Max-Planck-Institut
Contact
Department of Human Evolution
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 350
fax: +49 (0341) 3550 - 399
e-mail: streiber@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Karen Ruebens
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Department of Human Evolution
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
Germany
phone: 0049 (0) 341 3550 364
fax: 0049 (0) 341 3550 399
e-mail: karen_ruebens@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Research Interests
I am a postdoctoral researcher specialised in Palaeolithic archaeology and lithic analyses aimed at understanding patterns underlying human evolution with specific emphasis on Neanderthal behaviour. My current research focuses on Middle Palaeolithic lithic variability, in particular assessing region-specific trends across Europe to understand the causes, mechanisms and behavioural implications of changes in lithic technology, including across the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition.
I re-joined the Human Evolution department in 2017 with a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Career Restart Fellowship. My MSC project ‘TIP-N-POINT’ focuses on reconstructing the technology underlying Middle Palaeolithic hunting events though an assemblage level assessment of the role of point shapes in the Neanderthal tool kit. It is aimed to bridge review and primary assemblage level data across Europe as well as applying a suite of analytical tools, including geometric morphometrics, GIS edge damage mapping and quantitative approaches (incl. generalised linear modelling).
Curriculum Vitae
Professional Record
| 11/2017-03/2020 | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Career Restart Fellowship (European Commission) Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany Project TIP-N-POINT: Middle Palaeolithic projectile weapon tips: a contextual, technological and quantitative assessment of Neanderthal point technology in Western Europe. Collaborators: Dr Shannon McPherron |
| 09/2015-10/2017 | Parental leave |
| 09/2014-08/2015 | DAAD-Leibniz Postdoctoral fellow MONREPOS Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution, Neuwied, Germany Project: The Palaeolithic origins of regional cultural variation: Neanderthal culture within a spatio-temporal perspective. Collaborator: Dr Olaf Jöris |
| 10/2013-07/2014 | DAAD Postdoctoral fellow Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA), Leipzig, Germany Project: Contextualising Late Middle Palaeolithic backed knives: a new perspective on Neanderthal–Modern Human interactions in Western Europe. Collaborators: Dr Shannon McPherron and Prof. Jean-Jacques Hublin |
Education
| 2013 | Ph.D., Palaeolithic Archaeology, University of Southampton (UK) Dissertation: From Keilmesser to bout-coupé handaxes: Macro-regional variability in Western European Late Middle Palaeolithic bifacial tools. Supervisor: Dr John McNabb, Advisor: Dr William Davies Examiners: Prof Clive Gamble and Dr Olaf Jöris |
| 2007 | M.A., Archaeology of Human Origins, University of Southampton (UK) Dissertation: Bifacial elements in NW Europe during the last glacial cycle (MIS 5d-3) Supervisor: Dr John McNabb |
| 2005 | M.A. and B.A., Archaeology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) Dissertation: The Middle Paleolithic Site of Oosthoven (B): a comparative analysis Supervisor: Prof. Philip Van Peer |
Grants and awards
| 2017 | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Career Restart Fellowship (EU Horizon 2020) €171,460 |
| 2014 | DAAD-Leibniz: Postdoctoral research fellowship €24,450 |
| 2013 | DAAD (German Academic Exchange service): Postdoctoral Grant €14,000 |
| 2013 | Prehistoric Society: Research Grant for fieldwork at Oosthoven (Belgium) £400 |
| 2013 | Society of Antiquaries: Research Grant for fieldwork at Oosthoven (Belgium) £2,700 |
| 2011 | University of Southampton: Humanities PGR research fund for conference travel £508 |
| 2010 | Arts and Humanities Research Council: Overseas Study Visit Postgraduate Award £2,400 |
| 2010 | Lithic Studies Society: Grant for conference organisation £500 |
| 2007 | Arts and Humanities Research Council: part-time non-UK PhD funding £11,900 |
| 2007 | Lithic Studies Society: John Wymer Bursary £250 |
| 2005 | Rotary Belgium District 1620: MA Grant and study loan €10,000 |
Professional Involvement
| Board | Elected regular board member for the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution (ESHE.eu, September 2015-September 2019) |
| Editor | Human Origins Journal, BAR conference volume |
| Reviewer |
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Conference Organisation
| 2017 | Session Organiser |
| 2014 | Session Convener ‘Bifacial tools in the Middle Palaeolithic of western Eurasia: typo-technological variability and spatio-temporal trends’ Conference:XVII World UISPP Congress 2014, Burgos (Spain) |
| 2011 | Chair of the Organising Committee Conference: Unravelling the Palaeolithic: 10 years of research at the Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins, University of Southampton |
| 2011 | Principal founder of ‘Unravelling the Palaeolithic’conference series Annual UK conference series aimed at integrating postgraduate and senior researchers travelling between Southampton, Liverpool, Cambridge, Durham and Oxford. |
| 2008, 2009 | Chair of the Organising Committee Conference: PG Research Archaeology Symposium, University of Southampton |
| 2008 | Session Convener ‘Spoilt For Choice: Uncovering Choice in The Archaeological record’ Conference: Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG), University of Southampton |
Publications
Articles
Ruebens, K., Smith, G. M., Dogandžić, T., & Steele, T. E. (2020). Connecting Middle Palaeolithic datasets: The interplay of zooarchaeological and lithic data for unravelling Neanderthal behaviour. Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology,3, 97-107.  Open Access DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Smith, G. M., Noack, E. S., Behrens, N. M., Ruebens, K., Street, M., Iovita, R., & Gaudzinski-Windheuser, S. (2020). When lithics hit bones: Evaluating the potential of a multifaceted experimental protocol to illuminate Middle Palaeolithic weapon technology. Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology,3, 126-156. Open Access DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Smith, G. M., Ruebens, K., Gaudzinski-Windheuser, S., & Steele, T. E. (2019). Subsistence strategies throughout the African Middle Pleistocene: Faunal evidence for behavioral change and continuity across the Earlier to Middle Stone Age transition. Journal of Human Evolution,127, 1-20. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K., Sykes, W., & M., R. (2016). Spatio-temporal variation in late Middle Palaeolithic Neanderthal behaviour: British bout coupé handaxes as a case study. Quaternary International,411(Part A), 305-326. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K., McPherron, S. P., & Hublin, J.-J. (2015). On the local Mousterian origin of the Châtelperronian: Integrating typo-technological, chronostratigraphic and contextual data. Journal of Human Evolution,86, 55-91. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2015). [Book review of] Churchill, S.E. -- Thin on the Ground: Neandertal Biology, Archeology and Ecology. PaleoAnthropology, 72-74. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2014). Late Middle Palaeolithic bifacial technologies across northwest Europe: Typo-technological variability and trends. Quaternary International,350, 130-146. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2013). Regional behaviour among late Neanderthal groups in Western Europe: A comparative assessment of late Middle Palaeolithic bifacial tool variability. Journal of Human Evolution,65(4), 341-362. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2013). Résumés de thèse: From Keilmesser to Bout Coupé handaxes: Macro-regional variability among Western European late middle palaeolithic bifacial tools. Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française,110(2), 364-365. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K., Romanowska, I., & Bynoe, R. (2011). Unravelling the Palaeolithic: 10 years of research at the Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins (CAHO, University of Southampton). Lithics: Journal of the Lithics Studies Society,32, 70-71. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2007). Bifacial elements in continental Northwestern Europe during the last glacial cycle (MIS5d-3): The relationship between Mousterian, Micoquian and ‘Mixed’ Assemblages. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology,18, 84-103. Open Access DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2007). John Wymer Bursary 2007: Study of the Middle Palaeolithic assemblage of Sesselfels (Germany). Lithics: Journal of the Lithics Studies Society,28, 65-67. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2006). A typological dilemma: Micoquian elements in continental Northwestern Europe during the last glacial cycle (MIS 5d–3). Lithics: The Journal of the Lithic Studies Society,27, 58-73. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2006). The middle palaeolithic ensemble of Oosthoven (Belgium): A techno-typological and comparative analysis. Terra Incognita,1, 187-199. DOI BibTeX Endnote |
Books
| Ruebens, K., Romanowska, I., & Bynoe, R. ( BibTeX Endnote |
Book Chapters
| Pope, M., Scott, B., Shaw, A., Bates, M., Conneller, C., Smith, G. M., Wragg-Sykes, R., Ruebens, K., Cole, J., & Underhill, D. (2012). Quaternary environments and archaeology of Jersey: A new multidisciplinary project looking at the early prehistoric occupation of the English Channel region. In K. Ruebens, I. Romanowska, & R. Bynoe ( BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K., & Di Modica, K. (2011). Les Productions bifaciales du Paléolithique moyen sur le territoire belge: Présentation d’industries entre deux mondes. In M. M. Ulrix-Closset ( BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K., & Van Peer, P. (2011). A Middle Palaeolithic site with small bifaces at Oosthoven – Heiende (Northern Belgium). In M. M. Ulrix-Closset ( BibTeX Endnote |
Posters
| McPherron, S. P., Lenoir, M., Dogandzic, T., Hublin, J.-J., Miller, C., Ruebens, K., Soressi, M., Steele, T. E., Talamo, S., & Turq, T. (2012).New Excavations at the Mousterian of Acheulian Site of Abri Peyrony (France). Poster presented at The 2nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Bordeaux, France. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2012).From Keilmesser to Bout-Coupé handaxes: Regional variability in western European late middle palaeolithic bifacial tools. Poster presented at The 2nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Bordeaux, France. BibTeX Endnote |
Meeting Abstracts
| Dogandzic, T., Talamo, S., Dimitrijević, V., Lauer, T., Aldeias, V., Ruebens, K., Latas, A., Daković, G., Flas, D., Dragosavac, S., Plavšić, S., McPherron, S. P., & Mihailović, D. (2017). Middle and Upper Paleolithic in the Balkans: New data from two recently discovered sites in Serbia. In Proceedings of the European Society for the study of Human Evolution (PESHE) (6, pp. 54). BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2014). Late Middle Palaeolithic bifacial tools in Western Europe: Taxonomic complexities and regional tendencies. In XVII World UISPP Congress 2014: Abstracts (pp. 468-468). BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K., & Wragg Sykes, R. M. (2014). Spatio-temporal variation in late Middle Palaeolithic Neanderthal behaviour: Bout coupé handaxes as a case study. In XVII World UISPP Congress 2014: Abstracts (pp. 475-475). BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K., McPherron, S. P., & Hublin, J.-J. (2014). A local Mousterian origin for the Châtelperronian? In A. Reid ( BibTeX Endnote | |
| McPherron, S. P., Lenoir, M., Dogandzic, T., Hublin, J.-J., Miller, C., Ruebens, K., Soressi, M., Steele, T. E., Talamo, S., & Turq, T. (2012). New Excavations at the Mousterian of Acheulian Site of Abri Peyrony (France). In Proceedings of the European Society for the study of Human Evolution (pp. 123-123). BibTeX Endnote |
Proceedings
| Cole, J., & Ruebens, K. (Open Access BibTeX Endnote |
Reports
| McPherron, S. P., Lenoir, M., Chiotti, L., Dogandzic, T., Hublin, J.-J., Miller, C., Ruebens, K., Soressi, M., Steele, T. E., Talamo, S., & Turq, T.(2010).Rapport de la campagne de fouilles de 2010 dans le gisement du Haut de Combe-Capelle (Dordogne, France). BibTeX Endnote |
Talks
| Dogandzic, T., Ruebens, K., Lenoir, M., & McPherron, S. P. (2015).Late Mousterian industrial variability in Southwestern France: A case of Abri Peyrony. Talk presented at The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. San Francisco, California. 2015-04-15 - 2015-04-19. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2014).Regional behaviour among late Neanderthal groups in western Europe: A comparative assessment of late Middle Palaeolithic bifacial tool variability. Talk presented at Middle Palaeolithic in North-West Europe: Multidisciplinary Approaches. Namur, Belgium. 2014-03-20 - 2014-03-22. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2013).From Keilmesser to Bout-Coupé handaxes: Regional variability in western European late middle palaeolithic bifacial tools. Talk presented at European Palaeolithic Conference (British Museum). London. 2013-02-21 - 2013-02-23. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2013).From Keilmesser to Bout-Coupé handaxes: Regional variability in western European late middle palaeolithic bifacial tools. Talk presented at Unravelling Human Origins Conference. Cambridge. 2013-01-18 - 2013-01-19. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2012).Late middle palaeolithic bifacial tools in Western Europe: Terminologies, types and territorial trends. Talk presented at 54th annual meeting of the Hugo Obermaier Society. Toulouse, France. 2012-04-10 - 2012-04-14. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2011).Filling in the gaps: Late middle palaeolithic bifacial technologies in the Western European lowlands. Talk presented at Unravelling the Palaeolithic: 10 years of research at the Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins (CAHO). Southampton. 2011-01-28 - 2011-01-29. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2010).Crossing Borders. The late Neanderthal world (MIS 5d-3) from a macro-regional perspective. Talk presented at Postgraduate Research Archaeology Symposium. Southampton. 2010-05-26 - 2010-05-27. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2008).Regionalism in middle palaeolithic handaxes: Adaptation or choice?. Talk presented at Theoretical Archaeology Group, TAG, University of Southampton. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2008).The concept of Palaeolithic cultures: Interpretative problems related to the study of Middle Palaeolithic stone tool industries. Talk presented at Postgraduate Research Archaeology Symposium. Southampton. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Ruebens, K. (2007).Macro-regional variability in the European Middle Palaeolithic: With specific attention to the low countries. Talk presented at Postgraduate Research Archaeology Symposium. Southampton. BibTeX Endnote |
Thesis
| Ruebens, K. (2012). From Keilmesser to Bout-Coupé handaxes: Macro-regional variability among western European late middle palaeolithic bifacial tools. PhD Thesis, University, Southampton. BibTeX Endnote |
Fieldwork Reports
| Ruebens, K.; Smith, G.M.; Van Peer, P. 2014. Contextualising the Middle Palaeolithic assemblage of Oosthoven (northern Belgium).. | |
| Bates, M.; Pope, M.; Shaw, A.; Scott, B.; Cole, J.; MacPhail, R.; Scaife, R.; Allott, L; Ruebens, K. and Smith, G. 2012. La Cotte de St. Brelade: Report on Characterisation, Sampling and Stabilisation of Exposed Pleistocene Sediments in the Western Ravine NERC URGENCY AWARD NE/J012394/1. | |
| Pope, M.; Scott, B.; Bates, M.; Conneller, C.; Cole, J.; Shaw, A.; Wragg-Sykes, R.; Smith, G.; Ruebens, K. and Underhill, D. 2011. Quaternary Archaeology and Environments of Jersey: Report 2010. | |
| McPherron, S.; Lenoir, M.; Chiotti, L.; Dogandžić, T.; Hublin, J-J. ; Miller, C.; Ruebens, K.; Soressi, M.; Steele, T. and Turq, A. 2011. Rapport de la campagne de fouilles de 2010 dans le gisement du haut de Combe-Capelle Dordogne, France). |
