- Professor in Archaeology, University of New England
My research specialization is reconstructing the methods and techniques used to flake stone into tools, using toolmaking skills I have learned over the last 30 years. My research involves modelling the ‘design space’ of stone flaking and the implications of this for toolmaking behaviour in Australasia and beyond. An aspect of my work is experimentally-based and explores the range of variation in stone tool shapes generated by simple stone flaking techniques, including those made by Homo floresiensis ('hobbits') on Flores, Indonesia. A second area of research involves reconstructing and interpreting complex stone tool-making processes from various parts of the world, including Australia, Indonesian, North America, and Europe.
Experience
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2021–presentProfessor, University of New England, Australia
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2021–presentARC Future Fellow, University of New England, Australia
Education
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2006University of New England, PhD, Archaeology
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1990Ball State University, MA, Anthropology
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1987Indiana University, BA, Anthropology
Grants and Contracts
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2010The Spandrel Hypothesis: Towards a unified theory of stone flaking
- Role:
- Australian Research Fellow
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2005How do stone tools reflect cognition among the first Australians and their precursors?
- Role:
- Australian Postdoctoral Fellow
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
Contact Mark for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Armidale, Australia
- Website
- X (formerly Twitter): @MusofStoneTools
- Article Feed
- ORCID
- Joined