About

 

My main research interests revolve around the study of prehistoric movement, mobility and exchange from the empirical analysis of igneous rocks with geochemical techniques combined with exchange and migration theory to establish ancient interaction. His recent research focus has been in the application of scientific techniques to characterise ancient stone tools from Asia and the Pacific, which provide tangible evidence for prehistoric social and economic movements, often over thousands of kilometres of marine terrain. He currently holds an ARC DECRA fellowship analysing early- and mid-Holocene interaction in Island Southeast Asia. He has been involved with the assessment of cultural heritage sites in Africa, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Pacific, and has participated in field expeditions to Namibia, Sudan, Chad, Seychelles, Vanuatu, Tonga, Indonesia and Palau. He was involved in the inscription of the ‘Rock Islands / Southern Lagoon area’ site in Palau into the UNESCO World Heritage list and is currently preparing ‘The Ancient Capitals of the Kingdom of Tonga’, royal tombs of Heketā and Lapaha for nomination in 2015.

Interests
Professional
  • International cultural heritage management
Research
  • Geochemical sourcing of Archaeological materials
  • Archaeological Science
  • GIS applications in Archaeology
  • Pacific and Island Southeast Asian Archaeology
Teaching
  • Integration of research and teaching
  • Developing research expertise in Under- and Postgraduate courses
Experience
  • 2015 to present - Lecturer, James Cook University (Cairns)
  • 2013 to 2015 - DECRA, The Australian National University (Canberra)
  • 2010 to 2012 - Postdoctoral Fellow, The Australian National University (Canberra)
  • 2005 to 2006 - Research Fellow, Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn (Germany)
  • 2004 - Consultant Archaeologist, Fundort Inc. (Germany)
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Awards
  • 2008 - Rhys Jones Fieldwork Scholarship
  • 2006 to 2009 - Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship
  • 2002 to 2003 - Stiftung zur Förderung der Archäologie im rheinischen Braunkohlenrevier: Master thesis research grant
Fellowships
  • 2010 - George Chaloupka Fellowship Grant (with Daryl Wesley, Tony Barham, Sue O'Connor, Jack Fenner)
  • 2013 to 2016 - ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Memberships
  • 2015 - Society of American Archaeologists
  • 2013 - International Council for Monuments and Sites - Full Membership
  • 2010 - Australian Archaeological Association
  • 1996 - Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Ur- und Fruehgeschichte
Publications

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
Book Chapters
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 54+ research outputs authored by Dr Christian Reepmeyer from 2008 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

AIMS@JCU - Scholarship

Leading practice framework for collaborative approaches to Indigenous cultural mapping for management of Sea Country.

Indicative Funding
$20,000 over 4 years
Summary
Indigenous partnerships with government and industry have increased demand for Indigenous cultural mapping frameworks. Current approaches are a patchwork ranging from token inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to collaborative participation. A framework developed through a project co-led with Traditional Owners/Indigenous Prescribed Body Corporation (PBC) can re-inscribe IK into maps of Sea Country. While advancements in planning technologies have led to improved natural resource management practices across the globe, they continue to be deployed according to colonial models, perpetuating the erasure of IK. This results in IK continuing to be underrepresented in Sea Country planning, management practices, climate change adaption and mitigation planning, and economic decision making. This project will work with Indigenous peoples using two-way sharing of knowledge and perceptions of risks to country, contributing to place-based risk reduction strategies. The results will provide a strong foundation to develop climate adaptation plans based on Indigenous cultural and environmental values. By establishing a leading practice framework for collaborative approaches to Indigenous cultural mapping of Sea Country, it will build capacity to empower Sea Country managers to move towards autonomous management of their country. This outcome will enable Sea Country managers to advocate and leverage their knowledge of country more effectively when engaging with state and corporate structures.
Investigators
Redbird Ferguson, Karen Joyce, Christian Reepmeyer, Rachel Groom and Kellie Pollard (College of Science & Engineering, College of Arts, Society & Education, Australian Institute of Marine Science and Charles Darwin University)
Keywords
Indigenous Knowledge; Indigenous Cultural Mapping; Sea Country Management; Cultural Heritage; Traditional Ecological Knowledge; Climate Change

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

The First Polynesians: Their origins, lifeways and environmental challenges

Indicative Funding
$43,860 over 4 years (administered by Australian National University)
Summary
This project uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine the biological, cultural and environmental underpinnings of the Polynesian people through a study of their ancient homeland in Tonga. Early Polynesian society developed 2650-2350 years ago, but little is known about the people, their culture and how sea-level fall impacted subsistence and settlement. The proposed study's goal is to fill this gap in human knowledge about our Pacific neighbours using a unique skeletal assemblage, excavated cultural remains and advanced mapping of palaeo-sea-level markers that will enhance the international visibility of Australian research in human-environment systems.
Investigators
Geoffrey R Clark, Christian Reepmeyer and Frederique Valentin (Australian National University, College of Arts, Society & Education and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
Keywords
Archaeology; Pacific; Polynesia; palaeo-environment; biocarchaeology; lithic exchange

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

Warfare and the Archaic State in Oceania

Indicative Funding
$90,000 over 5 years (administered by Australian National University)
Summary
The project aim is to investigate warfare in the ancient Tongan state through a study of earthwork fortifications. A conflict record for an Archaic state in Oceania that survived for 650 years contributes a new perspective to global research on warfare in complex societies. The effect of conflict is a prominent issue for Australia and long-term records of warfare in our region will improve our understanding of it. Intra-state conflict is the most pressing threat to political stability in Southwest Asia and the Pacific and the project will benefit Australia by showing how changes to political systems are associated with phases of conflict and peace.
Investigators
Geoffrey R Clark and Christian Reepmeyer in collaboration with David Burley (Australian National University, College of Arts, Society & Education and Simon Fraser University)
Keywords
Oceania; fortifications; complex societies; warfare; prehistory
Supervision

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
  • Best Practice Framework for Collaborative Approaches to Indigenous Cultural Mapping for Sea Country Management (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Understanding Kwokkunum Shell Mounds as Landscape Engineering: A Spatial and Temporal Archaeological approach (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Investigating Constructed Seascapes in the Lizard Island Group, Far North Queensland. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Deep sand time capsules: past environmental records from sediments surrounding Gledswood Shelter 1, Northwest Queensland, Australia (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Kaiadilt Country: A Remote Sensing Approach to Documenting Long-Term Aboriginal land management technologies (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Collaboration

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.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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