Dr Katherine Woo ~ Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Katherine is a zooarchaeologist who holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Queensland, and a PhD from the University of Sydney. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, at James Cook University. Her research utilises a range of ecological, biological, and archaeological data to examine economic practices, human-environmental interactions, landscape use, small-scale environmental reconstructions, and taphonomic issues in terrestrial and submerged settings.

Katherine has been involved in field- and/or lab-based projects from across the globe including northern and eastern Australia, Eastern Jutland in Denmark, the Gulf of Mexico, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific. Her current research activities are focussed on examining the molluscan assemblages from Caution Bay, Papua New Guinea, and establishing the taphonomic factors impacting submerged midden sites.

Interests

Professional

• Diversity and equity
• Public outreach and science communication

Research

• Archaeomalacology
• Zooarchaeology
• Ecology and biology
• Underwater archaeology
• Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions
• Human-environmental interactions
• Historical ecology
• Cultural heritage management and climate change

Research Disciplines

• Archaeology (4301)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and (4501)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Understanding past societies (1307)
• Expanding knowledge (2801)

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

• McCarthy J, Wiseman C, Woo K, Steinberg D, O'Leary M, Wesley D, Brady L, Ulm S and Benjamin J (2022) Beneath the Top End: a regional assessment of submerged archaeological potential in the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Archaeology, 88 (1). pp. 65-83
• Astrup P, Benjamin J, Stankiewicz F, Woo K, McCarthy J, Wiseman C, Baggaley P, Jerbic K, Fowler M, Skriver C and Bailey G (2021) A drowned Mesolithic shell midden complex at Hjarnø Vesterhoved, Denmark and its wider significance. Quaternary Science Reviews, 258.
• Cook Hale J, Benjamin J, Woo K, Astrup P, McCarthy J, Hale N, Stankiewicz F, Wiseman C, Skriver C, Garrison E, Ulm S and Bailey G (2021) Submerged landscapes, marine transgression and underwater shell middens: comparative analysis of site formation and taphonomy in Europe and North America. Quaternary Science Reviews, 258.
• Woo K and Willan R (2019) Incursion of the bivalve Potamocorbula faba into northern Australia: a record from a Holocene archaeological site in Kakadu National Park. Northern Territory Naturalist, 29. pp. 82-87
• Woo K, Faulkner P and Ross A (2016) The effects of sampling on the analysis of archeological molluscan remains: a quantitative approach. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 7. pp. 730-740

Other research outputs

• McAllister M and Woo M (2021) Small clues, big stories. In: Connections Across the Coral Sea: A Story of Movement.. Queensland Museum Publications, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, pp. 34-37
• Woo K (2021) Diversity is not a 'tragedy'. Australian Archaeology, 87 (3). pp. 322-323
• Woo K, Bailey G, Cook Hale J, Benjamin J and Ulm S (2021) Ancient undersea middens offer clues about life before rising seas engulfed the coast. Now we have a better way to study them. The Conversation, 2021.

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.