Mhairi has worked as an excavator and supervisor on many archaeological excavations in Britain since her graduation in 1996 including: excavations at Vindolanda Roman Fort; rescue excavation of a Neolithic excarnation platform and Bronze Age cist burials carried out by English Heritage; and excavation of a variety of rural and urban sites, ranging from the prehistoric to the medieval period, in Southern Germany. She has also conducted a range of evaluations and watching briefs.

Mhairi joined CFA in September 2005 as an assistant consultant archaeologist and palaeoenvironmental scientist. Prior to this, she worked as post-excavation supervisor/archaeobotanist for Headland Archaeology Ltd responsible for all routine samples assessment carried out as part of fieldwork, on-site sampling procedures and identification of both waterlogged and carbonised plant remains including wood charcoal.

Mhairi currently specialises in the assessment and analysis of archaeological macroplants including iron-replaced wood. She has published a number of archaeobotanical reports and has written numerous technical reports for clients. Mhairi has been involved in a number of large palaeoenvironmental projects including: the analysis of the iron-replaced wood from the Iron Age Cart Burial, Newbridge Interchange, Edinburgh; the examination of plant remains from multi-phase site at Kintore, Aberdeenshire and Birnie, Moray; and the analysis of hazelnut shell assemblages from a Mesolithic site discovered at Cramond, Edinburgh. She has presented papers at national conferences and local archaeological societies.

As well as palaeobotanical work Mhairi acts as CFA’s assistant consultant archaeologist producing Environmental Impact Assessments, Environmental Statements and scoping reports as well as technical reports and carrying out walkover reconnaissance survey.