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Mr
David Hunter
What
is your current position?
Archaeological geophysicist, Director of Hunter Geophysics.
Where
did you study archaeology?
La Trobe University (Bach. Of Archaeology) (2008 – still going part time).
How
did you become interested in archaeology?
When I was a younger lad, I was obsessed with the story of Atlantis; during secondary school, I enjoyed learning of ancient history and by year 8 had starting learning various languages (through private study). When I was in year 12, I was introduced to ‘Time Team’, and was immediately drawn to the prospecting-side of archaeology – geophysics, aerial photography and landscape/earthwork analysis. That was when I knew that a career in archaeology was for me. It wasn’t until I actually started digging that I realized my passion for geophysics.
What
archaeological projects are you working on at the moment?
Unmarked burial detection for various cemeteries, Ground-penetrating RADAR surveys within a prison searching for lower, buried levels within a cell block and aerial photograph analyses of several hundred possible sites in Europe (mainly in the British Isles). I won’t reveal exact details of these sites in order to prevent looting – once they have been excavated, I’ll place survey reports on my website. I am also working on refining new geophysical techniques specifically for archaeology.
Tell
us about one of your most interesting archaeological discoveries.
While studying, I volunteered on the Glenrowan Siege Archaeological Project (May, 2008) (an excavation of the Ann Jones Inn, the site of the Kelly Gang siege)… not so much of a ‘discovery’, but a great dig to be involved in, nonetheless.
Tell
us about a funny/disastrous/amazing experience that you have had
while doing archaeology.
I once undertook a geophysical survey in suburban Melbourne looking for the (rumoured) burials of two infants in the late 19th century. The survey revealed two possible grave-cuts, but they ended up being nothing more than tree roots in (roughly) the same shape as a grave-cut. That was embarrassing!
What’s
your favourite part of being an archaeologist?
Archaeology is a great way of learning about Australia’s diverse cultures. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for adventure: you can be reading about the local indigenous group in an archive somewhere in Darwin one week, and hiking in some remote location the next. But beware: you’ll never find the Ark of the Covenant… and probably not Atlantis, either!
Follow
up reading:
I find physics fascinating. My website, http://huntergeophysics.eb2a.com, explains the physics behind the main techniques that I use to locate and map buried archaeology. If you are interested, you may wish to join the International Society for Archaeological Prospection (http://www.archprospection.org).
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