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Dr Kelsey Lowe
Dr

Kelsey Lowe

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Overview

Background

My research interests involve integrating interdisciplinary methods with particular emphasis on archaeological geophysics, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and geoarchaeology in archaeological research. Recent work explores the potential use and comparability of soil magnetic susceptibility with other techniques like soil chemistry and geochronology, to understand the nature and persistence of Pleistocene human occupation in Australia. Outside Australia, I have been involved in several international projects in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Indonesia, North and South America, Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asia.

I also have significant relevant industry experience as a consultant in cultural heritage management in Australia and the U.S. I have worked casually as a Senior Heritage Advisor in Australia since 2011 and started my own cultural heritage business specialising in geophysics during the COVID pandemic. Before commencing my PhD, I was a full-time Project Manager at Coastal Environments Incorporated in the U.S. after completing my M.A. at the University of Mississippi. My role involved the management of cultural resources for both federal (e.g. Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Coast Guard) and state (e.g. Mississippi Department of Transportation and Mississippi Department of Archives and History) agencies along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Availability

Dr Kelsey Lowe is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Archaeological geophysics

  • Geoarchaeology

  • Geographic information systems

  • Cultural Heritage Management

Research impacts

My research focuses on developing techniques that assist in understanding past human behaviour, cultural landscapes, and modern humans' spread through archaeological geophysical applications. These findings have been disseminated in 26 scientific journal articles and 46 international and national conference papers. My PhD research (2014) was instrumental in identifying the earliest Pleistocene occupations at two archaeological sites where the stratigraphic integrity was questioned because the deposits were primarily sand and where there was no clear way to corroborate the lithic record in these deposits to the geochronology. I resolved the questions about the onset of human occupation and its association with specific stratigraphic levels through a novel technique that can be applied globally to identify human occupation. As a benchmark for archaeological geophysics, this work led to my involvement in significant and high-profile research projects in Australia, Indonesia and the Caribbean and as an Associate Investigator for the Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH) and a Senior Research Fellow for the UQ Building Capacity for a Centre for the Anthropocene Project.

Works

Search Professor Kelsey Lowe’s works on UQ eSpace

38 works between 2008 and 2024

1 - 20 of 38 works

2024

Journal Article

Correction to: Early human occupation of Australia’s eastern seaboard (Scientific Reports, (2024), 14, 1, (2579), 10.1038/s41598-024-52000-y)

Adams, Shaun, Norman, Kasih, Kemp, Justine, Jacobs, Zenobia, Costelloe, Michael, Fairbairn, Andrew, Robins, Richard, Stock, Errol, Moss, Patrick, Smith, Tam, Love, Serena, Manne, Tiina, Lowe, Kelsey M., Logan, India, Manoel, Michael, McFadden, Karen, Burns, Darren, Dooley, Thomas, Falkiner, Zac and Clarkson, Chris (2024). Correction to: Early human occupation of Australia’s eastern seaboard (Scientific Reports, (2024), 14, 1, (2579), 10.1038/s41598-024-52000-y). Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 14309, 14309. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-65370-0

Correction to: Early human occupation of Australia’s eastern seaboard (Scientific Reports, (2024), 14, 1, (2579), 10.1038/s41598-024-52000-y)

2024

Journal Article

Early Aboriginal pottery production and offshore island occupation on Jiigurru (Lizard Island group), Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Ulm, Sean, McNiven, Ian J., Summerhayes, Glenn R., Wu, Pei-hua, Bunbury, Magdalena M.E., Petchey, Fiona, Hua, Quan, Skelly, Robert, Lambrides, Ariana B.J., Rowe, Cassandra, Lowe, Kelsey M., Reepmeyer, Christian H., Maclaurin, Cailey, Woo, Katherine G.P., Harris, Matthew, Morgan, Sarah B., Turner-Kose, Kayla L., Slater, Sarah A., Connelly, Joshua D., Kneppers, Michael C., Szabó, Katherine, Fairbairn, Andrew, Haberle, Simon G., Hopf, Felicitas, Bultitude, Robert, Ash, Jeremy, Lewis, Stephen E., Beaman, Robin J., Leon, Javier Xavier ... Cobus, Brian (2024). Early Aboriginal pottery production and offshore island occupation on Jiigurru (Lizard Island group), Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 333 108624, 333. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108624

Early Aboriginal pottery production and offshore island occupation on Jiigurru (Lizard Island group), Great Barrier Reef, Australia

2024

Book Chapter

Fish Traps, Seed-Grinding and Food Stores : Reconstructing Complex Mithaka Indigenous Economic and Water Management Technologies

Kerkhove, Ray C., Silcock, Jennifer L., Williams, Douglas, Kotarba-Morley, Ania, Keenan-Jones, Duncan, Wright, Nathan J., Morley, Mike W., Gorringe, Joshua, Scholz, Glen, Lowe, Kelsey M., Cemre Üstünkaya, M., Stephens, Samantha, Moss, Patrick T. and Westaway, Michael C. (2024). Fish Traps, Seed-Grinding and Food Stores : Reconstructing Complex Mithaka Indigenous Economic and Water Management Technologies. The Oxford Handbook of Global Indigenous Archaeologies. (pp. 1-69) Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197607695.013.60

Fish Traps, Seed-Grinding and Food Stores : Reconstructing Complex Mithaka Indigenous Economic and Water Management Technologies

2024

Journal Article

Radiocarbon dates from Curaçao’s oldest Archaic site extend earliest island settlement to ca. 5700 cal BP

Kraan, Cluadia T., Kappers, Michiel, Lowe, Kelsey M., Maezumi, S. Yoshi and Giovas, Christina M. (2024). Radiocarbon dates from Curaçao’s oldest Archaic site extend earliest island settlement to ca. 5700 cal BP. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 19 (4), 871-878. doi: 10.1080/15564894.2024.2321575

Radiocarbon dates from Curaçao’s oldest Archaic site extend earliest island settlement to ca. 5700 cal BP

2024

Journal Article

Early human occupation of Australia’s eastern seaboard

Adams, Shaun, Norman, Kasih, Kemp, Justine, Jacobs, Zenobia, Costelloe, Michael, Fairbairn, Andrew, Robins, Richard, Stock, Errol, Moss, Patrick, Smith, Tam, Love, Serena, Manne, Tiina, Lowe, Kelsey M., Logan, India, Manoel, Michael, McFadden, Karen, Burns, Darren, Falkiner, Zac and Clarkson, Chris (2024). Early human occupation of Australia’s eastern seaboard. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 2579, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-52000-y

Early human occupation of Australia’s eastern seaboard

2024

Book Chapter

Has anything changed? The current role of archaeo-geophysics in Australian archaeological research and cultural heritage management

Lowe, Kelsey M. and Moffat, Ian (2024). Has anything changed? The current role of archaeo-geophysics in Australian archaeological research and cultural heritage management. World archaeo-geophysics: integrated minimally invasive approaches using country-based examples. (pp. 3-24) edited by Carmen Cuenca-Garcia, Andrei Asăndulesei and Kelsey M. Lowe. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-57900-4_1

Has anything changed? The current role of archaeo-geophysics in Australian archaeological research and cultural heritage management

2023

Conference Publication

Unearthed burial from rising sea levels: a collaborative community approach for tackling climate change in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia

Lowe, Kelsey, Tom, Enid, Westaway, Michael C., Swift, Jaime and Lau, Annie (2023). Unearthed burial from rising sea levels: a collaborative community approach for tackling climate change in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia. Society of American Archaeologists, Portland, OR United States, 30 March - 1 April 2023.

Unearthed burial from rising sea levels: a collaborative community approach for tackling climate change in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia

2023

Journal Article

A Holocene sequence from Walufeni Cave, Southern Highlands Province, and its implications for the settlement of the Great Papuan Plateau, Papua New Guinea

Barker, Bryce, Lamb, Lara, Leavesley, Matthew, Manne, Tiina, Fairbairn, Andrew, Coe, Andrew, Lowe, Kelsey M., Beni, Teppsy, Neanda, Betty and Aubert, Maxime (2023). A Holocene sequence from Walufeni Cave, Southern Highlands Province, and its implications for the settlement of the Great Papuan Plateau, Papua New Guinea. Australian Archaeology, 89 (1), 47-65. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2023.2175960

A Holocene sequence from Walufeni Cave, Southern Highlands Province, and its implications for the settlement of the Great Papuan Plateau, Papua New Guinea

2023

Journal Article

Ula Thirra: a case study in the geomagnetic detection of combustion features in Channel Country of far south-western Queensland

Lowe, Kelsey M., Williams, Doug, Wright, Nathan, Gorringe, Shawnee, Gorringe, Josh, Andrews, Ian, Ustunkaya, Meltem Cemre, Gorringe, Betty and Westaway, Michael C. (2023). Ula Thirra: a case study in the geomagnetic detection of combustion features in Channel Country of far south-western Queensland. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 15 (3) 30, 1-17. doi: 10.1007/s12520-023-01722-7

Ula Thirra: a case study in the geomagnetic detection of combustion features in Channel Country of far south-western Queensland

2022

Journal Article

Location of historic mass graves from the 1919 Spanish Influenza in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg using geophysics

Lowe, Kelsey M. and Law, Eric (2022). Location of historic mass graves from the 1919 Spanish Influenza in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg using geophysics. Queensland Archaeological Research, 25, 67-81. doi: 10.25120/qar.25.2022.3890

Location of historic mass graves from the 1919 Spanish Influenza in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg using geophysics

2021

Other Outputs

Australia has a heritage conservation problem. Can farming and Aboriginal heritage protection co-exist?

Westaway, Michael, Gorringe, Joshua, Lowe, Kelsey M., Martin, Richard and Mitchell, Ross (2021, 12 02). Australia has a heritage conservation problem. Can farming and Aboriginal heritage protection co-exist? The Conversation

Australia has a heritage conservation problem. Can farming and Aboriginal heritage protection co-exist?

2021

Journal Article

Hidden in plain sight: the archaeological landscape of Mithaka Country, south-west Queensland

Westaway, Michael C., Williams, Douglas, Lowe, Kelsey, Wright, Nathan J., Kerkhove, Ray, Silcock, Jennifer, Gorringe, Joshua, Miszkiewicz, Justina, Wood, Rachel, Adams, Richard, Manne, Tiina, Adams, Shaun, Miscamble, Tony, Stout, Justin, Wrobel, Gabriel D., Kemp, Justine, Hendry, Brooke, Gorringe, Max, Gorringe, Betty, Lander, Keiron, Gorringe, Shawnee, Andrews, Ian and Collard, Mark (2021). Hidden in plain sight: the archaeological landscape of Mithaka Country, south-west Queensland. Antiquity, 95 (382) PII S0003598X21000314, 1-18. doi: 10.15184/aqy.2021.31

Hidden in plain sight: the archaeological landscape of Mithaka Country, south-west Queensland

2020

Journal Article

Changing use of Lizard Island over the past 4000 years and implications for understanding Indigenous offshore island use on the Great Barrier Reef

Lambrides, Ariana B.J., McNiven, Ian J., Aird, Samantha J., Lowe, Kelsey A., Moss, Patrick, Rowe, Cassandra, Harris, Clair, Maclaurin, Cailey, Slater, Sarah A., Carroll, Kylie, Cedar, Malia H., Petchey, Fiona, Reepmeyer, Christian, Harris, Matthew, Charlie, Johnny, McGreen, Elaine, Baru, Phillip and Ulm, Sean (2020). Changing use of Lizard Island over the past 4000 years and implications for understanding Indigenous offshore island use on the Great Barrier Reef. Queensland Archaeological Research, 23, 43-109. doi: 10.25120/qar.23.2020.3778

Changing use of Lizard Island over the past 4000 years and implications for understanding Indigenous offshore island use on the Great Barrier Reef

2020

Journal Article

The archaeology of the ‘Secret War’: the material evidence of conflict on the Queensland frontier, 1849–1901

Barker, Bryce, Wallis, Lynley A., Burke, Heather, Cole, Noelene, Lowe, Kelsey, Artym, Ursula, Pagels, Anthony, Bateman, Leanne, Hatte, Elizabeth, De Leiuen, Cherrie, Davidson, Iain and Zimmerman, Larry (2020). The archaeology of the ‘Secret War’: the material evidence of conflict on the Queensland frontier, 1849–1901. Queensland Archaeological Research, 23, 25-41. doi: 10.25120/qar.23.2020.3720

The archaeology of the ‘Secret War’: the material evidence of conflict on the Queensland frontier, 1849–1901

2020

Journal Article

Exploring ground-penetrating radar and sediment magnetic susceptibility analyses in a sandstone rockshelter in northern Australia

Lowe, Kelsey M. and Wallis, Lynley A. (2020). Exploring ground-penetrating radar and sediment magnetic susceptibility analyses in a sandstone rockshelter in northern Australia. Australian Archaeology, 86 (1), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2020.1764172

Exploring ground-penetrating radar and sediment magnetic susceptibility analyses in a sandstone rockshelter in northern Australia

2020

Journal Article

Geophysical and archaeological investigations of Baker’s Flat, a nineteenth century historic Irish site in South Australia

Lowe, Kelsey M., Arthure, Susan, Wallis, Lynley A. and Feinberg, Josh (2020). Geophysical and archaeological investigations of Baker’s Flat, a nineteenth century historic Irish site in South Australia. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 12 (1) 33, 33. doi: 10.1007/s12520-019-01003-2

Geophysical and archaeological investigations of Baker’s Flat, a nineteenth century historic Irish site in South Australia

2019

Journal Article

The Carriacou ecodynamics archaeology project: first results of geophysical survey and landscape archaeology at the Sabazan site, The Grenadines

Giovas, Christina M., Kappers, Michiel, Lowe, Kelsey M. and Termes, Laura (2019). The Carriacou ecodynamics archaeology project: first results of geophysical survey and landscape archaeology at the Sabazan site, The Grenadines. Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 15 (3), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/15564894.2019.1642969

The Carriacou ecodynamics archaeology project: first results of geophysical survey and landscape archaeology at the Sabazan site, The Grenadines

2018

Journal Article

The soil science & archaeo-geophysics alliance (SAGA): going beyond prospection

Cuenca-Garcia, Carmen, Armstrong, Kayt, Aidona, Elina, De Smedt, Philippe, Rosveare, Anne, Rosveare, Martin, Schneidhofer, Petra, Wilson, Clare, Faßbinder, Jörg, Moffat, Ian, Sarris, Apostolos, Scheiblecker, Marion, Jrad, Abir, van Leusen, Martijn and Lowe, Kelsey (2018). The soil science & archaeo-geophysics alliance (SAGA): going beyond prospection. Research Ideas and Outcomes, 4. doi: 10.3897/rio.4.e31648

The soil science & archaeo-geophysics alliance (SAGA): going beyond prospection

2018

Journal Article

The Queensland Native Police and strategies of recruitment on the Queensland frontier, 1849–1901

Burke, Heather, Barker, Bryce, Cole, Noelene, Wallis, Lynley A., Hatte, Elizabeth, Davidson, Iain and Lowe, Kelsey (2018). The Queensland Native Police and strategies of recruitment on the Queensland frontier, 1849–1901. Journal of Australian Studies, 42 (3), 297-313. doi: 10.1080/14443058.2018.1474942

The Queensland Native Police and strategies of recruitment on the Queensland frontier, 1849–1901

2018

Journal Article

The archaeological signature of ‘ant bed’ mound floors in the northern tropics of Australia: case study on the Lower Laura (Boralga) Native Mounted Police Camp, Cape York Peninsula

Lowe, Kelsey M., Cole, Noelene, Burke, Heather, Wallis, Lynley A., Barker, Bryce and Hatte, Elizabeth (2018). The archaeological signature of ‘ant bed’ mound floors in the northern tropics of Australia: case study on the Lower Laura (Boralga) Native Mounted Police Camp, Cape York Peninsula. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 19, 686-700. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.04.008

The archaeological signature of ‘ant bed’ mound floors in the northern tropics of Australia: case study on the Lower Laura (Boralga) Native Mounted Police Camp, Cape York Peninsula

Funding

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2020
    Improving one way of investigating Australian rockshelters
    International Society for Archaeological Prospection Fund
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Zooming In, Zooming Out: High-Definition Multi-Scalar Technologies in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Environment
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Kelsey Lowe is:
Available for supervision

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Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Kelsey Lowe directly for media enquiries about:

  • Archaeological geophysics
  • Australian archaeology
  • Ground-penetrating radar
  • Sediment magnetic susceptibility

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