Joseph Owen

My research interests focus on human-animal interactions, especially domestication. I study the physical responses exhibited by domesticates, quantifying shape changes using a statistical technique called geometric morphometrics. I have been working on modern comparative material to compare to archaeological specimens, while also examining the different ontogenetic pathways of wild and domestic pigs to elucidate why domestication produces a different phenotype compared to the wild ancestors. I am also interested in biogeography, physical responses to climate change, suid systematics and evolution, and the applicability of geometric morphometrics to wider archaeological and bioarchaeological questions.