Colin Smith’s general research interests lie in biomolecular archaeology, the application of analytical chemistry to archaeological questions and in particular preservation of biomolecules in archaeological skeletal material. Colin’s research has focused on the taphonomy and diagenesis of bone from a physico-chemical perspective, especially the degradation of proteins (collagen and osteocalcin) and DNA in bones in the burial environment. One theme of his research involves measuring diagenetic parameters of bone in order to understand patterns of diagenesis and how these diagenetic processes might affect the quality of isotopic or ancient DNA studies. Another aspect of his work has been developing theoretical models of the limits of survival of biomolecules in bone, with particular reference to thermal degradation, soil temperatures and palaeoclimate.

Colin is currently employed as part of the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/ahob/ project in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Durham, where he is investigating the use of single amino-acid isotopic signatures and their utility as Pleistocene palaeoclimatic indicators.