What archaeological projects are you working on at the moment?
· Archaeology of rituals and spiritscapes in Torres Strait
· Archaeology of rock-art in north Queensland and Northern Territory
· Archaeology of oral traditions in Torres Strait
· Archaeology of rock-art in Vanuatu
· Archaeology of Pueblo landscapes in New Mexico

Tell us about one of your most interesting archaeological discoveries.
This is a difficult question as my work doesn’t focus – I may even say doesn’t deal with – discoveries. Some of my main interests involve, for example, questioning our preconceptions about Indigenous peoples, and about ourselves, by understanding history and how we have approached historical research. History and archaeological research can sometimes make us realise the problems with these preconceptions (one such preconception was articulated by Philip Ruddock in 2000 when he said that Aboriginal people are disadvantaged in Australia because they didn’t have agriculture, didn’t have chariots, and didn’t have the wheel!). By understanding the history of how we think about the world, we can see that such preconceptions have nothing to do with disadvantage, but instead reveal our own political prejudices.

Another interesting aspect of archaeology that I have been working on is a history that is meaningful not only to a general public, but more importantly, that is meaningful to the people whose history we write about. In this sense some of my most interesting ‘discoveries’ have been to find information about the local history of individual people and communities, sometimes going back tens of thousands of years. Among these is tracing back to more than 35,000 years ago the history of how people used a special, Dreaming mountain in north Queensland (Ngarrabullgan). Also most special has been working with Mua, Badu, Mabuiag and Dauan Islanders in Torres Strait, working out aspects of their history, including when and how the islands were first colonised by Pacific seafarers some 3,500 years ago. A third interesting finding was in New Mexico, when our research team found that cultural inventions, such as certain kinds of spear points, didn’t come from Mexico in the south as many people thought, but from the high mountainous country (the Rocky Mountains) to the north.

Tell us about a funny/disastrous/amazing experience that you have had while doing archaeology.
Ordering a bottle of red wine from a bush pub in north Queensland and being told by the waitress, with great apologies, that the only bottle they had was very old, so I may not want it, but if I did they’d sell it to me cheaply cause of its great age. Best wine I’ve ever had.

What’s your favourite part of being an archaeologist?
Working with people researching their community history: together with community members firstly working out projects, and secondly being able to shed light on aspects of history that local people wish to find out about. Reporting results to those whose history is being researched - especially to Elders who may be too old to walk country - and being part of the excitement and community celebrations.

Follow up reading:
David, B. 2002 Landscapes, rock-art and the dreaming: An archaeology of preunderstanding. Leicester University Press, London.