ANU archaeologist made honourary curator in Vanuatu

The Natural Cultural Council in Vanuatu has honoured, Matthew Spriggs, an ANU archaeologist, by appinting him as an Honourary Curator of Archaeology at  the Vanuatu Kaljol Senta.

Professor Spriggs was acknowledged as the longest-serving archaeologist in Vanuatu. He started his work on Aneityum and Maewo for his PhD in 1978, and is still fully active in archaeology in the country today.

Professor Spriggs has been recognised for his involvement with the Teouma Lapita cemetery and most recently the finding of Lapita pottery on Aneityum, and has regularly brought groups of ANU archaeology students to Vanuatu to take part in projects.

The responsibilities of the honorary position includes fundraising efforts for the Vanuatu Kaljol Senta, to build a properly equipped archaeology laboratory and teaching space to allow Vanuatu students to get "hands on" experience in archaeology, and to equip a permanent Vanuatu archaeology exhibition at the National Museum.