Dr Anna Willis ~ Lecturer in Archaeology

I study human skeletal remains from archaeological sites. As a bioarchaeologist I am interested in how oral health and disease, specific and nonspecific indicators of stress, pathology and behaviour play into our understanding of the general health, social identities and lifeways of prehistoric people within the context of their natural and cultural environment. My research area is Holocene Southeast Asia. I have been involved in research projects in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines and I received my PhD from The Australian National University in 2016.

Currently I am involved in a project in Myanmar as the bioarchaeologist for the Mission Archéologique Française au Myanmar. I have an interest in palaeohealth, palaeodietary reconstruction using stable isotopes and mortuary archaeology, in particular L'anthropologie de terrain. I also volunteer for the Australian Defence Force as a biological anthropologist.

I teach Forensic Archaeology and Hominin Evolution. My research interests and background directly complement my teaching, providing a broad range of experience that provides students a real life perspective and understanding of how the disciplines of archaeology, biological anthropology and forensic science including criminology are interconnected.

Teaching

• AR2406: Hominin Evolution (Level 2; CNS)
• AR2407: Forensic Archaeology (Level 2; CNS & TSV)

Research Disciplines

• Archaeology (2101)
• Anthropology (1601)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Understanding Past Societies (9505)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Bentley R, Willis A, Pradier B, Kyaw A, Win T, Brandon A and Pryce T (2018) Social differences in Neolithic/Bronze Age Myanmar: 87Sr/86Sr in skeletal remains from Oakaie 1 and Nyaung'gan. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 21. pp. 32 - 37
• Lipson M, Cheronet O, Mallick S, Rohland N, Oxenham M, Pietrusewsky M, Pryce T, Willis A, Matsumura H, Buckley H, Domett K, Nguyen G, Trinh H, Kyaw A, Win T, Pradier B, Broomandkhoshbacht N, Candilio F, Changmai P, Fernandes D, Ferry M, Gamarra B, Harney E, Kampuansai J, Kutanan W, Michel M, Novak M, Oppenheimer J, Sirak K, Stewardson K, Zhang Z, Flegontov P, Pinhasi R and Reich D (2018) Ancient genomes document multiple waves of migration in Southeast Asian prehistory. Science, 361 (6397). pp. 92-95
• Matsumura H, Shinoda K, Shimanjuntak T, Oktaviana A, Noerwidi S, Sofian H, Prastiningtyas D, Nguyen L, Kakuda T, Kanzawa-Kiriyama H, Adachi N, Hung H, Fan X, Wu X, Willis A and Oxenham M (2018) Cranio-morphometric and aDNA corroboration of the Austronesian dispersal model in ancient Island Southeast Asia: Support from Gua Harimau, Indonesia. PLoS ONE, 13 (6).
• Oxenham M, Trinh H, Willis A, Jones R, Domett K, Castillo C, Wood R, Bellwood P, Tromp M, Kells A, Piper P, Pham S, Matsumura H and Buckley H (2018) Between foraging and farming: strategic rseponses to the Holocene Thermal Maximum in Southeast Asia. Antiquity, 92 (364). pp. 940-957
• Pryce T, Kyaw A, Kyaw M, Win T, Win T, Win K, Mon M, Aye M, Htay S, Mar A, Bellina B, Bentley R, Champion L, Colonna C, Cook A, Favereau A, Fuller D, Georjon C, Higham C, Htwe K, Iizuka Y, Innanchai J, Le Meur C, Peixoto X, Petchey P, Pinhasi R, Pradier B, Valentin F, Willis A and Zazzo A (2018) A first absolute chronology for Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age Myanmar: new AMS C-14 dates from Nyaung'gan and Oakaie. Antiquity, 92 (363). pp. 690-708
• Oxenham M, Piper P, Bellwood P, Hoang B, Nguyen K, Nguyen Q, Campos F, Castillo C, Wood R, Sarjeant C, Amano N, Willis A and Ceron J (2015) Emergence and diversification of the neolithic in southern Vietnam: insights from coastal Rach Nui. Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 10 (3). pp. 309-338
• Pryce T, Kyaw A, Andia L, Champion L, Colonna C, Favereau A, Htwe K, Peixoto X, Pradier B, Willis A, Valentin F and Zazzo A (2015) Dating the Myanmar Bronze Age: preliminary 14C dates from the Oakaie 1 cemetery near Nyaung'gan. Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology, 39. pp. 38-49
• Piper P, Campos F, Kinh D, Amano N, Oxenham M, Hoang B, Bellwood P and Willis A (2014) Early evidence for pig and dog husbandry from the Neolithic site of An Son, southern Vietnam. International Journal of Osteoarcheology, 24 (1). pp. 68-78
• Willis A and Oxenham M (2013) The neolithic demographic transition and oral health: the Southeast Asian experience. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 152 (2). pp. 197-208

Book Chapters

• Oxenham M and Willis A (2017) Towards a bioarchaeology of care of children. In: New Developments in the Bioarchaeology of Care: further case studies and expanded theory. Bioarchaeology and Social Theory. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 219-236
• Oxenham M, Willis A, Hung H, Page R and Matsumura H (2016) Dealing with death in late Neolithic to Metal Period Nagsabaran, the Philippines. In: The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Routledge, Abingdon, UK, pp. 311-338
• Willis A and Oxenham M (2016) Reconstructing diet at An Són and Hòa Diêm: implications for understanding Southeast Asian subsistence patterns. In: The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Routledge, Abingdon, UK, pp. 137-157

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 15+ research outputs authored by Dr Anna Willis from 2011 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• An Analysis and Comparison of the Dentition and Dental Health of the people of Non Ban Jak (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
• Reconstruction of the Biological Profile of Modern and Prehistoric Thai Populations (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.