Dr Nigel Chang ~ Lecturer
College of Arts, Society & Education
- About
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- Teaching
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- AR1001: The World of Archaeology (Level 1; CNS)
- AR3501: Ancestors and Emperors: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Societies (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
- AR4007: Archaeological Research Methods (Level 4; TSV)
- AR5201: Principles of Archaeological Investigation (Level 5; TSV)
- AY5026: The Practice of Cultural Heritage Management (Level 5; TSV)
- BA1001: Time, Truth and the Human Condition (Level 1; TSV)
- Interests
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- Professional
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- In Laos we work very closely with a major mining company in a combined research and consultancy project. I am interested in further developing international collaborations where we cross the research and consultancy divide in interesting ways.
- Research
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- The prehistory of Southeast Asia. Major projects I am involved in are in Northeast Thailand (the site of Ban Non Wat and area) where we are investigating long-term changes in society and environment; from 4000 years ago to the present. We also have strong interests in integrating contemporary communities as key research collaborators. A second ongoing project is in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR, where we are investigating ancient copper mining.
- Teaching
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- One of my main teaching interests is running the honours field school here in Townsville. This is where our continuing students are introduced to the realities of field work and develop skills from planning a project to completing the final report.
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
Originially from New Zealand I have been at James Cook University since mid-2005. I was fortunate to study under Prof. Charles Higham at Otago University where I was able to get experience not only in prehistoric and historic archaeology in New Zealand but was also introduced to Southeast Asia. Since my first field work at the site of Nong Nor in Thailand (1991) I have been committed to working in the region.
- Publications
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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
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- Shewan L, O'Reilly D, Armstrong R, Toms P, Webb J, Beavan N, Luangkhoth T, Wood J, Halcrow S, Domett K, Van Den Bergh J and Chang N (2021) Dating the megalithic culture of Laos: radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence and U/Pb zircon results. PLoS ONE, 16 (3), Article: e0247167.
- Kanthilatha N, Boyd W and Chang N (2020) Sedimentary landscape of Mun Valley prehistoric site: construction history of moated site of Ban Non Wat, northeast Thailand. Quaternary, 3 (1), Article: 3, DOI:10.3390/quat3010003.
- Cadet M, Sayavongkhamdy T, Souksavatdy V, Luangkhoth T, Dillman P, Cloquet C, Vernet J, Piccardo P, Chang N, Edgar J, Foy E and Pryce T (2019) Lao's central role in Southeast Asian copper exchange networks: a multimethod study of bronzes from the Vilabouly Complex. Journal of Archaeological Science, 109, Article: 104988.
- Higham C, Manly B, Thosarat R, Buckley H, Chang N, Halcrow S, Ward S, O'Reilly D, Shewan L and Domett K (2019) Environmental and social change in northeast Thailand during the Iron Age. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 29 (4), pp. 549-569, DOI:10.1017/S0959774319000192.
- Pedersen L, Domett K, Chang N, Halcrow S, Buckley H, Higham C, O'Reilly D and Shewan L (2019) A bioarchaeological study of trauma at Late Iron Age to Protohistoric Non Ban Jak, Northeast Thailand. Asian Perspectives, 58 (2), pp. 220-249, DOI:10.1353/asi.2019.0014.
- Castillo C, Higham C, Miller K, Chang N, Douka K, Higham T and Fuller D (2018) Social responses to climate change in Iron Age north-east Thailand: new archaeobotanical evidence. Antiquity, 92 (365), pp. 1274-1291, DOI:10.15184/aqy.2018.198.
- Domett K, Evans C, Chang N, Tayles N and Newton J (2017) Interpreting osteoarthritis in bioarchaeology: highlighting the importance of a clinical approach through case studies from prehistoric Thailand. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 11, pp. 762-773, DOI:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.12.030.
- Kanthilatha N, Boyd W, Parr J and Chang N (2017) Implications of phytolith and diatom assemblages in the cultural layers of prehistoric archaeological sites of Ban Non Wat and Nong Hua Raet in Northeast Thailand. Environmental Archaeology, 22 (1), pp. 15-27, DOI:10.1179/1749631415Y.0000000026.
- Kanthilatha N, Boyd W and Chang N (2017) Multi-element characterization of archaeological floors at the prehistoric archaeological sites at Ban Non Wat and Nong Hua Raet in Northeast Thailand. Quaternary International, 432, pp. 66-78, DOI:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.067.
- Castillo C, Tanaka K, Sato Y, Ishikawa R, Bellina B, Higham C, Chang N, Mohanty R, Kajale M and Fuller D (2016) Archaeogenetic study of prehistoric rice remains from Thailand and India: evidence of early japonica in South and Southeast Asia. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 8 (3), pp. 523-543, DOI:10.1007/s12520-015-0236-5.
- Duke B, Chang N, Moffat I and Morris W (2016) The invisible moats of the Mun River Valley, NE Thailand: the examination of water management devices at mounded sites through ground-penetrating radar(GPR). Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology, 40, pp. 1-11, DOI:10.7152/jipa.v40i0.14895.
- Book Chapters
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- Domett K, Newton J, Colbert A, Chang N and Halcrow S (2016) Frail, foreign or favoured? A contextualized case study from Bronze Age northeast Thailand. In: The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Routledge, New York, NY, USA, pp. 68-94
- More
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 40+ research outputs authored by Dr Nigel Chang from 1998 onwards.
- Current Funding
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Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.
Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects
Unravelling the mystery of the Plain of Jars, Laos
- Indicative Funding
- $10,000 over 5 years (administered by ANU)
- Summary
- Since their discovery in the 1930s the mysterious collection s of giant stone jars scattered throughout central Laos have remained one of the great prehistoric puzzles of SE Asia. It is thought that the jars represent the mortuary remains of an extensive and powerful Iron Age culture. This project seeks to determine the true nature of these sites which date to a dynamic period of increasing complexity in Se Asia (c.500BCE-500CE). This will be achieved through extensive reconnaissance, precision mapping, archaeological excavation and analysis of associated burial material. Using a suite of cutting-edge archaeological technologies this project will have far-reaching benefits for archaeology, science, Laos and World Heritage.
- Investigators
- Dougald O'Reilly, Richard Armstrong, Louise Shewan, Samsung Lim, Nigel Chang and Kate Domett in collaboration with Sian Halcrow (Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales, Corporate P&L, College of Medicine & Dentistry and University of Otago)
- Keywords
- Laos; Southeast Asia; Archaeological Science; Iron Age; ancient burial practice; megaliths
Lane Xang Minerals Limited - MMG - Contract Research
2014 Archaeological Excavation & Training Project, MMG-LXML, Lao PDR
- Indicative Funding
- $249,700 over 5 years
- Summary
- This project is a continuation of an ongoing collaboration, under the terms of an MOU (that is in its 3rd iteration) between JCU, the Lao Dept, of National Heritage and MMG-LXML to conduct archaeological excavations on archaeological sites threatened by modern mining practices. These projects also include an element of training and capacity building with Government staff (at National, Provincial and District levels) and students from the National University of Laos. Finally, the offer an important opportunity for JCU students to gain experience in the industry environment.
- Investigators
- Nigel Chang in collaboration with Viengkeo Souksavatdy (College of Arts, Society & Education, Department of National Heritage and Lao PDR)
- Keywords
- Bronze Age; Laos; Tangible Heritage; Southeast Asia; Archaeometallurgy; Iron Age
- Supervision
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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
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- Reconstruction of the Biological Profile of Modern and Prehistoric Thai Populations (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Ancient ceramics at Vilabouly: pottery production and society in Laos (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- For A Few Horses More: The role of domesticated livestock in the development of north Queensland. (Masters , Primary Advisor)
- Shaping the stone: an experimental archaeology approach to the Plain of Jars megaliths, Lao PDR. (Masters , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- An Analysis and Comparison of the Dentition and Dental Health of the people of Non Ban Jak (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
- The functions and contents of the Spindle Whorls in Thai Prehistory with the particular reference to the site of Ban Non Wat (PhD , Primary Advisor)
- A local perspective on cultural integration and complexity in the early historic period: 1st Millennium AD Archaeology in Northeast Thailand. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Calf Clan Culture: Rock art of the Khorat Plateau (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Who were the People of Prehistoric Vilabouly? Exploring Origins and Relationships through Archeometallurgy. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- "In any direction it would be difficult to find one acre of level ground”: The Mining and Social Landscapes of the Normanby Goldfield, near Bowen, North Queensland (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Completed
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- Trauma and conflict in prehistoric Southeast Asia: a life of war or peace (2017, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
- Small sugar farmer agency in the tropics 1872-1914 and the anomalous Herbert River Farmers' Association (2019, PhD , Advisor Mentor)
- Zooarchaeological analysis of animal resources in the Upper Mun River Valley, Northeast Thailand (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor)
- Bridging the divide in heritage? Managing caves as heritage places within the Sepon Gold and Copper Mine, Lao PDR (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Sites, survey, and ceramics: a GIS-based approach to modelling ancient settlement patterns in the Upper Mun River, Northeast Thailand (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
- The road to Townsville's early success: the engendered cultural landscape of Hervey Range and the community 'at its foot' (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Reflected in the soil: Site formation processes as an index of social and environmental change at the site of Ban Non Wat, NE Thailand (2016, Masters , Primary Advisor)
- Collaboration
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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)
Connect with me
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- Location
- Advisory Accreditation
- Advisor Mentor
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My research areas
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Dr Anna WillisCollege of Arts, Society & Education
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A/Prof Kate DomettCollege of Medicine & Dentistry