Dr. Mark Beech - CV

Current Positions held:

Cultural Landscapes Manager, Historic Environment Department, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Honorary Visiting Fellow, Department of Archaeology, University of York, U.K.

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Personal data
Work Address
Education
Employment
Participation in major research projects
Other relevant experience, skills & qualifications
Archaeological fieldwork experience
Committees
Conferences organised
Membership
Computing
Driving
Languages
Lectures and Presentations
Publications
Scholarships, Research Grants and Awards received
Teaching Experience

PERSONAL DATA:

Name:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Nationality:
Status: Mark Jonathan Beech
10th September, 1963
Sheffield, U.K.
British
Married, one daughter.

WORK ADDRESS:

Dr. Mark Beech
Cultural Landscapes Manager
Historic Environment Department
Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA)
P.O. Box 2380
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

tel (direct line): +971-2-6576221
mobile: +971-50-7527407
fax: +971-2-6422528

e-mail: mark [dot] beech [at] adach [dot] ae
e-mail: beech [at] emirates [dot] net [dot] ae

website: www.adach.ae

website: www-users.york.ac.uk/~mjb117
website: www.markbeech.com

EDUCATION:

1976-82: King Edward VII School, Sheffield - K's Old Edwardians (9 O levels, 3 A levels)

1982-85: BSc. (Hons) - 2.1. - Archaeology - Institute of Archaeology, University of London, U.K.

1986-87: M.A. (with Distinction) - Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy - Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, U.K.

1997 - 2001: DPhil. - Departments of Archaeology and Biology (EAU) at the University of York, U.K., PhD thesis entitled:

In the Land of the Ichthyophagi: Modelling fish exploitation in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman from the 5th millennium BC to the Late Islamic Period

EMPLOYMENT:

1985: Part-time office assistant, Microwriter Ltd., Southampton Row, London.

1986-87: Zooarchaeologist, Ancient Monuments Laboratory, English Heritage, London, U.K.

1987: Zooarchaeologist, Passmore Edwards Museum, London, U.K.

1987-91: Freelance Archaeologist/Zooarchaeologist based at the Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield.

1991-95: Researcher, Department of the Archaeology of Landscape and Archaeobiology, Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic.

1995-96: Zooarchaeologist, English Heritage Zooarchaeology Laboratory, Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, University of Birmingham, U.K.

1996: NERC Research Assistant to Dr. Keith Dobney, EAU (Environmental Archaeology Unit), University of York, U.K.

2001+ Honorary Visiting Fellow, Department of Archaeology, University of York.

2002 (October) - 2006 (May): Senior Resident Archaeologist, Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

2006 (1st June) - 2012 (8 February): Cultural Landscapes Manager, Historic Environment Department, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

2012 (9 February) - present: Cultural Landscapes Manager, Historic Environment Department, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

PARTICIPATION IN MAJOR PROJECTS:

1986-91 and 1997: Nicopolis-ad-Istrum and Dichin, Bulgaria (Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham, U.K., Veliko Turnovo Museum and Institute of Archaeology, Sofia, Bulgaria)

1987: Haddenham, U.K. (Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge )

1989-90: British Archaeological Mission to Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan (Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, together with the Pakistan Antiquities Department and the Geological Survey of Pakistan)

1990-91: Pakenham, U.K. (Suffolk Archaeological Unit - funded by English Heritage )

1991-94: Ancient Landscape Reconstruction in Bohemia, Czech Republic (Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, together with the Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic)

1994-99: The Sanctuary and Monastery of St. Lot at Deir 'Ain 'Abata, Jordan (British Museum and Department of Antiquities, Jordan)

1994-2006: Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS), United Arab Emirates

1995-96: Castle Mall, Norwich, U.K. (English Heritage Zooarchaeology Laboratory, Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, University of Birmingham, U.K. and the Norfolk Archaeological Unit)

1996-2003: Kush, Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (National Museum of Ras Al-Khaimah and University of Durham, U.K.)

1996: Qermez Dere, Iraq (NERC / EAU (Environmental Archaeology Unit), University of York, U.K.)

2000-2006: British Archaeological Expedition to Kuwait, As-Sabiyah, Kuwait (National Museum of Kuwait and Institute of Archaeology (UCL), London, UK)

2006+: Kuwait-Slovak Archaeological Mission (KSAM) - Failaka Island, Kuwait

2006-2012: Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), United Arab Emirates. Various projects, including:

- Mapping of Cultural Landscapes in Abu Dhabi emirate - using GIS & databases: this includes the establishment of a geospatial database of all cultural heritage sites in Abu Dhabi emirate, plus the use of ESRI ArcGIS platform as a tool for management of cultural heritage resources in Abu Dhabi emirate.

- Establishment of Preliminary Cultural Review (PCR) system (together with Dr. Sami El-Masri & other colleagues from ADACH) - rescue archaeology surveys and excavations in advance of construction projects.

- Late Miocene fossils of Abu Dhabi, together with Prof. Andrew Hill (Yale University) and Dr. Faysal Bibi (Berlin Natural History Museum) - survey & excavation of various 6-8 million year old sites.

- Investigating the Neolithic of the Rub al-Khali (together with various colleagues from ADACH, Richard Cuttler, Birmingham Archaeology, University of Birmingham, U.K. and Dr Heiko Kallweit, Germany)

- Survey & excavation of coastal & desert interior sites providing an insight into Neolithic communities in South-East Arabia.

- Coastal Maritime Heritage project, in collaboration with my colleague, Peter Sheehan (Head of Historic Buildings in the Historic Environment Department at ADACH), and in partnership with Dr Lucy Blue (Director of the Maritime Archaeology Stewardship Trust (MAST) and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Southampton, UK)

2012: Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Various projects, including:

- Mapping of Cultural Landscapes in Abu Dhabi emirate - using GIS & databases: this includes the establishment of a geospatial database of all cultural heritage sites in Abu Dhabi emirate, plus the use of ESRI ArcGIS platform as a tool for management of cultural heritage resources in Abu Dhabi emirate.

- Preliminary Cultural Reviews (PCR) - rescue archaeology surveys and excavations in advance of construction projects.

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS

Twenty eight years of field experience working on a range of sites and projects. For further information see a complete list of archaeological sites/projects I've been involved with.

COMMITTEES / EDITORIAL BOARDS / REFEREEING:

Academic Referee for the International Journals, Adumatu, Antiquity and Journal of Archaeological Science.
Journal of Oman Studies - member of editorial board.
Paleorient - member of Scientific Committee *NEW*.
Seminar for Arabian Studies - committee member and on the editorial board of the Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies (since 2002).
Tribulus - Journal of the Emirates Natural History Group - member of the editorial committee (since 2002).
York Archaeology Society - postgraduate representative committee member (1998-99)

CONFERENCES ORGANISED:

Main conference organiser - Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) Conference 1988 (Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield).
Principal conference organiser - Archaeology Society York 1999 Conference.
Conference session co-organiser - "Coastal adaptations in arid environments" at the 9th Conference of the International Council of Archaeozoology (ICAZ), held at the University of Durham, UK. (23-28 August 2002). The conference was co-organised with Caroline Cartwright (Conservation and Scientific Research Department, British Museum).
Co-organiser with Dr. Hassan Naboodah and Peter Hellyer of the 1st Annual Symposium on Recent Palaeontological and Archaeological Discoveries in the Emirates, held in Al Ain (April 2003), Zayed Center for Heritage and History, Emirates Heritage Club.
Co-organiser with Dr. Hassan Naboodah and Peter Hellyer of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Recent Archaeological Discoveries in the Emirates and of the Symposium on the History of the Emirates, held in Al Ain (7-8 April 2004), Zayed Center for Heritage and History, Emirates Heritage Club.
Co-organiser with Dr. Hassan Naboodah and Peter Hellyer of the 3rd Annual Symposium on Recent Archaeological Work in the Emirates, held in Al Ain (6-7 April 2005), Zayed Center for Heritage and History, Emirates Heritage Club.
Co-organiser with Dr. Hassan Naboodah and Peter Hellyer of the 4th Annual Symposium on Recent Archaeological Discoveries in the Emirates, held in Al Ain (29-30 March 2006), Zayed Center for Heritage and History, Emirates Heritage Club.
Principal conference co-organiser - International Council for Archaeozoology - Archaeozoology of Southwest Asia and Adjacent Areas - 9th Meeting of ASWA (16-20 November 2008) - to honour the contribution of Hans-Peter Uerpmann and Francois Poplin to the Archaeozoology of Southwestern Asia. This was held at the Mercure Hotel in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi emirate, UAE. The conference was co-organised with Dr Marjan Mashkour (Muséum national d'histoire naturelle / CNRS, Paris, France).
Old World Camelids - This conference session was held on Wednesday 25th August, 2010, co-organised by: Dr Marjan Mashkour (Muséum national d'histoire naturelle / CNRS, Paris, France) & Dr Mark Beech (Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, Abu Dhabi, UAE) at the 10th Conference of the International Council of Archaeozoology (ICAZ), held in Paris, France (23-28 August 2010).
Principal conference organiser - Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates Conference, held at the Hilton Hotel in Al Ain from 30-31 March 2011.
Co-organiser with Dr Celine Pouyat (Cultural Department, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority) and Sarina Wakefield (Open University, UK) of a special session at the Seminar for Arabian Studies 2012 on "The Role of Museums in Arabia", due to be held at the British Museum from 13-15 July 2012. click here for more information. *NEW*

MEMBERSHIP:

Association for Environmental Archaeology (AEA) - member (since 1986+)
British Foundation for the Study of Arabia - member (since 2010+)
Emirates Natural History Group (ENHG) - Abu Dhabi chapter member (2002+)
International Council for Archaeozoology (ICAZ) - member (since 1998+)
Archaeozoologists of S.W. Asia and Adjacent Regions Working Group (ICAZ ASWA) - member (since 1998 +)
Fish Remains Working Group (ICAZ FISH) - member (since 1997+)
Seminar for Arabian Studies - member (since 1997+)
Society for Arabian Studies - member (1998-2010)
York Archaeology Society - member (1997-2002)

COMPUTING:

Over 25 years experience with PC and Macintosh computers. Excellent knowledge of MS-DOS, Windows operating system, Macintosh Lion, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Dreamweaver and other internet software (e.g. web browsers, FTP, etc.). Some knowledge of UNIX. I have a good knowledge of HTML and have been the principal webmaster for a number of websites including:

Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) - http://www.adias-uae.com/
Association for Environmental Archaeology (AEA) - http://www.envarch.net/
Environmental Archaeology Unit (EAU) - http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/eau
Janette Ray Rare and Out of Print Books - http://www.janetteray.co.uk/
Kater Murr's Press - http://www.katermurr.com
Regeneration Through Heritage (an initiative established by HRH The Prince of Wales) - now within The Prince's Regeneration Trust.
Seminar for Arabian Studies - http://www.arabianseminar.org.uk/

I have my own websites at - http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~mjb117 and http://www.markbeech.com/

Since 2002 I have been involved in working with GIS applications and the development of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Heritage Database, a geo-referenced database of archaeological, palaeontological and historical sites within Abu Dhabi emirate in the United Arab Emirates. All mapping of archaeological sites in the field is carried out using GPS-based systems. Maps are subsequently generated using ESRI ArcGIS/ArcMap 10, utilising geo-referenced satellite images.

DRIVING:

UK driving license (since 1990) - clean, no endorsements.

UAE driving license (since 2002).

LANGUAGES:

Arabic (basic oral)
Bulgarian (basic oral)
Czech (good oral and reading)
English (mother tongue)
French (good oral, reading and writing)
Slovak (fair oral and reading)

LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS:

For a complete list of all Lectures and Presentations, please click here

PUBLICATIONS

For a complete list of all my Publications, please click here

RESEARCH GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS:

For a complete list of all Scholarships, Research Grants and Awards, please click here

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

I have 25 years experience of part-time teaching including:

1987-91: Department of Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield, UK - Undergraduates/JYA students - seminar tutor/essay marking. Subject: Archaeological Theory, Palaeoeconomic Studies.

1991-95: Institute of Prehistory and Early History, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic - Undergraduate students - lectures/practical classes. Subject: Environmental Archaeology, Zooarchaeology.

1991-95: Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic - Academic staff - practical training. Subject: Environmental Archaeology, Zooarchaeology.

1996-99 (more than 200 hours): Departments of Archaeology and Biology, University of York, UK.
Undergraduate students - lectures/practical classes/fieldwork trips. Subject: Archaeology of the UAE, Computing Skills (Databases, Spreadsheets, Web skills), Environmental Archaeology and Zooarchaeology.
Postgraduate MSc. students - lectures/practical classes/fieldwork trips. Subject: Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates, Environmental Archaeology methods and theories, Invertebrate remains in Archaeology and Zooarchaeology (mammals, birds and fishes). 2000: Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, UK - 2nd year Undergraduate students - Two day intensive course on animal bones/zooarchaeology.

2001: Department of Art and Archaeology, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London - half day course on field archaeology and zooarchaeology.

2002-3: Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - series of lectures on archaeology of the UAE. Fieldtrip organised to ADIAS excavation.

2003: Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - lecture on archaeology of the UAE.

2004-2007: Lectures on archaeology of the UAE to a number of organisations, including:
- Emirates Natural History Group (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai), United Arab Emirates.
- Historical Association of Oman, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
- Qatar Natural History Group, Doha, Qatar.
- Zayed Centre for Heritage and History, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Antiquity and Museums, Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Kuwait.

2007 - Zayed University, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai campus, United Arab Emirates - series of lectures on the archaeology and heritage of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

2008 - Lectures on archaeology of the UAE to a number of organisations, including:
- Urban Planning Council - Al Ain Charrette.
- Canvas Magazine - Introduction to Islamic Art (Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi).
- Emirates Natural History Group.

2009 - Lectures on archaeology of the UAE to a number of organisations, including:
- Zayed University, Abu Dhabi campus, United Arab Emirates - series of four lectures on the archaeology and heritage of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
- UAE Architectural Heritage Society, Dubai.
- Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) - Training seminar to TDIC Tour Guides on Sir Bani Yas.
- Zayed Centre for Heritage and History, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

2010 - Lectures on archaeology of the UAE to a number of organisations, including:
- Zayed University, Abu Dhabi campus, United Arab Emirates - series of three lectures on the archaeology and heritage of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

2011 - Lectures on archaeology of the UAE and related topics to a number of organisations, including:
- Emirates Natural History Group (Dubai branch)
- National Council of Tourism and Antiquities (Dubai)
- New York University Abu Dhabi Institute
- Qatar Natural History Group
- Urban Planning Council (UAE National Senior Managers, UAE National Junior Staff & Expatriate Workers)

2012 - Lectures on archaeology of the UAE and related topics to a number of organisations, including:
- Zayed University, Abu Dhabi campus

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[ Last updated: 25 March 2012 ]