What archaeological projects are you working on at the moment?
I have just completed a very interesting project on the Indigenous Heritage Values of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia, World Heritage Area. I am also involved in an ongoing conservation project at Somerset in northern Cape York Peninsula. Somerset is the site of the first European settlement in Cape York, Queensland and is on Aboriginal owned land.
Other current projects include a test excavation associated with the Third Government Farm site at Castle Hill, NSW, and assessment of sites near a proposed electricity switching station. A lot of my work is associated with Environmental Impact Assessment projects.

I am also involved in a long term research project entitled ‘Living on the Edge: Mainland Contributions to the Past in Papua-Torres Strait, Cape York Borderlands’. This project is being undertaken with two colleagues at JCU, Shelley Greer another archaeologist, and Rosita Henry an anthropologist.

Tell us about one of your most interesting archaeological discoveries.
During my ongoing research in Cape York Peninsula I came across some early sketches, made by artists on exploration vessels, of some ceremonial sites (Turtle Increase sites). One of these had a single pencil line outline of a nearby Island that I was familiar with. I thought that through the depiction of the relationship of the two islands I might be able to identify the location so recently together with my partner I decided to try and relocate these sites. We did find them and it was one of those amazing moments to stand in front of features last described by someone in 1847 and 1849.

Tell us about a funny/disastrous/amazing experience that you have had while doing archaeology.
There are way too many amazing disasters that given the passage of enough time are funny! That’s why archaeologists make good dinner party guests. Work in Cape York has provided a lot of examples but any job has potential to develop funny/disastrous or amazing experiences because we are often doing things for the first time, often in new places and having to improvise.

One time when working with Shelley Greer in the company of two Indigenous rangers, we went to look for a reported site. We had to get to the area by boat and then walk a fair way though the shallow water to get to the shore. On the way back we saw wallaby tracks leading to the waters edge, then crocodile tracks, a big area of disturbed sand and blood. The croc tracks led back into the water…the same water that we had to walk through to get to the boat. It was with some trepidation that we started into the bay but we at least consoled ourselves that our companions had guns. We were so freaked out that we followed the guys’ very footsteps, which was not really a good idea in the swamp as they were several feet taller than us and the ground was muddy. We kept stepping in their footprints and almost disappearing! We eventually got to the boat safely. Later that day the rangers saw a pig and went to shoot it but both guns misfired - so much for our confidence in their protection. Come to think of it working around swamps features in a lot of my adventures. Swamps combined with pigs, crocs, accidents and people…provide all the ingredients for disaster and any that you survive seem funny in hindsight!

What’s your favourite part of being an archaeologist?
I like working with people and I enjoy working in a field where there is always the possibility of ‘discovery’. Archaeology combines these two things. It has also provided me with opportunities to travel to some very beautiful places. Working with Indigenous and other communities is the best part of the job. You get to engage with landscapes much more intimately than you can as a tourist. Sometimes you really get the feeling that the people you meet are rediscovering parts of their own culture through working with you and that is a very rewarding feeling.

I have gained a whole family through my work in northern Cape York Peninsula and my involvement in archaeology has led to some deep, abiding friendships.

Follow up reading:
‘Community-based Archaeology in Australia’ in Community Archaeology World Archaeology Vol 34(2):265-287 (with Greer and Harrison).

‘Places people value: Social significance and cultural exchange in post-invasion Australia’ in After Captain Cook: The archaeology of he recent Indigenous past in Australia. Edited by Rodney Harrison and Christine Williams SUAMS 8 University of Sydney 2002.

‘My Barrier Reef: exploring the Bowen community’s attachment to the Great Barrier Reef ‘ Historic Environment vol 17 #3 2004 pp19-28.

‘Social Value, the cultural component in natural resource management’ Australasian Journal of Environmental Management Vol11 #4pp289-299 2004.

‘Monuments to colonialism? Stone arrangements, tourists’ cairns and turtle magic at Evans Bay, Cape York’. Australian Archaeology, #59,2004 pp29-40 (with R. Harrison).