My own research employs macroscopic and biochemical analyses of skeletal and dental structures to investigate lived experiences in the past. This includes dietary stable isotopes of incremental tooth dentine sections, and peptide analysis to identify X and Y linked isoforms of amelogenin in pre-pubertal skeletal remains. In various research projects I’ve also conducted stable isotope analyses of animal remains, prepared thin sections, performed SEM analysis of rib samples, and collected/analyzed data during a multi-year project on Vitamin D in the Roman Empire.
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Avery LC, Lewis M. 2023. Emerging Adolescence: Current status and potential advances in bioarchaeology. Bioarchaeology International 7(2): 103-110. https://doi.org/10.5744/bi.2023.0006.
Avery LC, Prowse TL, Findlay S, Chapelain de Sereville-Niel C, Brickley MB. 2023. Pubertal timing as an indicator of early life stress in Roman Italy and Roman Gaul. American Journal of Biological Anthropology 180(3): 548-560. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24680.
Avery LC, Brickley MB, FIndlay S, Bondioli L, Sperdutti A, Prowse TL. 2023. Eating like adults: An investigation of dietary change in childhood and adolescence at Portus Romae (Italy, 1-4th centuries CE). Bioarchaeology International. 7(2): 130-145. https://doi.org/10.5744/bi.2022.0006.
Avery LC, Prowse TL, Findlay S, Brickley MB. 2022. Bioarchaeological approaches to the study of adolescence. Childhood in the Past 15(1): 3-14. https//doi.org/10.1080/17585716.2022.2055865.
Avery LC, Brickley MB, Findlay S, Chapelain de Sereville-Niel C, Prowse TL. 2021. Child and adolescent diet in Late Roman Gaul: An investigation of incremental dietary stable isotopes in tooth dentine. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 31(6): 1226-1236. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.3033.
Avery LC, Prowse TL, Brickley MB. 2019. Dental health and dietary difference at Late Roman Winchester. Bioarchaeology International 3(3): 157-174. https://doi.org/10.5744/bi.2019.1011.
Award Winning Conference Presentations
2021 Changing Childhood Diets: Incremental stable isotope analysis of tooth dentine from Imperial Roman Italy (1st-4th centuries CE). Honourable Mention for the Oschinsky-McKern Award for Top Podium Presentation by a Student by the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology.
2021 Investigating Social Age Changes in the Roman Empire through Dietary Stable Isotopes. Honorable Mention for Best Student Presentation. Awarded by the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
2020 Investigating Dietary Stable Isotope Changes in Childhood and Early Adolescence as a Proxy for Social Age Changes. Best 15-Minute Asynchronous Podium Presentation. Awarded by the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology.
2019 Puberty in the Past: Investigating Pubertal Timing in the Roman Empire. Davidson Black Award for best Poster Presentation. Awarded by the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology.
2015 Challenges of Determining Social Status and Impact of Misidentification. Davidson Black Award for best Poster Presentation. Awarded by the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology.