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SPAR is a research unit and consultancy in the Archaeology Programme, School of Social Sciences, at the University of Otago. SPAR is one of the leading archaeological and heritage consultancies in New Zealand and promotes best practices in archaeological science, and archaeological, historic and cultural heritage management.

  • We have received national awards for heritage management projects.
  • We are experienced researchers and regularly publish in international peer-reviewed journals.
  • SPAR directors have been Principal Investigators for three research projects funded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi Marsden Fund.
  • SPAR staff are all experienced in archaeology and heritage management within the context of New Zealand's statutory framework.
  • SPAR provides several archaeological science-based services including zooarchaeology, trace element analysis, microparticle analysis, stable isotope analysis, aDNA analysis and proteomic or ZooMS analysis.

More about Our people

Karen Greig and Richard Walter with moa bones image
Co-Directors Karen Greig and Richard Walter.

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