Professor Andrew Fairbairn
Professor

Andrew Fairbairn

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52780

Background

I research ancient agriculture, plant use and human environmental impact in Turkey, Italy (Pompeii) and Australasia via the analysis of archaeological plant remains (seeds, fruits leaves etc)

I started my archaeological career in 1988, working on the excavation of Blawearie Cairn in my native Northumberland (UK). I studies at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL (London) gaining BSc Archaeology (1991), MSc Bio and Geoarchaeology (1992) and PhD (2001), specialising in the study of plant macrofossil remains, such as seeds, fruits, leaves and wood, from archaeological sites to reconstruct past environments and economic practices. I also developed a large consulting portfolio, working as an environmental archaeologist for the Museum of London Archaeology Service (1993-1994) and UCL Geoarchaeology Unit (1992-1993) and as an independent contractor (1994-2001). From 1999-2001 I worked as a research assistant for the Catalhoyuk Research Project, based at Cambridge University and during that time moved to Australia. From 2001 - 2004 I worked at The Australian National University in Canberra as a research assistant to the Engendering Roman Spaces Project and then received a research fellowship at the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies. I moved to UQ in January 2006. My research interests are currently focused on the origins of agriculture in Central Anatolia (Turkey) and the later development of the region's state economies. I also work in Australasia where I have been developing plant macrofossil techniques to disentangle ancient tree-fruit use and the development of food production in Papua New Guinea.

Availability

Professor Andrew Fairbairn is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Archaeology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University College London
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University College London
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University College London

Search Professor Andrew Fairbairn’s works on UQ eSpace

93 works between 2002 and 2024
All (93) Journal Article (68) Book Chapter (14) Conference Publication (4) Book (2) Edited Outputs (5)

61 - 80 of 93 works

2009

Journal Article

Impact of human colonization on the landscape: A view from the Western Pacific

Summerbayes, G.R., Leavesley, M. and Fairbairn, A. (2009). Impact of human colonization on the landscape: A view from the Western Pacific. Pacific Science, 63 (4), 725-745. doi: 10.2984/049.063.0412

Impact of human colonization on the landscape: A view from the Western Pacific

2009

Journal Article

Rethinking agriculture: Archaeological and ethnoarchaeological perspectives. Edited by T. Denham, J. Iriarte and L. Vrydaghs

Fairbairn, Andrew (2009). Rethinking agriculture: Archaeological and ethnoarchaeological perspectives. Edited by T. Denham, J. Iriarte and L. Vrydaghs. Archaeology in Oceania, 44 (2), 119-220.

Rethinking agriculture: Archaeological and ethnoarchaeological perspectives. Edited by T. Denham, J. Iriarte and L. Vrydaghs

2009

Journal Article

The Stone Mirror: A Novel of the Neolithic. Rob Swigart

Fairbairn, Andrew (2009). The Stone Mirror: A Novel of the Neolithic. Rob Swigart. Australian Archaeology, 68, 63-65.

The Stone Mirror: A Novel of the Neolithic. Rob Swigart

2009

Journal Article

Archaeobotany in Australia and New Guinea: Practice, potential and prospects

Denham, Tim, Atchison, Jennifer, Austin, Jeremy, Bestel, Sheahan, Bowdery, Doreen, Crowther, Alison, Dolby, Nic, Fairbairn, Andrew, Field, Judith, Kennedy, Amanda, Lentfer, Carol, Matheson, Carney, Nugent, Sue, Parr, Jeff, Prebble, Matiu, Robertson, Gail, Specht, Jim, Torrence, Robin, Barton, Huw, Fullager, Richard, Haberle, Simon, Horrocks, Mark, Lewis, Tara and Matthews, Peter (2009). Archaeobotany in Australia and New Guinea: Practice, potential and prospects. Australian Archaeology, 68 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2009.11681884

Archaeobotany in Australia and New Guinea: Practice, potential and prospects

2009

Book

From foragers to farmers: Papers in honour of Gordon C. Hillman

Andrew S. Fairbairn and Ehud Weiss eds. (2009). From foragers to farmers: Papers in honour of Gordon C. Hillman. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxbow Books.

From foragers to farmers: Papers in honour of Gordon C. Hillman

2009

Journal Article

Private pantries and celebrated surplus: Saving and sharing food at Neolithic Catalhoyuk, Central Anatolia

Boggard, A., Charles, M., Twiss, K. C., Fairbairn, A., Yalman, N., Filipovic, D., Demirergi, D. A., Ertug, F., Russell, N. and Nenecke, J. (2009). Private pantries and celebrated surplus: Saving and sharing food at Neolithic Catalhoyuk, Central Anatolia. Antiquity, 83 (321), 649-668. doi: 10.1017/S0003598X00098896

Private pantries and celebrated surplus: Saving and sharing food at Neolithic Catalhoyuk, Central Anatolia

2009

Edited Outputs

Australian Archaeology

Australian Archaeology. (2009). 68-69

Australian Archaeology

2008

Book Chapter

Beyond Economy: Seed Analysis in Landscape Archaeology

Fairbairn, Andrew S. (2008). Beyond Economy: Seed Analysis in Landscape Archaeology. Handbook of landscape archaeology. (pp. 442-450) edited by Bruno David and Julian Thomas. Walnut Creek, California: Left Coast Press. doi: 10.4324/9781315427737-57

Beyond Economy: Seed Analysis in Landscape Archaeology

2008

Edited Outputs

Australian Archaeology

Australian Archaeology. (2008). 66-67

Australian Archaeology

2008

Edited Outputs

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany. (2008).

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany

2008

Conference Publication

The archaeobotany of Taora, a mid-Holocene coastal rockshelter, Sandaun Province, PNG

Fairbairn, Andrew, O'Connor, Sue, Barham, Tony and Alpin, Ken (2008). The archaeobotany of Taora, a mid-Holocene coastal rockshelter, Sandaun Province, PNG. Australian Archaeological Association, Annual Conference, Noosa, Australia, 3-6 December, 2008.

The archaeobotany of Taora, a mid-Holocene coastal rockshelter, Sandaun Province, PNG

2008

Conference Publication

The Online Seed Atlas Database

Fairbairn, Andrew, Wright, Nathan, Smith, Stephanie, Mantei, Reiner and Carah, Xavier (2008). The Online Seed Atlas Database. Australian Archaeological Association, Annual Conference, Noosa, Australia, 3-6 December, 2008.

The Online Seed Atlas Database

2008

Journal Article

Procedures for Measuring Women's Influence: Data Translation and Manipulation and Related Problems

Allison, P., Faulkner, P., Fairbairn, A. S. and Ellis, S. (2008). Procedures for Measuring Women's Influence: Data Translation and Manipulation and Related Problems. Internet archaeology, 24 doi: 10.11141/ia.24.6

Procedures for Measuring Women's Influence: Data Translation and Manipulation and Related Problems

2007

Journal Article

Wild plant seed storage at Neolithic East, Turke

Fairbairn, Andrew S., Martinoli, Daniele E., Buttler, Ann and Hillman, Gordon (2007). Wild plant seed storage at Neolithic East, Turke. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 16 (6), 467-479. doi: 10.1007/s00334-006-0069-3

Wild plant seed storage at Neolithic East, Turke

2007

Journal Article

Seeds from the slums: archaeobotanical investigations at Mountain Street, Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales

Fairbairn, Andrew (2007). Seeds from the slums: archaeobotanical investigations at Mountain Street, Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales. Australian Archaeology, 64 (64), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2007.11681843

Seeds from the slums: archaeobotanical investigations at Mountain Street, Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales

2007

Journal Article

Book Review: The goddess and the bull: Catalhoyuk: An archaeological journey to the dawn of civilization by Michael Balter

Fairbairn, Andrew (2007). Book Review: The goddess and the bull: Catalhoyuk: An archaeological journey to the dawn of civilization by Michael Balter. Australian Archaeology, 64 (64), 54-56.

Book Review: The goddess and the bull: Catalhoyuk: An archaeological journey to the dawn of civilization by Michael Balter

2007

Edited Outputs

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany. (2007).

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany

2007

Journal Article

OJP, a terminal Pleistocene archaeological site from the Gulf Province lowlands, Papua New Guinea

David, B., Fairbairn, A., Aplin, K., Murepe, L., Green, M., Stanisic, J., Weisler, M., Simala, D., Kokents, T., Dop, J. and Muke, J. (2007). OJP, a terminal Pleistocene archaeological site from the Gulf Province lowlands, Papua New Guinea. Archaeology in Oceania, 42 (1), 31-33. doi: 10.1002/j.1834-4453.2007.tb00013.x

OJP, a terminal Pleistocene archaeological site from the Gulf Province lowlands, Papua New Guinea

2006

Edited Outputs

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany. (2006).

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany

2006

Journal Article

Pleistocene occupation of New Guinea's highland and subalpine environments

Fairbairn, AS, Hope, GS and Summerhayes, GR (2006). Pleistocene occupation of New Guinea's highland and subalpine environments. World Archaeology, 38 (3), 371-386. doi: 10.1080/00438240600813293

Pleistocene occupation of New Guinea's highland and subalpine environments

Current funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Testing the Dark Emu hypothesis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    Re-evaluating forager-farmer plant use in Anatolias Neolithic transition
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2024
    Archaeology, collections and Australian South Sea Islander lived identities (ARC Linkage Project administered by The University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    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
  • 2018 - 2019
    Mass spectrometry for next generation isotope analysis of silicate minerals (ARC LIEF grant administered by The University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS) and ancillary preparation systems for carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope microanalysis for archaeology, biology, earth and environmental scie
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) - Achieving excellence in isotope geochemistry and geochronology
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A state-of-the-art spinning disc confocal microscope for high speed imaging of live cells and super resolution microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Operationalising research collections in archaeological science and museum studies
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Federated Archaeological Information Management Systems project: transforming archaeological research through digital technologies (ARC LIEF Grant administered by Macquarie University)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Resource security trade and the development of urbanism in the pre-Classical world
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Building Capacity in Experimental and Scientific Archaeology at UQ
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Federated Archaeological Information Management System (FAIMS) conducted under the NeCTAR Program administered by the University of Melbourne (as subcontracted to the University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2012
    A social science e-research hub for data management, analysis and dissemination in material and visual culture
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Evaluating stable isotopes as a means of investigating changing Bronze Age agricultural practices in Central Turkey
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Re-evaluation of the chronology of aceramic Neolithic Can Hasan III, Turkey
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    The emergence of farming beyond the Fertile Crescent at Boncuklu Hoyuk, Central Turkey
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Macrobotanical analysis
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011
    An absolute chronology of agricultural change at Ottoman Kaman-Kalehoyuk, Central Turkey
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Deforestation and the Hittite State: Preliminary investigations into wood fuel use at Kaman-Kaleöyük, Central Anatolia, Turkey
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2011
    New directions and capacity building in archaeological and palaeoenvironmental research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Dating the emergence of agriculture in the Konya Plain, Turkey
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Enhanced field and laboratory microscopy and spectroscopy facilities for understanding past and current environmental changes in Geographical and Archaeological Sciences
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Agriculture and the Late Bronze Age collapse of the Hittite Empire
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Indegenous Cultural Heritage Outreach Program
    UQ DEEWR Higher Education Equity Support Program Grants
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Creating new research opportunities in archaeological & anthropological science
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Environmental Evolution of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Prehistoric crop translocations in Melanesia and Southeast Asia
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Plant use at the dawn of agriculture in central Anatolia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Andrew Fairbairn is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    An archaeobotanical framework for empirically distinguishing Indigenous plant collection, cultivation, and agriculture on Mithaka Country southwest Queensland

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Westaway

  • Master Philosophy

    Plant exploitation and management on Mithaka Country, south-western Queensland: Developing frameworks for understanding cultivation, niche construction, and domestication in Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Westaway

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the complex origins of the olive tree: olive domestication processes and their ecological and socioeconomic impact in prehistory

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Settlement resilience and adaptation through the climatic, economic, and political changes of the Central Anatolian Bronze Age

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the complex origins of the olive tree: olive domestication processes and their ecological and socioeconomic impact in prehistory

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Archaeobotanical Analysis of Plant Processing on Mithaka Country

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Westaway, Dr Alison Crowther

  • Doctor Philosophy

    An Archaeobotanical Perspective on the Economy of the Ancient City of Kilwa Kisiwani, Southern Tanzania: AD 800-1600

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating prehistoric mobility in Motupore Islanders through strontium isotope mapping

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Westaway

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Collecting Antiquities in Wartime: Australian antiquities collectors in the First World War

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Geoff Ginn

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of humans in controlling the rainforest-sclerophyll forest boundary in Southeast Queensland during the Holocene

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding prehistoric human mobility along the coast of Papua New Guinea through strontium isotope mapping

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Westaway

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Andrew Fairbairn directly for media enquiries about:

  • Ancient agriculture
  • Ancient human environmental impacts
  • Archaeological sites - seeds and fruits
  • Archaeology
  • Archaeology - charcoals
  • Environmental impacts - ancient human
  • Macrofossil analysis
  • Natural sediments - archaeological sites
  • Papua New Guinea - archaeology
  • Seeds and fruits - archaeological sites
  • Turkey - archaeology
  • UK - archaeology

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