklingen, Germany |
| 2015 | Sefunim Cave, Haifa, Israel |
| 2015 | Wolftalhöhle Excavation, Niederstotzingen, Germany |
| 2015, 2016 | Sibudu Cave Excavation, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa |
| 2014 | Bat Archaeological Project, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bat, Oman |
| 2012 | Lake Babine Nation Archaeological Project, Prince George, BC |
| 2008 | Sudbrooke Roman Archaeology Fieldschool, Lincoln, UK |
Professional experience
| 2017-2018 | Senior Visiting Researcher - University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) Archaeometry Laboratory, Columbia, MO, USA |
| 2014-2015 | Lab Technician – Vogelherd Lab, Blaubeuren/Tübingen, Germany |
| 2013 | Field Supervisor – Katzie Development Corporation, Katzie First Nation, Pitt Meadows, BC, Canada |
| 2009 | Archaeology Intern - Campus Archaeology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI |
Professional memberships
- Society for Archaeological Sciences (SAS)
- Gesellschaft für Urgeschichte Blaubeueren (GfU)
- Society for American Archaeology (SAA)
- European Society for the study of Human Evolution (ESHE)