Elizabeth Velliky | University of Tübingen

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.vellikyspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

Education

2015

PhD Candidate, dissertation title:
“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.”

Department of Archaeology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
Supervisors: Dr. Benjamin Smith, Dr. Jo McDonald

Joint program with Universität Tübingen, Institut für Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie, Tübingen, Germany
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Nicholas Conard, Dr. Martin Porr

2013

Master of Arts in Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Thesis title: PXRF and Place Names: Painting a Narrative on Squamish Ochre Sources and Rock Art.
Supervisors: Dr. Rudy Reimer Yumks, Dr. Dana Lepofsky

2009

Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
Minors: Environmental Studies, Museum Studies

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.” University of Bergen SapienCE speaker series, Bergen, NO, Oct 10, 2018
2018	“The selection and exploitation of ancient pigments: Identifying diachronic trends in ochre use through NAA at Hohle Fels Cave, Germany.” University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) seminar series, Columbia, MO, USA. Feb 8, 2018
2017	“Rötel- und Ockerartefakte aus dem Hohle Fels: Farbpigmente und Kunst von der Schwäbischen Alb” Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Urgeschichte (GfU), Urgeschichtlisches Museum Blaubeuren (URMU), May 13 th, 2017
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” S. Rhodes Lecture Series, Hohle Fels Excavation, July 13th , 2016
2015	“Use of portable ED-XRF (PXRF) to characterize ochre pigments and in-situ rock art in British Columbia, Canada” University of Bergen, Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion, Sept. 14th, 2015
2013	“Ochres, Pictographs and Paints: A Geochemical Analysis of Sources and Rock Paintings in Squamish, B.C.” University of Washington, Department of Anthropology Graduate Seminar Series, Feb. 8 th, 2012

Fieldwork experience

2018	Klipdrift Cave and Rockshelter, De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa February 18th – April 3rd, 2018 Directors: Dr. Christopher Henshilwood, Dr. Karen van Niekerk, University of Bergen
2017	Sotrasambandet, Bergen, Norway June 18th – September 2nd, 2017 Directors: Leif Inge Ǻsveit, University of Bergen Museum
2014-2016	Hohle Fels Cave, Schelklingen, Germany June 16th-August 1st 2014; June 20th-July 20th, 2015; June 20th-August 5 th, 2016 Directors: Dr. Nicholas Conard, Universität Tübingen
2015	Sefunim Cave, Haifa, Israel July 22nd – August 20 th, 2015 Directors: Dr. Andrew Kandel, Universität Tübingen, Dr. Ron Schimelmitz, University of Haifa
2015	Wolftalhöhle Excavation, Niederstotzingen, Germany May 12th – June 18th, 2015 Directors: Dr. Nicholas Conard, Universität Tübingen
2015, 2016	Sibudu Cave Excavation, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa February 15th – April 5th, 2015, March 21-April 1st, 2016 Director: Dr. Nicholas Conard, Universität Tübingen
2014	Bat Archaeological Project, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bat, Oman January 16th - February 15th, 2014 Directors: Dr. Charlotte Cable, Michigan State University, Dr. Christopher Thornton, University of Pennsylvania and National Geographic
2012	Lake Babine Nation Archaeological Project, Prince George, BC July 9th – August 17th, 2012 Director: Dr. Farid Rahemtulla, University of Northern British Columbia
2008	Sudbrooke Roman Archaeology Fieldschool, Lincoln, UK July – August, 2008 Director: Dr. Craig Spence, Bishop Grossteste College

Professional experience

2017-2018	Senior Visiting Researcher - University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) Archaeometry Laboratory, Columbia, MO, USA Director: Dr. Brandi L. MacDonald
2014-2015	Lab Technician – Vogelherd Lab, Blaubeuren/Tübingen, Germany Director: Dr. Nicholas Conard, Universität Tübingen
2013	Field Supervisor – Katzie Development Corporation, Katzie First Nation, Pitt Meadows, BC, Canada Director: Debbie Miller
2009	Archaeology Intern - Campus Archaeology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI January – April, 2009

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)

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