UCD School of Archaeology

Scoil na Seandálaíochta UCD

Dr Rob Sands B.SC., PH.D.

Contact Details

Title	I.T. Specialist
Address	School of Archaeology Newman Building Belfield Dublin 4
Telephone:	Ext. 8341
Email:	ei.dcu@sdnas.trebor

Biography:

I studied for my B.Sc. in Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, graduating in 1989. This was followed by time working for the Sussex Field Archaeology Unit as a supervisor before heading north, in 1991, to Edinburgh to undertake Ph.D. research into Bronze and Iron Age woodworking. This was successfully completed in 1994 and the next three years saw me undertaking a variety of archaeological contract work, part-time teaching and developing on-line learning resources. My research and development of on-line learning resources led to a full time job with Edinburgh University in 1997. First with the TLA (Teaching and Learning Association) and subsequently as a member of staff of MALTS (Media and Learning technology Service). In the latter part of my time with MALTS I was responsible for the Edinburgh end of a SHEFC multi-institutional funded project to develop the Student Centric Web-based Informational Management System (SCWEIMS).

Research Interests

In addition to my interest in the appliaction of IT to research and teaching I also have more conventinal archaeological interests. From a materials perspective my research has concentrated on wooden remains from archaeological excavations. Chronologically I have tended to focus on sites dating within the fist millennium BC and first millennium AD bracket. Thematically I currently have two main areas of interest. Firstly, the exploitation of the wetlands of Scotland, specifically the role and definition of 'crannog' sites. Secondly, I am interested in the way in which we approach artefactual studies both from a recording point of view and in terms of their role in current archaeological thought.

Research Project Details:

Artefacts and Digital Data
This project sets out to explore approaches to handling artefact data. Although the focus has been on trying to obtain a sense of what is occurring in Ireland a broader perspective has been maintained throughout and views and expreiences are sought from as many sources as possible.
The Lough Derravarragh Environs Project which includes an examination of an Early Medieval Crannog at Coolure Demesne, Lough Derravaragh, Co. Westmeath and an aerial photography project which has provided detailed orthorectified imagery for a substantial area around Lough Derravarragh. Both these projects were funded by the Heritage Council
Crannogs on the Firth of Clyde - this is a small scale project, in collaboration with Dr. Alex Hale of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments, investigating the later prehistoric 'crannog' site of Dumbuck on the north bank of the River Clyde.
Wooden finds from the Roman Fort of Vindolanda - This project, in collaboration with Dr. Jon Hather of the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, is examining all of the wooden small finds from the site.

Research Projects

Sponsor : EC Framework
Title : Chronology, Culture and Archaeology: Tree-ring Analysis and Fine Resolution Sequencing (CCA)
Start Date / End Date : 06-JUN-11 / 05-JUN-13

Sponsor : EC - DG Education and Culture (DG EAC)
Title : Archaeolandscapes Europe (ARCLAND)
Start Date / End Date : 15-SEP-10 / 14-SEP-15

Sponsor : University College Dublin (UCD)
Title : Technological Advances in Landscape and Heritage Management and Recording (a one day symposium)
Start Date / End Date : 10-JUN-11 / 30-SEP-11

Sponsor : The Heritage Council
Title : Digital Archaeology in Ireland: A Point in Time Review with Selected Reference to Initiatives World Wide
Start Date / End Date : 01-MAR-09 / 27-NOV-09

Sponsor : University College Dublin (UCD)
Title : Survey Grade Global Positioning System for Archaeology
Start Date / End Date : 01-JUN-07 / 01-DEC-08

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Books

O'Sullivan, A., Sands, R. and Kelly, E.P.; (2007) Coolure Demesne crannog, Lough Derravarragh, Co. Westmeath: a crannog and its landscapes. Dublin: Wordwell. [Details]

Hale, A. and Sands, R.; (2005) Controversy on the Clyde, Archaeologists, Fakes and Forgers: The Excavation of Dumbuck Crannog. Edinburgh: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Mon. [Details]

Sands, R.; (1997) Prehistoric Woodworking: The analysis and interpretation of Bronze and Iron Age toolmarks. : Archetype Publications. [Details]

Book Chapters

Sands, R; (2010) 'Characterisation of the transom toolmarks' In: Strachan, D (eds). Carpow in Context: A Late Bronze Age Logboat from the Tay. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. [Details]

Crone A., Sands R. and Skinner T.; (2007) 'The waterlogged wood assemblage from the Pict's Knowe' In: Thomas, J (eds). Place and Memory : Excavations at the Pict's Knowe, Holywood and Holm Farm, Dumfries and Galloway, 1994-8. Oxford: Oxbow. [Details]

Sands, R.; (2007) 'The 'ard' spike' In: Thomas, J (eds). Place and Memory : Excavations at the Pict's Knowe, Holywood and Holm Farm, Dumfries and Galloway, 1994-8. Oxford: Oxbow. [Details]

O'Sullivan, A. and Sands, R.; (2007) 'Impressive, well appointed, rich and enigmatic: Coolure Demesne crannog, Lough Derravaragh, County Westmeath' In: Barber J. et. al (eds). Archaeology from the Wetlands: recent perspectives. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. [Details]

Tipping R., Ashmore P., Davies A., Haggart A., Moir A., Newton A., Sands R., Skinner T. and Tisdall E.; (2007) 'Peat, pine stumps and people: interactions behind climate, vegitation change and human activity in wetland archaeology at Loch Farlary, northern Scotland' In: Barber J. et. al (eds). Archaeology from the Wetlands: recent perspectives. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. [Details]

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Edited Books

Barber J., Clark C., Cressey M., Crone A., Hale A., Henderson J., Housley R., Sands R. and Sheridan A (Ed.). (2007) Archaeology from the Wetlands: Recent Perspectives. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

Tipping, R., Ashmore, P., Davies, A. L., Haggart, B. A., Moir, A., Newton, A., Sands, R., Skinner, T., Tisdall, E., ; (2008) 'Prehistoric Pinus woodland dynamics in an upland landscape in northern Scotland: the roles of climate change and human impact'. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 17 (3):251-267. [Details]

Sands R. and Hale A.; (2002) 'Evidence of later prehistoric use of the Clyde from Marine Crannogs'. JOURNAL OF WETLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 1 (1):41-54. [Details]

Other Journals

O'Sullivan, A., Dillon, M., Sands, R. & McDermott, C.; (2010) 'The Fergus Estuary and its islands: discovering a maritime historic landscape in Co. Clare' HeritageOutlook Summer 2010 :11-14.

[Details]

Sands, R; (2003) 'Review of Crannogs: A study of people's interactions with lakes, with particular reference to Lough Gara in the north-west of Ireland by Fredengren, C' . [Details]

Published Reports

Sands, R.; (2010) Artefact Studies, Artefact Data, and Information Technology: A point in time review. UCD School of Archaeology/Heritage Council Grant Report, Dublin.

[Details]

Reports

Sands, R.; (2006) Envisioning a Landscape: Investigating Lough Derravarragh, Co. Westmeath. Reports [Details]

O'Sullivan, A., Kelly, E.P. and Sands, R.; (2005) Archaeological Investigations of a Crannog at Coolure Demesne, Co. Westmeath. Reports [Details]

Associations

Association: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Function/Role: Member

Association: Scottish Wetland Archaeology Programme, Function/Role: Founder Member

Conference Contributions

Rob Sands (2011) Fish Tales and lasers: mud, wood, tides and challenge. [Invited Oral Presentation], Technological Advances in Landscape and Heritage Management Recording: an Archaeolandscapes Europe one day symposium, University College Dublin , 12-AUG-11 - 12-AUG-11.

Sands, R.;Davis, S. (2011) The use of technology in the recording of archaeological sites, monuments and landscapes. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Technological Advances in Landscape and Heritage Management Recording: an Archaeolandscapes Europe one day symposium, University College Dublin , 12-AUG-11 - 12-AUG-11.

O'Sullivan, A., Dillon, M., McDermott, C. & Sands, R.; (2009) The Fergus estuary and its islands: a maritime historic landscape in Co. Clare. [Invited Lecture], Culture, Environment and Change: Archaeological Research Seminar 2009, University College Dublin , 10-DEC-09 - 10-DEC-09.

O'Sullivan, A., Dillon, M., McDermott, C. & Sands, R.; (2010) Medieval fishweirs at Boarland Rock, Fergus estuary, Co. Clare. [Invited Lecture], Wetland Archaeology in Ireland and Beyond, University College Dublin , 06-FEB-10 - 07-FEB-10.

Corns, Anthony, Shaw, Robert, McAuley, John, Sands, Rob and Goucher, Kieron; (2009) SHARE I.T. (Spatial Heritage & Archaeological Research Environment I.T.). [Oral Presentation], Computer Applications in Archaeology (CAA2009), Williamsburg, Virginia, USA , 22-MAR-09 - 26-MAR-09.

Sands, Rob; (2009) Vindolanda- a digital perspective. [Invited Oral Presentation], WODAN workshop, Dublin , 06-OCT-09 - 06-OCT-09.
Sands, Rob; (2009) Cutting Edge Research: An Old Solution in Search of a New Methodology. [Oral Presentation], Computer Applications In Archaeology (CAA2009), Williamsburg, Virginia, USA , 22-MAR-09 - 26-MAR-09.
Sands, Rob; (2009) The potential of toolmark signatures for interpreting site chronology and work practices on medieval fishweirs. [Oral Presentation], SAO (Western Archaeology Seminar): archaeological and historical approaches of fishweirs, Rennes, France , 24-JUN-09 - 24-NOV-09.
O'Sullivan, A., McCormick, F., Kerr, T., Harney, L., Sands, R., McDermott, C., Seaver, M. & O'Hara, R.; (2008) Early Medieval Archaeology Project (EMAP): dealing with data and enabling knowledge. [Invited Lecture], IAI Autumn Conference 2008. New Horizons: advances in technical methods in Irish archaeology, Sligo , 17-OCT-08 - 19-OCT-08.
O'Sullivan, A., McCormick, F., Kerr, T., Harney, L., Sands, R. and McDermott, C.; (2008) The Early Medieval Archaeology Project (EMAP): Dealing with data, enabling knowledge. [Invited Lecture], Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland Annual Conference, Sligo , 17-OCT-08 - 17-OCT-08.
Sands, R; (2005) Investigating a crannog at Coolure Demesne, Lough Derravarragh, Co. Westmeath. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 11th International Conference on Wetland Archaeology, EDINBURGH , 20-SEP-05 - 24-SEP-05.
Sands, R.; (2003) Settling Down or Moving About? Iron Age 'Crannogs' in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. [Oral Presentation], 10th International Conference on Wetland Archaeology,, Olympia, Washington , 01-APR-03 - 07-APR-03.
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Committees

Committee : UCD Central IT User Committee

Committee : UCD Research IT Support Steering Group

Committee : UCD Web Steering Group

Crone B.A., Henderson J.C., Sands, R.; (2001) 'Scottish Crannogs: construction, collapse and conflation. Problems of interpretation' In: Raftery B.Hickey J (eds). Recent Developments in Wetland Research. Dublin: Department of Archaeology, UCD. [Details]
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