{"id":2,"date":"2018-05-25T09:06:47","date_gmt":"2018-05-25T08:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/quest\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:45:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:45:59","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/quest\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"

A leading specialist consultancy in geoarchaeology and palaeoenvironmental research, using innovative scientific approaches to reconstruct past environments, landscapes and human\u2013environment interactions throughout the Quaternary.<\/p>\n

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]QUEST (Quaternary Scientific) provides an expert environmental archaeological (palaeoenvironmental and palaeoeconomic) service to academic departments, research projects, archaeological companies, environmental consultancies, and government organizations. Since 1996, the business has expanded to include a network of specialist and technical staff (internal and external to the University of Reading) that service all aspects of archaeological science contract work.<\/p>\n

Quest has prepared a Quality Assurance Document (QAD) covering all procedures that are undertaken for both Archaeological and Environmental Science projects. This document is available upon request. This document has been submitted to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), of which Quest is a Registered Organisation.<\/p>\n

In order to ensure project continuity, individual projects are managed by Dr Mike Simmonds (Director), Dr George Biddulph (Senior Project Manager) or Hester Crothers (Senior Project Coordinator). The core staff are based in the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science (SAGES) at the University of Reading.<\/p>\n

The positions, qualifications and specialisms of the core staff are listed below, click on their names to see their more detailed profile:<\/p>\n

Dr Mike Simmonds – <\/strong>Director<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

BSc (Hons) Physical Geography (University of Reading); MSc Geoarchaeology (University of Reading); PhD Archaeology (University of Reading).<\/p>\n

Dr George Biddulph –\u00a0<\/strong>Senior Project Manager<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

BSc (Hons) Geography (University of Reading); MSc Quaternary Science (Royal Holloway, University of London); PhD Geography (University of St Andrews)<\/p>\n

Hester Crothers<\/strong> –<\/strong> Senior P<\/em>roject Coordinator<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

BSc (Hons) Geography (Oxford Brookes University); MSc Quaternary Science (Royal Holloway, University of London)<\/p>\n

Natasha Kozlowski – <\/strong>Geoarchaeological Technician and PhD Student<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

BSc (Hons) Archaeology (University of Durham); MSc Archaeology (University of Cambridge)<\/p>\n

Dr Chris Green – <\/strong>Senior Geoarchaeologist (Sedimentology and Geology)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

BA (Hons) Geography; DPhil Geography (Oxford University)<\/p>\n

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A leading specialist consultancy in geoarchaeology and palaeoenvironmental research, using innovative scientific approaches to reconstruct past environments, landscapes and human\u2013environment interactions throughout the Quaternary. 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