Fiona B. Marshall

Research on pastoralism transformed understanding of African prehistory. Combines ethnographic, archaeological, and archaeobiological evidence to study early/mid-Holocene food production, pastoralism and domesticate dispersal. Examines strategies for coping with increasing aridity and role of pastoralists in creating African savannas. Research on donkey and cat domestication provides insights into domestication, spotlighting role of domesticates in initiating and maintaining domesticatory relationships with humans. Developed markers for domestication of alternative-pathway domesticates. Insights into genetics of intentional breeding and genetic isolation among early domesticates. Methodological contributions translate patterns of bone disposal and butchery into techniques for monitoring animal exploitation strategies and origins of food sharing.