Personal information
Biography
I am an Associate Professor at the Australian National University (SoAA), specialising in Australian Indigenous archaeology. My research involves collaborations with Torres Strait Islander and Australian Aboriginal communities who seek to historicise (through archaeology, including rock art) practices and places of social, political and/ or spiritual significance.
Currently I am working on two projects. The first explores long-term human connections on Australia's northern border (i.e. south coast of New Guinea, Torres Strait, Cape York). At the request of Goemulgal and Meriam communities we are following the footsteps of Waiet (reputed to have brought fertility ceremonies and death dances to Torres Strait), excavating interconnected ritual spanning this Corral Sea region. The other project explores long term history of the Blue Mountains, also assisting Dharug to conserve bush-fire hit cultural heritage.
Previously I held research positions at Griffith and Monash Universities and completed a PhD at Monash University in 2010. My thesis explored the potential for using archaeology to historically assess culturally signficant "villages" in western Torres Strait. Since beginning my studies at Lampeter University (Wales) in 1998, I have participated in a wide variety of projects including excavations of rock shelters and open sites in Western Australia (Hope Downs) and Arnhem Land (Northern Territory), highland Papua New Guinea (Simbai), Palau (Ulong, Angaur), Torres Strait (Mabuyag) and most recently Czech Republic (Blansko).