Christian Reepmeyer
German Archaeological Institute, Commission for Archaeology of Non-European Cultures, Scientific Director
Biography
I have completed my PhD in 2010 concentrating on the analysis of the distribution of obsidian from northern Vanuatu sources and quarry sites. Before my PhD candidacy at the Australian National University, I was involved in several expeditions to Africa focusing on the mid to late Holocene human record in Namibia, Sudan and Chad. I was also involved in preparing and conducting a major exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the Neanderthal type specimen. In my position at the ANU, I will concentrate on the application of pXRF to different archaeological materials and will work on management plans for World Heritage sites in the Pacific. Additionally to my research, I will teach courses in World Heritage sites and archaeological science in the SE Asian and Pacific region.
Research interests
My main field of expertise is 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. My 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. My PhD involved research on the origin, distribution and timing of obsidian source use in Vanuatu, including detailed elemental studies of archaeological materials using several analytical techniques (EDXA, SEM, pXRF, LA-ICP-MS) and field investigations of remote quarry sites in the Banks Islands, Northern Vanuatu. Additionally, I've participated in expeditions to several countries in Africa and I'm experienced in the assessment of culture heritage sites in Africa, Europe, Australia and the Pacific.
I have completed my PhD in 2010 concentrating on the analysis of the distribution of obsidian from northern Vanuatu sources and quarry sites. Before my PhD candidacy at the Australian National University, I was involved in several expeditions to Africa focusing on the mid to late Holocene human record in Namibia, Sudan and Chad. I was also involved in preparing and conducting a major exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the Neanderthal type specimen. In my position at the ANU, I will concentrate on the application of pXRF to different archaeological materials and will work on management plans for World Heritage sites in the Pacific. Additionally to my research, I will teach courses in World Heritage sites and archaeological science in the SE Asian and Pacific region.
Research interests
My main field of expertise is 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. My 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. My PhD involved research on the origin, distribution and timing of obsidian source use in Vanuatu, including detailed elemental studies of archaeological materials using several analytical techniques (EDXA, SEM, pXRF, LA-ICP-MS) and field investigations of remote quarry sites in the Banks Islands, Northern Vanuatu. Additionally, I've participated in expeditions to several countries in Africa and I'm experienced in the assessment of culture heritage sites in Africa, Europe, Australia and the Pacific.
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Books by Christian Reepmeyer
Fieldwork to locate intact sources combined with comprehensive geochemical analysis of obsidian outcrops in Northern Vanuatu was required as there was previously no clear understanding of the number of obsidian outcrops exploited in the past and their associated elemental compositions. Preliminary geochemical research suggested that more than the two identified obsidian outcrops may have been utilised. To assess the presence of additional obsidian sources, surface collections of artefacts throughout the Banks Islands as well as excavated assemblages from sites in Vanuatu and adjacent areas were also geochemically fingerprinted. The research showed that the two known source regions on the islands of Vanua Lava and Gaua are indeed the only existing sources and that no additional outcrops were exploited. Furthermore, the internal variation of the two sources is very limited. Consequently, artefacts previously associated with putative additional obsidian sources in the Banks Islands, such as artefacts found in Fiji, were shown not to be derived from Vanuatu.
To analyse changes in the production, distribution and consumption of lithic artefacts throughout the research area, assemblages were selected covering the entire 3000-year timeframe of human occupation in Vanuatu and the Southeast Solomons. In total 21 assemblages were analysed to understand the processes shaping social interaction between communities. To provide a theoretical framework for explaining changes in the intensity of interaction, economic approaches to resource maximisation in the production and consumption patterns of transported material were assessed. It is concluded that because they depend too much on the notion of the scarcity of resources in their evaluation of the concept of value, these theoretical orientations were insufficient to explain the pattern of spatial and temporal distribution of the lithic artefacts. Alternative models are proposed that focuses on the importance of environmental factors. Variations in the frequency of ENSO over time create risks that can be mitigated by increased communication and social interaction resulting from exchange of stone raw material. In context of this interpretation, obsidian is seen as an item reflecting and strengthening interaction networks, but it is assumed that it was not the main force initiating or shaping these networks.
Papers by Christian Reepmeyer
Fieldwork to locate intact sources combined with comprehensive geochemical analysis of obsidian outcrops in Northern Vanuatu was required as there was previously no clear understanding of the number of obsidian outcrops exploited in the past and their associated elemental compositions. Preliminary geochemical research suggested that more than the two identified obsidian outcrops may have been utilised. To assess the presence of additional obsidian sources, surface collections of artefacts throughout the Banks Islands as well as excavated assemblages from sites in Vanuatu and adjacent areas were also geochemically fingerprinted. The research showed that the two known source regions on the islands of Vanua Lava and Gaua are indeed the only existing sources and that no additional outcrops were exploited. Furthermore, the internal variation of the two sources is very limited. Consequently, artefacts previously associated with putative additional obsidian sources in the Banks Islands, such as artefacts found in Fiji, were shown not to be derived from Vanuatu.
To analyse changes in the production, distribution and consumption of lithic artefacts throughout the research area, assemblages were selected covering the entire 3000-year timeframe of human occupation in Vanuatu and the Southeast Solomons. In total 21 assemblages were analysed to understand the processes shaping social interaction between communities. To provide a theoretical framework for explaining changes in the intensity of interaction, economic approaches to resource maximisation in the production and consumption patterns of transported material were assessed. It is concluded that because they depend too much on the notion of the scarcity of resources in their evaluation of the concept of value, these theoretical orientations were insufficient to explain the pattern of spatial and temporal distribution of the lithic artefacts. Alternative models are proposed that focuses on the importance of environmental factors. Variations in the frequency of ENSO over time create risks that can be mitigated by increased communication and social interaction resulting from exchange of stone raw material. In context of this interpretation, obsidian is seen as an item reflecting and strengthening interaction networks, but it is assumed that it was not the main force initiating or shaping these networks.
Today, I will also review theoretical approaches employed by other scholars in the past to understand emerging cultural complexity in the Western Pacific, particular focus will be discussion of the ‘value’ of certain items of material culture. It is concluded that because past approaches depend too much on the notion of the scarcity of resources in their evaluation of the concept of value, these theoretical orientations were insufficient to explain the pattern of spatial and temporal distribution of the lithic artefacts. Alternative models are proposed that focuses on the importance of environmental factors. For example, variations in the frequency of ENSO create risks over time that can be mitigated by increased communication and social interaction resulting from exchange of stone raw material.
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