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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

39 works between 2008 and 2025

21 - 39 of 39 works

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

2018

Journal Article

Creating volume estimates for buried shell deposits: a comparative experimental case study using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity under varying soil conditions

Kenady, Selene L., Lowe, Kelsey M., Ridd, Peter V. and Ulm, Sean (2018). Creating volume estimates for buried shell deposits: a comparative experimental case study using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity under varying soil conditions. Archaeological Prospection, 25 (2), 121-136. doi: 10.1002/arp.1594

Creating volume estimates for buried shell deposits: a comparative experimental case study using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity under varying soil conditions

2017

Journal Article

Determining the boundaries, structure and volume of buried shell matrix deposits using ground-penetrating radar: A case study from northern Australia

Kenady, Selene L., Lowe, Kelsey M. and Ulm, Sean (2017). Determining the boundaries, structure and volume of buried shell matrix deposits using ground-penetrating radar: A case study from northern Australia. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 17, 538-549. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.12.015

Determining the boundaries, structure and volume of buried shell matrix deposits using ground-penetrating radar: A case study from northern Australia

2017

Journal Article

Human occupation of northern Australia by 65,000 years ago

Clarkson, Chris, Jacobs, Zenobia, Marwick, Ben, Fullagar, Richard, Wallis, Lynley, Smith, Mike, Roberts, Richard G., Hayes, Elspeth, Lowe, Kelsey, Carah, Xavier, Florin, S. Anna, McNeil, Jessica, Cox, Delyth, Arnold, Lee J., Hua, Quan, Huntley, Jillian, Brand, Helen E. A., Manne, Tiina, Fairbairn, Andrew, Shulmeister, James, Lyle, Lindsey, Salinas, Makiah, Page, Mara, Connell, Kate, Park, Gayoung, Norman, Kasih, Murphy, Tessa and Pardoe, Colin (2017). Human occupation of northern Australia by 65,000 years ago. Nature, 547 (7663), 306-310. doi: 10.1038/nature22968

Human occupation of northern Australia by 65,000 years ago

2017

Journal Article

Short-term late Holocene dry season occupation and sandy-mud flat focused foraging at Murdumurdu, Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria

Twaddle, Robin W. , Sloss, Craig R. , Lowe, Kelsey M. , Moss, Patrick , Mackenzie, Lydia L. and Ulm, Sean (2017). Short-term late Holocene dry season occupation and sandy-mud flat focused foraging at Murdumurdu, Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria. Queensland Archaeological Research, 20, 9-46. doi: 10.25120/qar.20.2017.3588

Short-term late Holocene dry season occupation and sandy-mud flat focused foraging at Murdumurdu, Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria

2017

Journal Article

Archaeological geophysical survey of a Prehistoric Bronze Age site in Cyprus (Alambra Mouttes)—applications and limitations

Lowe, Kelsey M., Fogel, Aaron and Sneddon, Andrew (2017). Archaeological geophysical survey of a Prehistoric Bronze Age site in Cyprus (Alambra Mouttes)—applications and limitations. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 10 (8), 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s12520-017-0508-3

Archaeological geophysical survey of a Prehistoric Bronze Age site in Cyprus (Alambra Mouttes)—applications and limitations

2017

Journal Article

Aboriginal stone huts along the Georgina River, southwest Queensland

Wallis, Lynley A., Davidson, Iain, Burke, Heather, Mitchell, Scott, Barker, Bryce, Hatte, Elizabeth, Cole, Noelene and Lowe, Kelsey (2017). Aboriginal stone huts along the Georgina River, southwest Queensland. Queensland Archaeological Research, 20, 1-8. doi: 10.25120/qar.20.2017.3584

Aboriginal stone huts along the Georgina River, southwest Queensland

2017

Journal Article

The homestead as fortress: fact or folklore?

Burke, Heather, Wallis, Lynley A., Barker, Bryce, Tutty, Megan, Cole, Noelene, Davidson, Iain, Hatte, Elizabeth and Lowe, Kelsey (2017). The homestead as fortress: fact or folklore?. Aboriginal History, 41, 151-176. doi: 10.22459/AH.41.2017.07

The homestead as fortress: fact or folklore?

2016

Journal Article

A multi-proxy study of anthropogenic sedimentation and human occupation of Gledswood Shelter 1: exploring an interior sandstone rockshelter in Northern Australia

Lowe, Kelsey, Mentzer, Susan M., Wallis, Lynley A. and Shulmeister, James (2016). A multi-proxy study of anthropogenic sedimentation and human occupation of Gledswood Shelter 1: exploring an interior sandstone rockshelter in Northern Australia. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 10 (2), 279-304. doi: 10.1007/s12520-016-0354-8

A multi-proxy study of anthropogenic sedimentation and human occupation of Gledswood Shelter 1: exploring an interior sandstone rockshelter in Northern Australia

2016

Journal Article

Using soil magnetic properties to determine the onset of Pleistocene human settlement at Gledswood Shelter 1, Northern Australia

Lowe, Kelsey M., Shulmeister, James, Feinberg, Joshua M., Manne, Tiina, Wallis, Lynley A. and Welsh, Kevin (2016). Using soil magnetic properties to determine the onset of Pleistocene human settlement at Gledswood Shelter 1, Northern Australia. Geoarchaeology, 31 (3), 211-228. doi: 10.1002/gea.21544

Using soil magnetic properties to determine the onset of Pleistocene human settlement at Gledswood Shelter 1, Northern Australia

2015

Journal Article

The archaeology, chronology and stratigraphy of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II): A site in northern Australia with early occupation

Clarkson, Chris, Smith, Mike, Marwick, Ben, Fullagar, Richard, Wallis, Lynley, A., Faulkner, Patrick, Manne, Tiina, Hayes, Elspeth, Roberts, Richard, G., Jacobs, Zenobia, Carah, Xavier, Lowe, Kelsey M., Matthews, Jacqueline and Florin, S. Anna (2015). The archaeology, chronology and stratigraphy of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II): A site in northern Australia with early occupation. Journal of Human Evolution, 83, 46-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.03.014

The archaeology, chronology and stratigraphy of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II): A site in northern Australia with early occupation

2014

Other Outputs

Understanding Australia’s cultural history through archaeological geophysics

Lowe, Kelsey M. (2014). Understanding Australia’s cultural history through archaeological geophysics. PhD Thesis, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2014.616

Understanding Australia’s cultural history through archaeological geophysics

2014

Journal Article

Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia

Lowe, Kelsey M., Wallis, Lynley A., Pardoe, Colin, Marwick, Ben, Clarkson, Chris, Manne, Tiina, Smith, Mike A. and Fullagar, Richard (2014). Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia. Archaeology in Oceania, 49 (3), 148-157. doi: 10.1002/arco.5039

Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia

2014

Journal Article

Integrating geoarchaeology and magnetic susceptibility at three shell mounds: a pilot study from Mornington Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

Rosendahl, Daniel, Lowe, Kelsey M., Wallis, Lynley A. and Ulm, Sean (2014). Integrating geoarchaeology and magnetic susceptibility at three shell mounds: a pilot study from Mornington Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Journal of Archaeological Science, 49 (1), 21-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2014.04.017

Integrating geoarchaeology and magnetic susceptibility at three shell mounds: a pilot study from Mornington Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

2012

Journal Article

Review of geophysical applications in Australian archaeology

Lowe, Kelsey M. (2012). Review of geophysical applications in Australian archaeology. Australian Archaeology, 74 (74), 71-84. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2012.11681936

Review of geophysical applications in Australian archaeology

2012

Journal Article

Moving earth and building monuments at the Carson Mounds Site, Coahoma County, Mississippi

Mehta, Jayur Madhusudan, Lowe, Kelsey M., Stout-Evans, Rachel and Connaway, John (2012). Moving earth and building monuments at the Carson Mounds Site, Coahoma County, Mississippi. Journal of Anthropology, 2012, 192923.1-192923.21. doi: 10.1155/2012/192923

Moving earth and building monuments at the Carson Mounds Site, Coahoma County, Mississippi

2010

Journal Article

Understanding Northeastern Plains Village sites through archaeological geophysics

Lowe, Kelsey M. and Fogel, Aaron S. (2010). Understanding Northeastern Plains Village sites through archaeological geophysics. Archaeological Prospection, 17 (4), 247-257. doi: 10.1002/arp.394

Understanding Northeastern Plains Village sites through archaeological geophysics

2008

Journal Article

Electromagnetic conductivity mapping for site prediction in meandering river floodplains

Conyers, Lawrence B., Ernenwein, Eileen G., Grealy, Michael and Lowe, Kelsey M. (2008). Electromagnetic conductivity mapping for site prediction in meandering river floodplains. Archaeological Prospection, 15 (2), 81-91. doi: 10.1002/arp.326

Electromagnetic conductivity mapping for site prediction in meandering river floodplains

2008

Journal Article

Moving forward: post-Katrina archaeological investigations at the Oak Grove site (22HR502)

Lowe, Kelsey, Fuller, Richard S. and Blank Maher, Anne Marie (2008). Moving forward: post-Katrina archaeological investigations at the Oak Grove site (22HR502). Mississippi Archaeology, 43 (2), 142-166.

Moving forward: post-Katrina archaeological investigations at the Oak Grove site (22HR502)

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

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Kelsey Lowe directly for media enquiries about:

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

Need help?

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communications@uq.edu.au