Craig Barker
Current position
Manager, Education & Public Programs, Chau Chak Wing Museum, The University of Sydney, and Director of the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project in Cyprus.
Where did you study?
The University of Sydney
How did you become interested in archaeology?
Ever since childhood I was interested in history, and passionately inquisitive. I think despite a youthful flirtation with paleontology, I have thought I wanted to be an archaeologist from a very young age!
My intention was always to follow a career in Australian historical archaeology, and only ever studied Mediterranean archaeology out of interest, so I find it ironic that I have now worked in Cyprus and Greece for over two decades.
What archaeological projects are you working on at the moment?
Currently working on the publication of the results of the first decade of the Australian mission's excavations of the Hellenistic- Roman period theatre of Paphos in Cyprus and writing up the results of our field season for 2019. I am also working on the publication of finds from the nearby 'Tombs of the Kings' necropolis in Paphos. There is a long tradition of Australian archaeologists working in Cyprus.
With the creation of a new museum at the University of Sydney, the Chau Chak Wing Museum which will open in late 2020, we are busy planning exhibitions, educational activities and programs. Every time I walk through the store room on campus I am reminded of Mediterranean cultural objects I had mentally promised myself to spend some time researching and publishing but there is always more interest than there is time!
Tell us about one of your most interesting archaeological discoveries.
I have had the privilege to work on a range of sites in Australia, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey and to have worked with collections in a range of countries so there are many experiences of joyous results and exciting discovery: ranging from gold coins to intact ceramic vessels. One that sticks in my mind is the gradual realisation that a distinctive burial custom of duplication of types of grave good was visible in Hellenistic burials in western Paphos; suddenly it all made sense as to the care of the choice of objects and location of placement of burial offerings.
Tell us about a funny / disastrous / amazing experience that you have had while doing archaeology.
Fortunately not too many embarrassing stories. The only time in my career that I have ever tripped on a string line marking a baulk was in front of a busload of Austrian archaeologists. One of them told me I shouldn't have done that.
What’s your favourite part of being an archaeologist?
I've always enjoyed the collaborative nature of archaeology: obviously fieldwork involves a team of people with various expertise, but so does research. I really enjoy working with peers and students and being challenged by their input.
As a discipline we work best when working together.
Follow up reading:
A full bibliography can be found on the project website: http://www.paphostheatre.org/ and my own website: http://www.drcbarker.com/
My radio segment 'Can You Dig It' can be heard on Rhianna Patrick's program on ABC Radio the third Sunday night of each month.
The Chau Chak Wing Museum has just launched a new podcast called ‘Object Matters’ which will in future feature many archaeological finds from Australia and the Middle East and Mediterranean. Follow this link to find out more.