Dr Sophie Newman

BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD

School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities

Honorary Research Fellow

Dr Sophie Newman
Profile picture of Dr Sophie Newman
sophie.newman@sheffield.ac.uk
Profile

I studied Anatomical Sciences at the University of Dundee from 2007-2011, where I first became interested in the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts.

I then studied for an MSc in Palaeopathology at Durham University (2011-2012), where I remained to undertake my PhD research focusing on child health in the Industrial Revolution.

Following the completion of my doctorate in 2016, I worked as a commercial osteoarchaeologist for York Osteoarchaeology, before starting my role as Research Technician and Lab Demonstrator in Human Osteology at Sheffield in 2017. Since August 2020 I have been an Honorary Research Fellow in the department. 

Research interests

I specialise in the study of human osteology and palaeopathology, particularly in relation to children and child health in the past.

My main research interests are:

  • Human osteology and palaeopathology
  • Human growth and development
  • Health in 18th-19th century England
  • The bioarchaeology of children and childhood
  • Vitamin D deficiency in the past
  • Social status, and the impact of social inequality on health
Professional activities and memberships
  • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Committee Secretary for the Society for the Study of Childhood in the Past (SSCIP)
  • Grants Secretary for the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO)
  • Co-organiser of the Little Lives Conference 2016, Durham University

Selected Conferences & Invited Talks 

Recent Conference Presentations

  • September 2018 – Newman, S.L., Keefe, K., Caffell, A.C., Holst, M., Gowland, R. “Growing old in the Industrial Age: ageing, health, and social identity in elderly females (18th- 19th C)” BABAO 2018 – Cranfield University
  • June 2018 - Newman, S.L., Keefe, K., Caffell, A.C., Holst, M., Gowland, R. “Growing old in the Industrial Age: ageing, health, and social identity in elderly females (18th- 19th C)” The Material Body, 1500-1900: A Conference of Archaeologists and Historians – University of Birmingham
  • April 2016 - Newman, S.L. “Life in the Shadows: the impact of social status, geographic location, and vitamin D deficiency on child health in 18th-19th century England” AAPA Conference – New Orleans
  • September 2016 – Newman, S.L. “Best of Both Worlds? Child-care practices and child health within the English middle class family, (18th-19th C).” SSCIP Conference: Family in the Past Perspective – Durham University
  • September 2016 – Newman, S.L., Gowland, R.L., Caffell, A.C. “North and South: a comprehensive analysis of non-adult growth in the Industrial Revolution (18th-19th C), England.” BABAO 2016 – Kent University
  • September 2015 – Newman, S.L., Gowland, R.L. “The Backbone of Growth: investigating non-adult vertebral indicators of growth disruption.” BABAO 2015 - Sheffield University
  • September 2015 – Newman, S.L., Gowland, R.L. “Dedicated Followers of Fashion? Bioarchaeological perspectives on socio-economic status and health in urban children from the Industrial Revolution.“ EAA Conference 2015 - University of Glasgow
Publications

Selected Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • Speed, G., Fell, D.W., Holst, M., Keefe, K. and Newman, S. 2019 The Prehistoric Burials. In: Speed, G. and Holst, M. (eds) Death, Burial and Identity: 3000 Years of Death in the Vale of Mowbray. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph, Volume 4. York: Archaeology Data Service. 
  • Holst, M., Keefe, K., Newman, S. and Löffelmann, T. 2019 Human Remains. In: Speed, G. and Holst, M. (eds) Death, Burial and Identity: 3000 Years of Death in the Vale of Mowbray. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph, Volume 4. York: Archaeology Data Service. 
  • Speed, G., Holst, M., Keefe, K. and Newman, S. 2019 Death, Burial, Identity and Beyond. In: Speed, G. and Holst, M. (eds) Death, Burial and Identity: 3000 Years of Death in the Vale of Mowbray. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph, Volume 4. York: Archaeology Data Service. 
  • Gowland, R.L. and Newman, S.L. 2018 Children of the revolution: childhood health inequalities and the life course during industrialisation of the 18th to 19th centuries. In: P. Beauchesne and S. Agarwal (eds.). Children and Childhood in the Past. Florida: University of Florida Press.

Selected Unpublished Osteological Reports

  • Newman, S. and Holst, M. 2017 ‘Osteological Analysis, Mansell Farm, Newbold on Stour, Tredlington, Warwickshire’, York Osteoarchaeology for Archaeology Warwickshire. June 2017.
  • Newman, S. and Holst, M. 2017 ‘Osteological Analysis, Bush Heath Lane, Harbury, Warwickshire’, York Osteoarchaeology for Archaeology Warwickshire. May 2017.
  • Newman, S. and Holst, M. 2017 ‘Osteological Analysis, Land at Salford Road, Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire’, York Osteoarchaeology for Archaeology Warwickshire. March 2017.
  • Newman, S. and Holst, M. 2017 ‘Osteological Analysis, All Saints Church, Bingley, Bradford, West Yorkshire’, York Osteoarchaeology for WYAS. February 2017.
  • Newman, S. and Holst, M. 2017 ‘Osteological Analysis, GP Surgery, Market Place, Masham, North Yorkshire’, York Osteoarchaeology for Solstice Heritage. January 2017.
  • Newman, S. 2017 ‘Analysis of the Disarticulated Human Bone Recovered from Lindisfarne (LDF16)’, for DigVentures. January 2017.
  • Newman, S. and Holst, M. 2016 ‘Osteological Analysis, Chapel Street, Hazel Grove, Greater Manchester’, York Osteoarchaeology. August 2016.
  • Newman, S. and Holst, M. 2016 ‘Osteological Analysis, Low Street, Sherburn In Elmet, North Yorkshire’, York Osteoarchaeology, No.1416. May 2016.

Links

BABAO  The Society for the Study of Childhood in the Past