Joe is an archaeologist with equal experience in academic research and in applied heritage management. He  completed his PhD at UWA on Aboriginal responses to environmental changes in south-western Australia during and after the last glacial period, from 20,000 years ago to present.

Since then he has investigated archaeological evidence for Late Pleistocene faunal extinctions, researched past Aboriginal burning and landscape management in south-western Australia, and collaborated with geneticists and Aboriginal stakeholders on ancient and modern DNA analysis.

As a consultant, he’s advised communities and industry on archaeological heritage, completing more than 200 heritage assessments for Aboriginal organisations, resources companies, private developers and government agencies, and helping integrate cultural heritage protection into major development projects.

Joe has also delivered courses in archaeological field and lab methods, applied theory, and the intersection of environmental and social sciences (e.g. ARCY3003, ARCY4101, INDG2700 and ARCY3013).  

Joe advocates for stronger heritage protection in current state and Federal reforms. He is the current President of the Australian Archaeological Association. 

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Social Sciences

Cultural Heritage Advisor, Rio Tinto

Research Manager/Murujuga: Dynamics of the Dreaming ARC Linkage Project

Director, Eureka Archaeological Research & Consulting, UWA

Research Fellow, Archaeology, UWA

Reporting and preparation of publications on the ARC Linkage Project: Murujuga: Dynamics of the Dreaming
Archaeological interpretation of ancient DNA from cave sediments.
Study of past Noongar landscape management, through assessment of fire ecology, palaeo-ecology and fine-scale environmental, archaeological, historic and oral records.
Grinding stones and their environmental contexts in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Joe has worked outside academia for much of his career. He provides advice on cultural heritage management and interpretation to commercial, government and community organisations.

• 2018-2019 - ARCY3013 - Experimenting with Archaeology
• 2017-2018 - INDG2700 Knowing Country - From the Dreaming to Darwin
• 2016 - ARCY4101 Archaeological Theory
• 2014 - ARCY3003 Archaeological Laboratory Methods
• 2010 - ARCY7486 Honours - Professional Archaeology

PhD students (years):

• F. Hook (2016-)
• E. Beckett (2016-)
• C. Byrne (2014-)
• A. Lullfitz (2014-2019)
• C. Monks (2013-2017)
• A. Grealy (Curtin University) (2013-2017)
• D.Murray (Curtin University) (2013-2016) 

Supervised Honours students in Archaeology (except where shown otherwise):

• 2018: N. Suehrcke 
• 2017: G. Buck (Biological Sciences)
• 2014: S. Murray (Natural Resource Management)
• 2013: N. Bush, D. Tassone, K. Hudson, Z. Shepherd.
• 2011: K. Forde, S. Curry-Bowran.
• 2009: R. Cameron, J. Huizen, S. Johnston, I. Seah, E. Rusack, K. Lee (U. Sydney)
• 2008: H. Worrell
• 2004: B. Ngo (U. Sydney)

Inquiries are welcome from any prospective PhD, Masters or Honours students, especially on the following topics:

• Aboriginal/Indigenous land management
• Zooarchaeology
• Palaeoecology
• Human interaction with environment