Wallace R. Ambrose,
Visiting Fellow, Department of Archaeology and Natural History

Email: wal.ambrose@anu.edu.au

Biographical Statement

I am currently working on a re-analysis of the department’s obsidian collection with a view to improving the reliability of the allocation of obsidian artefacts to their geological sources. The analysis by laser ablation ICPMS is being undertaken with the assistance of Drs Ian Campbell and Charlotte Allen of RSES. Another project is the analysis of all the Japanese obsidian sources in collaboration with Prof Masao Suzuki of Rikkyo University, Tokyo. I am continuing research into the preservation of historic structures in Antarctica with Dr Ian Godfrey of the West Australian Maritime Museum.

Research Interests

The application of materials analysis to determining prehistoric interaction between societies in the southwest Pacific. Experimental archaeology applications in obsidian hydration dating. The application of non-invasive wind assisted systems for the preservation of heritage structures in Antarctica.

Key Publications

• 'Metals and the Melanesian Connection' in F.D. Bulbeck (ed) Ancient Chinese and Southeast Asian Bronze Age Cultures Vol 2, SMC Publishing Inc., Taipei, 1077-1091, 1996,97
• ‘Contradictions in Lapita pottery, a composite clone. Antiquity 71 (273):525-38, 1997.
• ‘Curves, Tines, Scutes and Lapita Ware’ in Galipaud, J.C. and Lilley, I. (eds), The pacific from 5000 to 2000 bp, ORSTOM éditions, Noumea, 119-126, 1999.
• ‘Obsidian hydration dating’. In D.R. Brothwell and A.M. Pollard (eds), Handbook of archaeological sciences, John Wiley, London, 81-92, 2001.
• (with I.M. Godfrey). ‘Dry-Air freeze-drying of artefacts and Structures in Antarctica’, in M. Jones and P. Sheppard (eds), Australasian connections and new directions, Proceedings of the 7th Australasian Archaeometry Conference, Auckland, Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland, 3-18, 2001.
• ‘Big pots on a small Lou Island’, in S. Bedford, C. Sand and D. Burley (eds), Fifty years in the field. Essays in honour and celebration of Richard Shutler Jr’s archaeological career, Auckland, New Zealand Archaeological Association, 59-67. 2002
• (with C.M. Stevenson, and M. Suzuki, ‘Current trends in Obsidian studies in the Circum-Pacific Region’. Obsidian Culture Research No2. Meiji University Research Centre, Tokyo,195-208, 2003.

Career Highlights

Analysis of obsidian sources and distribution in the southwest Pacific. Organisational role in Australasian Archaeometry Conferences (1982, 1985, 1988, 1990). Member, Antarctic Science Advisory Committee, Human Impacts (1996-2000). Editorial Board, Journal of Archaeological Science (1987-present). Archaeological field work in Papua New Guinea (1966-91), and Antarctica (1990, 91, 94).