India Ella Dilkes-Hall
Current position
Research Fellow, Griffith Centre for Social Cultural Research
Where did you study?
University of Western Australia
How did you become interested in archaeology?
I believe there's something innate and central to our collective and self identity as humans to want to understand our evolution. Archaeology forms a direct link to that understanding and can explore fundamental questions around what it is to be human, informing not only on what has passed but showing how our past is inextricably intertwined with our present and future.
Also, The Mummy.
What archaeological projects are you working on at the moment?
Since 2019 I have worked on ARC projects awarded to Professor Maxine Aubert and colleagues excavating archaeological sites located along the Marang River in the Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat karst landscapes of East Kalimantan.
Tell us about one of your most interesting archaeological discoveries.
In March 2020, I co-led archaeological excavations at Liang Tebo where we excavated TB1 who represents the oldest intentional primary flexed burial in Island South East Asia and the oldest evidence for successful surgical amputation anywhere in the world dating to 31,000 years old.
Tell us about a funny / disastrous / amazing experience that you have had while doing archaeology.
On 2023 fieldwork, orangutans passed through the canopy above our remote rainforest camp. It's up there with those handful of experiences with nature you have across your life that you'll never forget.
What’s your favourite part of being an archaeologist?
Being on Country working with community.
Follow up reading.