Staff

Patricia Wiltshire
B.Sc. (London)

Positions
Research Associate

Patricia Wiltshire collaborates on research and consultancy work with staff in the Department.

Patricia is a Botany graduate (First Class Hons) of London University (King’s College London, 1973) and a Merchant Taylors Scholar. Patricia was engaged in research in both microbial ecology and palynology (pollen analysis) at King's between 1973-1980. In 1980 she was appointed part-time lecturer in Microbial Ecology and General Ecology at King’s College London. From 1988 to 1998 she was Senior Research Fellow (funded by English Heritage) at University College London, responsible for palynological analysis and environmental reconstruction on many archaeological excavations, including those at Pompeii and Hadrian’s Wall. For thirteen years, Patricia was also a part-time lecturer in Ecology and Conservation for the Department of Extramural Studies of London University, Birkbeck College. She is President of Birkbeck College Ecology and Conservation Association (for the 2003-2005 term).

In 1998, Patricia was appointed (at UCL) as Honorary Lecturer and Senior Consultant Research Fellow and was also asked to establish an M.Sc. in Forensic Archaeological Science at the Institute of Archaeology. She coordinated this course for five years until September 2003. She currently teaches at the Jill Dando Institute for Crime Science (UCL) and gives occasional lectures in archaeological palynology and ecology in M.Sc. courses at the Institute of Archaeology.

Patricia is now actively engaged in forensic palynology and environmental profiling and has acted as a consultant for police forces throughout Britain (on nearly 80 investigations). She has worked on cases involving theft, murder, rape, and abduction and is an experienced expert witness with extensive court experience. She has worked on many high profile cases such as Operation Maple (murder of Sarah Payne), Operation Fincham (Soham girls murder), and Operation Ruby (murder of Amanda Dowler). She works closely with the Forensic Science Service laboratories throughout Britain and directly with Julia Newberry in the Department of Natural and Social Sciences.

Patricia continues to work as a consultant in archaeological palynology and is responsible for palynological investigations in large archaeological excavations including those at Stansted Airport, London Airport, Lakenheath Airbase, Verulamium Museum, Colchester, and elsewhere. Pat will work mainly with Dr John Daniell and Prof. Frank Chambers in the Department on various environmental archaeological assessments. Current work includes examination of Roman pottery from Colchester.