Overview
Availability
- Dr Tam Smith is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Coastal palaeoeconomies
As an archaeomalacologist who has worked in coastal southeast Queensland for the last 30 years, as well as more recently in Zanzibar and Sri Lanka, I use detailed analyses of molluscan assemblages, combined with biological, ecological, and environmental data to assess human behavioural variability through the identification of chronological and spatial trends in site location and resource exploitation, within the context palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. I use molluscan biometrics to determine levels of exploitation, economic strategies and harvesting practices, evidence of resource depletion and sustainability. The molluscs also act as paleoenvironmental proxies, informing on water quality, salinity levels, and sediment loads.
Works
Search Professor Tam Smith’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Three thousand years of oyster fisheries: a view from Southeast Queensland, Australia
Smith, Tam (2025). Three thousand years of oyster fisheries: a view from Southeast Queensland, Australia. Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, 4 1517380. doi: 10.3389/fearc.2025.1517380
2024
Journal Article
Early Sri Lankan coastal site tracks technological change and estuarine resource exploitation over the last ca. 25,000 years
Amano, Noel, Faulkner, Patrick, Wedage, Oshan, Clarkson, Chris, Amila, Dambara, del Val, Miren, Jurkenas, Dovydas, Kapukotuwa, Alexander, López, Gloria I., Pares, Josep, Pathmalal, M. M., Smith, Tam, Wright, Martin, Roberts, Patrick, Petraglia, Michael and Boivin, Nicole (2024). Early Sri Lankan coastal site tracks technological change and estuarine resource exploitation over the last ca. 25,000 years. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 26693, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77504-5
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. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-52000-y
2022
Journal Article
Indigenous oyster fisheries persisted for millennia and should inform future management
Reeder-Myers, Leslie, Braje, Todd J., Hofman, Courtney A., Elliott Smith, Emma A., Garland, Carey J., Grone, Michael, Hadden, Carla S., Hatch, Marco, Hunt, Turner, Kelley, Alice, LeFebvre, Michelle J., Lockman, Michael, McKechnie, Iain, McNiven, Ian J., Newsom, Bonnie, Pluckhahn, Thomas, Sanchez, Gabriel, Schwadron, Margo, Smith, Karen Y., Smith, Tam, Spiess, Arthur, Tayac, Gabrielle, Thompson, Victor D., Vollman, Taylor, Weitzel, Elic M. and Rick, Torben C. (2022). Indigenous oyster fisheries persisted for millennia and should inform future management. Nature Communications, 13 (1) 2383, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-29818-z
2022
Journal Article
Human-ecodynamics and the intertidal zones of the Zanzibar Archipelago
Faulkner, Patrick, Sarathi, Akshay, Crowther, Alison, Smith, Tam, Harris, Matthew, Ali, Abdallah K., Haji, Othman, LaViolette, Adria, Norman, Neil L., Horton, Mark and Boivin, Nicole (2022). Human-ecodynamics and the intertidal zones of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10 982694, 1-27. doi: 10.3389/feart.2022.982694
2021
Other Outputs
Report on the remnant molluscan assemblage from Wallen Wallen Creek, Minjerribah
Smith, Tam (2021). Report on the remnant molluscan assemblage from Wallen Wallen Creek, Minjerribah. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Other Outputs
Report on the analysis of the MCA20 molluscan assemblage to Everick Foundation Pty Ltd and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation
Smith, Tam (2021). Report on the analysis of the MCA20 molluscan assemblage to Everick Foundation Pty Ltd and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2020
Other Outputs
Report on the analysis of the LCN19 molluscan assemblage to Everick Foundation Pty Ltd and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation
Smith, Tam (2020). Report on the analysis of the LCN19 molluscan assemblage to Everick Foundation Pty Ltd and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Journal Article
Aboriginal marine subsistence foraging flexibility in a dynamic estuarine environment: The late development of Tin Can Inlet (southeast Queensland) middens revisited
Smith, Tam and McNiven, Ian J. (2019). Aboriginal marine subsistence foraging flexibility in a dynamic estuarine environment: The late development of Tin Can Inlet (southeast Queensland) middens revisited. Queensland Archaeological Research, 22, 1-38. doi: 10.25120/qar.22.2019.3670
2019
Conference Publication
A (preliminary) historical ecology model of mid to late Holocene subsistence and settlement in coastal southeast Queensland
Smith, Tam (2019). A (preliminary) historical ecology model of mid to late Holocene subsistence and settlement in coastal southeast Queensland. Australian Archaeological Association 2019 Conference - Disrupting Paradise, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 10-13 December 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
A (preliminary) historical ecology model of mid to late Holocene subsistence and settlement in coastal southeast Queensland
Smith, Tam (2019). A (preliminary) historical ecology model of mid to late Holocene subsistence and settlement in coastal southeast Queensland. Society for American Archeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM United States, 10–14 April 2019.
2017
Book Chapter
Excavating limestone caves in India: the Billa Surgam experience
Smith, Tam, Koshy, Jinu and Aravazhi, P. (2017). Excavating limestone caves in India: the Billa Surgam experience. Beyond stones and more stones: defining Indian prehistoric archaeology. (pp. 261-309) edited by Ravi Korisettar. Bengaluru, India: The Mythic Society.
2016
Other Outputs
Archaeological expressions of Holocene cultural and environmental change in coastal Southeast Queensland
Smith, Annette Deborah (Tam) (2016). Archaeological expressions of Holocene cultural and environmental change in coastal Southeast Queensland. PhD Thesis, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2016.1103
2010
Journal Article
In Foote's steps: The history, significance and recent archaeological investigation of the Billa Surgam caves in Southern India
Haslam, Michael, Korisettar, Ravi, Petraglia, Michael, Smith, Tam, Shipton, Ceri and Ditchfield, Peter (2010). In Foote's steps: The history, significance and recent archaeological investigation of the Billa Surgam caves in Southern India. South Asian Studies, 26 (1), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/02666031003719115
2008
Other Outputs
Cultural heritage report for the proposed northern link project
Prangnell, Jonathan, Murphy, Karen, Smith, Tam and Terry, Linda (2008). Cultural heritage report for the proposed northern link project. The University of Queensland Archaeological Services Unit Report, 423b. Archaeological Services Unit, University of Queensland.
2008
Other Outputs
Existing cultural heritage environment report for the proposed northern link project
Prangnell, Jonathan, Murphy, Karen, Smith, Tam and Terry, Linda (2008). Existing cultural heritage environment report for the proposed northern link project. The University of Queensland Archaeological Services Unit Report, 423. Archaeological Services Unit, University of Queensland.
2006
Book Chapter
MRAP and beyond: Bribie island, Southeast Queensland
Smith, A. D. (Tam) (2006). MRAP and beyond: Bribie island, Southeast Queensland. An archaeological life: papers in honour of Jay Hall. (pp. 149-160) edited by S. Ulm and I. Lilley. Brisbane, Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland.
2005
Journal Article
Teaching Archaeological Excavation at the University of Queensland: Eight years inside TARDIS
Hall, Jay, O'Connor, Susan, Prangnell, Jonathan and Smith, Tam (2005). Teaching Archaeological Excavation at the University of Queensland: Eight years inside TARDIS. Australian Archaeology, 61 (1), 48-55. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2005.11681820
2003
Other Outputs
Archaeological spatial variability on Bribie Island, southeast Queensland
Smith, Annette Deborah (Tam) (2003). Archaeological spatial variability on Bribie Island, southeast Queensland. M.A. Thesis, School of Social science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/195389
1992
Other Outputs
An archaeological site location and subsistence-settlement analysis of Bribie Island, southeast Queensland
Smith, Annette Deborah (Tam) (1992). An archaeological site location and subsistence-settlement analysis of Bribie Island, southeast Queensland. Honours Thesis, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/295050
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Tam Smith is:
- Available for supervision
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