Associate Professor Fiona Petchey

Qualifications: MA(Hons) Anthropology Auckland, DPhil Waikato

Personal Website: https://radiocarbondating.com

Research Supervised

PhD

• Lauren Linnenlucke (2022). Chronological modelling of the Torres Strait: A re-evaluation of occupation trends, and village and ritual expansion. James Cook University. (International Supervisor).
• McBride, Rowan (in progress).The chronology of Waikato wetland pā. (Supervisor).
• Mojca Zega (in progress). Deep sand time capsules: past environmental records from sediments surrounding Gledswood Shelter 1, Northwest Queensland, Australia. James Cook University. (International Supervisor).

MSc (Research)

• Milson, Catherine (in progress). Using ultra-small radiocarbon dates to obtain reliable ages on shells affected by hardwater.

Research Interests

Dr. Petchey's research involves the application of radiocarbon techniques to the improvement of archaeological chronologies by the joint investigation of site taphonomy combined with sample-specific radiocarbon (¹⁴C) effects in shell and bone caused by diet and environmental conditions. Her research is based on the premise that isotopic analysis, combined with geographic, archaeological, and metabolic information, can help disentangle the mix of ¹⁴C from terrestrial and marine sources. This research has led the way in obtaining reliable calibrated radiocarbon data from Neolithic burials from Portugal and Lapita age sites in Fiji, Samoa, New Britain, Saipan, and Vanuatu.

Contact Details