Australian archaeologists work in a huge range of fields, investigating diverse aspects of our past. A generous bunch of Australian archaeologists have shared their stories with us. Click on the profiles below to find out more!
If you would like to add your story, please get in touch, or fill in the form below.
For India, archaeology addresses an innate human desire to understand our own evolution. Through archaeology, we can explore fundamental questions around what it is to be human. And if that involves some magical fieldwork experiences in East Kalimantan along the way, then so be it.
Read MoreChildhood interests in history and adventure led Andrew to archaeology. In his current role, he works across Queensland, appreciating a career where he can work with different people and learn new things everyday, as well as understanding the importance of history to people who care about it.
Read MoreAmir’s change of careers, from engineering to archaeology, was inspired by the knowledge and encouragement of an archaeology professor at the University of Sydney, and he hasn’t looked back. He is now involved in two research projects; the Archaeological Water Histories of Oman, and the Kerkenes Project, in Turkey; as well as working as a remote sensing scientist back home in Australia.
Read MoreBogging and un-bogging vehicles, bailing water out of trenches, all part of the daily life of a field archaeologist. But also knowing that the care and effort that you put into your work contributes directly to the picture of the past that can be drawn from the evidence, and this is what Alexander loves about being an archaeologist.
Read MoreSarah looked for a career that could cater to her love of history and science, and also give her the opportunity to work outside. Archaeology ticked all those boxes, and Sarah now finds her favourite part of the job is working with Traditional Owners and learning about culture to tell a more holistic story about place.
Read MoreAfter following the traditional pathway to archaeology, from Indiana Jones to Lara Croft, Linc has found that he really does belong in a museum, working with people and objects from all around the world. And the occasional dinosaur …
Read MoreLiv’s interest in archaeology started with a love of storytelling at a young age. Encouraged and supported by her family and teachers along the way, she is now working as part of a team to map the illicit trade in antiquities, and still loves looking for the stories that archaeology can tell.
Read MoreWatching Time Team way back when sparked an interest in archaeology for Liam. Now he’s an archaeologist himself, working on jobs all around Victoria, and giving artefacts their stories.
Read MoreInspired by her history teacher at school, Meggan enrolled in ancient history and archaeology at University, and has never looked back. Although finding a secret tunnel under an 1840s gaol might be a special occasion, there is an everyday joy in the figurative rabbit holes of historical and archaeological research.
Read MoreThe surprise electric fence is an exciting new fieldwork hazard that Holly has added to the list. But she also has amazing stories, from finding an unrecorded 1880s cellar, to a cache of Iron Age pottery goblets and plates under a collapsed mudbrick wall.
Read MoreCoral grew up visiting archaeological sites with her father and sister, taking her camera along and keeping a notebook. Later she had the opportunity to excavate at many significant archaeological sites in Mexico, and even found a pyramid! Now she is working in another fascinating archaeological landscape in Western Australia, as well as continuing her research in Mexico.
Read MoreHendri has come a long way since deciding to become an archaeologist while watching The Mummy! His current research investigates past subsistence strategies of coastal and island people in Wallacea and surrounding islands, including sea urchin harvesting dating back 40,000 years.
Read MoreShimona says she was roped into archaeology with the promise of discoveries in the remote islands of Indonesia. Now her current fieldwork is based on the islands of south-east Indonesia, searching for the earliest evidence of human occupation in the region and investigating the movements and inter-island networks of these maritime communities.
Read MoreAlison’s grandfather was an industrial archaeologist, so her curiosity was sparked at an early age. Her work now provides the opportunity to travel to places she would not otherwise have seen, and also to contribute to the conservation and recording of the history and heritage of these places.
Read MoreSarah says, ‘since it’s impossible to be a time traveller, archaeology is the next best thing!’, and who could argue with that. As part of her work as a consultant archaeologist, she loves researching the environmental and historical contexts of locations that she works in, and imagining what things would have been like in the past.
Read MoreFor Sam, being an archaeologist means having the opportunity to learn something new with every project, and to connect with a wide range of people from different backgrounds. Sometimes it does also mean excavating rat skulls, however.
Read MoreFelicity first encountered archaeology in her Year 11 Ancient History class, and has never looked back. Her favourite part of being an archaeologist is the challenge to always ask questions, to be always learning and refining skills and understanding. One of those crucial skills being, of course, how to cross electric fences while on surveys …
Read MoreSheahan grew up in a house that was built in 1856, playing in old sheds with nearly 150 years of junk. What else could she do but become an archaeologist? Now she is working on phytolith analysis from a site in southern China, finding out about plants and people, right at the point where rice was first being domesticated.
Read MoreLara explains the significance of finding an olive pip at Pella in Jordan, showing how the smallest of finds can help to answer the biggest of questions about the human past.
Read MoreWorking in archaeology and museums, Cambria has found ways to explore and share knowledge about the past with people who may not have written documentation of their history. She also shares the experience common to all archaeologists, of always finding the most important feature on site five minutes before the end of the day!
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