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)

81 - 93 of 93 works

2006

Book Chapter

Seasonality

Fairbairn, A. S. (2006). Seasonality. Çatalhöyük perspectives : reports from the 1995-99 seasons. (pp. 93-108) edited by Ian Hodder. London/ Cambridge, UK: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, British Institute at Ankara.

Seasonality

2005

Journal Article

An archaeobotanical perspective on Holocene plant-use practices in lowland northern New Guinea

Fairbairn, Andrew (2005). An archaeobotanical perspective on Holocene plant-use practices in lowland northern New Guinea. World Archaeology, 37 (4), 487-502. doi: 10.1080/00438240500395748

An archaeobotanical perspective on Holocene plant-use practices in lowland northern New Guinea

2005

Journal Article

A history of agricultural production at Neolithic Catalhoyuk East, Turkey

Fairbairn, Andrew (2005). A history of agricultural production at Neolithic Catalhoyuk East, Turkey. World Archaeology, 37 (2), 197-210. doi: 10.1080/00438240500094762

A history of agricultural production at Neolithic Catalhoyuk East, Turkey

2005

Journal Article

Extracting the social relevance of artefact distribution within Roman military forts

Allison, Penelope M., Fairbairn, Andrew S., Ellis, Stephen J.R. and Blackall, Christopher W. (2005). Extracting the social relevance of artefact distribution within Roman military forts. Internet Archaeology (17) doi: 10.11141/ia.17.4

Extracting the social relevance of artefact distribution within Roman military forts

2005

Book Chapter

Macrobotanical investigations of the North, South and KOPAL areas at Catalhoyuk

Fairbairn, Andrew, Near, Julie and Martinoli, Daniele (2005). Macrobotanical investigations of the North, South and KOPAL areas at Catalhoyuk. Inhabiting Catalhoyuk: Reports from the 1995-1999 seasons. (pp. 137-201) edited by Ian Hodder. Cambridge, England, U.K.: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.

Macrobotanical investigations of the North, South and KOPAL areas at Catalhoyuk

2005

Journal Article

Evidence for olive use and deforestation at Jebel Khalid

Fairbairn, A. and Asouti, E. (2005). Evidence for olive use and deforestation at Jebel Khalid. Mediterranean Archaeology, 18, 190-191.

Evidence for olive use and deforestation at Jebel Khalid

2005

Journal Article

Re-dating mid-Holocene betelnut (Areca catechu L.) and other plant use at Dongan, Papua New Guinea

Fairbairn, Andrew and Swadling, Pamela (2005). Re-dating mid-Holocene betelnut (Areca catechu L.) and other plant use at Dongan, Papua New Guinea. Radiocarbon, 47 (3), 377-382. doi: 10.1017/S0033822200035153

Re-dating mid-Holocene betelnut (Areca catechu L.) and other plant use at Dongan, Papua New Guinea

2005

Journal Article

Archaeological Identification and Significance of ÉSAG (Agricultural Storage Pits) at Kaman-Kalehöyük, Central Anatolia

Fairbairn, Andrew and Omura, Sachihiro (2005). Archaeological Identification and Significance of ÉSAG (Agricultural Storage Pits) at Kaman-Kalehöyük, Central Anatolia. Anatolian Studies, 55, 15-23. doi: 10.1017/S0066154600000636

Archaeological Identification and Significance of ÉSAG (Agricultural Storage Pits) at Kaman-Kalehöyük, Central Anatolia

2004

Book Chapter

The environmental evidence

Keeley, H., Allison, E., Branch, N., Cameron, N., Dobinson, S., Ellis, I., Ellison, P., Fairbairn, Andrew S., Green, C., Hunter, R., Lee, J., Locker, A., Lowe, J., Palmer, A., Robinson, E., Stewart, J. and Wilkinson, K. (2004). The environmental evidence. The Dover bronze age boat. (pp. 229-249) edited by Peter Clark. Swindon, U.K.: English Heritage.

The environmental evidence

2003

Journal Article

Technical Notes on the Preparation of Leaf and Epidermis Specimens for Reference Collections and Archaeobotanical Investigations

Fairbairn, Andrew (2003). Technical Notes on the Preparation of Leaf and Epidermis Specimens for Reference Collections and Archaeobotanical Investigations. Environmental Archaeology, 8 (2), 167-175.

Technical Notes on the Preparation of Leaf and Epidermis Specimens for Reference Collections and Archaeobotanical Investigations

2003

Journal Article

Archaeobotany

Fairbairn A. (2003). Archaeobotany. Mediterranean Archaeology, 16, 182-183.

Archaeobotany

2002

Journal Article

Macro-botanical evidence for plant use at Neolithic Catalhoyuk, south-central Anatolia, Turkey

Fairbairn, A, Asouti, E, Near, J and Martinoli, D (2002). Macro-botanical evidence for plant use at Neolithic Catalhoyuk, south-central Anatolia, Turkey. Vegetation History And Archaeobotany, 11 (1-2), 41-54. doi: 10.1007/s003340200005

Macro-botanical evidence for plant use at Neolithic Catalhoyuk, south-central Anatolia, Turkey

2002

Book Chapter

Subsistence economy in Central Anatolia during the Neolithic: the archaeobotanical evidence

Asouti, E. and Fairbairn, Andrew S (2002). Subsistence economy in Central Anatolia during the Neolithic: the archaeobotanical evidence. The Neolithic of Central Anatolia, internal developments and external relations during the 9th-6th millennia cal BC. (pp. x-x) edited by Gerard, Frederic and Thissen, Laurens. İstanbul: Ege Yayınları.

Subsistence economy in Central Anatolia during the Neolithic: the archaeobotanical evidence

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

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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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