Research in Anthropology

The Anthropology programme has maintained active research projects in Archaeology and Social Anthropology since the 1960s. Our primary geographic focus has always been New Zealand, the Pacific and Southeast Asia. We specialise in the broad sweep of human history within this region, from the earliest arrivals of our human ancestors to contemporary patterns of increasing globalisation and diaspora.

Departmental Publications

The Department publishes a monograph series in Archaeology, and coordinates the publication of the academic journal: Journal of Pacific Archaeology. We also put out an ongoing series of Otago Archaeological Laboratory Reports.

Archaeological Research

Otago archaeologists undertake research in both prehistoric and historical archaeology, focussed mainly within New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and South East Asia. These investigations explore local issues as well as addressing questions of global significance including:

• the origins and meaning of domestication;
• the emergence of social hierarchies;
• the development of technology; and
• the interplay of human resource use, environmental change and cultural diversity.

Specific projects are listed on individual researchers pages, and annual summaries of research activity are available for: 2004-06, 2007, 2008.

Research facilities include the Otago Archaeological Laboratories which support specialised analysis of artefacts, fauna, lithics, sediments, and DNA. Established partnerships with the leading archaeological heritage management agencies throughout the region facilitate the continued development of new research projects.

Southern Pacific Archaeological Research

Southern Pacific Archaeological Research (SPAR) is a research and consulting unit within the Anthropology Department. SPAR staff undertake projects in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage management in New Zealand and the South Pacific. SPAR staff also have an active research programme in New Zealand and Pacific archaeology.

Student Research

The Anthropology programme has a long history of supporting student research, and we consider this research to be amongst our most valuable outputs. To browse current student research topics and read the abstracts of completed projects please follow these links:

Current Student Research
Abstracts of Completed Research Theses and Dissertations