Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
@ozarchaeomaglab.bsky.social
Palaeoanthropology & Geochronology Professor at La Trobe University Archaeology. Director of the Drimolen Palaeoanthropology Field School, Amanzi Springs & The Australian Archaeomagnetism Laboratory he/him
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
The StW 573 Little Foot Fossil Should Not Be Attributed to Australopithecus prometheus 🏺🧪
Jesse Martin, @ozarchaeomaglab.bsky.social et al
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Finds morphology does not support assigning specimen to A. prometheus because it does not share a unique suite traits.
Jesse Martin, @ozarchaeomaglab.bsky.social et al
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Finds morphology does not support assigning specimen to A. prometheus because it does not share a unique suite traits.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The StW 573 Little Foot Fossil Should Not Be Attributed to Australopithecus prometheus 🏺🧪
Jesse Martin, @ozarchaeomaglab.bsky.social et al
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Finds morphology does not support assigning specimen to A. prometheus because it does not share a unique suite traits.
Jesse Martin, @ozarchaeomaglab.bsky.social et al
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Finds morphology does not support assigning specimen to A. prometheus because it does not share a unique suite traits.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
ARC says they’ll announce Centres of Excellence outcomes tomorrow (Tuesday 9th Dec).
This is more than 2 months late, most likely due to the new security checking requirements for ARC grants. Centres of Excellence grants also need to have been approved by the Minister.
This is more than 2 months late, most likely due to the new security checking requirements for ARC grants. Centres of Excellence grants also need to have been approved by the Minister.
December 8, 2025 at 2:05 AM
ARC says they’ll announce Centres of Excellence outcomes tomorrow (Tuesday 9th Dec).
This is more than 2 months late, most likely due to the new security checking requirements for ARC grants. Centres of Excellence grants also need to have been approved by the Minister.
This is more than 2 months late, most likely due to the new security checking requirements for ARC grants. Centres of Excellence grants also need to have been approved by the Minister.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
“This feels like yet another attack on our research community that is already under siege”
Senator @davidpocock.bsky.social has issued a media release about the ARC's proposed restructure and job cuts 👇
Senator @davidpocock.bsky.social has issued a media release about the ARC's proposed restructure and job cuts 👇
December 5, 2025 at 3:05 AM
“This feels like yet another attack on our research community that is already under siege”
Senator @davidpocock.bsky.social has issued a media release about the ARC's proposed restructure and job cuts 👇
Senator @davidpocock.bsky.social has issued a media release about the ARC's proposed restructure and job cuts 👇
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
Happy to share the new virtual collection of comparative anatomy, SKELETONS ONLINE (cor.iphes.cat).
The specimens come from the comparative anatomy collection of @iphes-cerca.bsky.social , in Tarragona (Spain).
Please, use it and share!!!
The specimens come from the comparative anatomy collection of @iphes-cerca.bsky.social , in Tarragona (Spain).
Please, use it and share!!!
December 4, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Happy to share the new virtual collection of comparative anatomy, SKELETONS ONLINE (cor.iphes.cat).
The specimens come from the comparative anatomy collection of @iphes-cerca.bsky.social , in Tarragona (Spain).
Please, use it and share!!!
The specimens come from the comparative anatomy collection of @iphes-cerca.bsky.social , in Tarragona (Spain).
Please, use it and share!!!
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
This is quite an investigation into ARC’s proposed restructure & job cuts by @jennaprice.bsky.social.
You know you’ve botched your “review” when several staff complain to a Senator!
ARC also ran a witch hunt to find people who might’ve “leaked”.
Ugly stuff.
You know you’ve botched your “review” when several staff complain to a Senator!
ARC also ran a witch hunt to find people who might’ve “leaked”.
Ugly stuff.
Emails reveal planned job cuts at research funding body
Research council staff face jobs amid 'secret' restructure.
www.canberratimes.com.au
December 4, 2025 at 10:58 PM
This is quite an investigation into ARC’s proposed restructure & job cuts by @jennaprice.bsky.social.
You know you’ve botched your “review” when several staff complain to a Senator!
ARC also ran a witch hunt to find people who might’ve “leaked”.
Ugly stuff.
You know you’ve botched your “review” when several staff complain to a Senator!
ARC also ran a witch hunt to find people who might’ve “leaked”.
Ugly stuff.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
Amid all this, there seems to be no clear rationale given for either a restructure or, more importantly, cutting jobs right now.
As Sen. @davidpocock.bsky.social said, the Strategic Examination of R&D hasn't been completed.
And the ARC has proposed a massive overhaul of it's entire grants system.
As Sen. @davidpocock.bsky.social said, the Strategic Examination of R&D hasn't been completed.
And the ARC has proposed a massive overhaul of it's entire grants system.
December 4, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Amid all this, there seems to be no clear rationale given for either a restructure or, more importantly, cutting jobs right now.
As Sen. @davidpocock.bsky.social said, the Strategic Examination of R&D hasn't been completed.
And the ARC has proposed a massive overhaul of it's entire grants system.
As Sen. @davidpocock.bsky.social said, the Strategic Examination of R&D hasn't been completed.
And the ARC has proposed a massive overhaul of it's entire grants system.
New open access paper in AJBA led by my former PhD student Jesse Martin now @cam-archaeology.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
"The StW 573 Little Foot Fossil Should Not Be Attributed to Australopithecus prometheus"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
"The StW 573 Little Foot Fossil Should Not Be Attributed to Australopithecus prometheus"
November 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
New open access paper in AJBA led by my former PhD student Jesse Martin now @cam-archaeology.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
"The StW 573 Little Foot Fossil Should Not Be Attributed to Australopithecus prometheus"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
"The StW 573 Little Foot Fossil Should Not Be Attributed to Australopithecus prometheus"
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
To add context, part of why there were so many more applicants is because they moved DECRA back six months, effectively skipping funding the scheme for a year. They had to extend eligibility as a result, so this was essentially two years in one. But with no adjustment to number of grants awarded.
November 28, 2025 at 4:51 AM
To add context, part of why there were so many more applicants is because they moved DECRA back six months, effectively skipping funding the scheme for a year. They had to extend eligibility as a result, so this was essentially two years in one. But with no adjustment to number of grants awarded.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
Here's a report from Jenny Sinclair @jsresearchpro.bsky.social on the low success rate for DECRAs this week, driven by high demand and low Government funding for early career researchers in Australia.
[Free article in @resprofnews.bsky.social]
[Free article in @resprofnews.bsky.social]
Low success rate in early career grants ‘deeply disappointing’ - Research Professional News
“Decay continues” as Australian Research Council’s Decra scheme announces 13.1 per cent success rate
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Here's a report from Jenny Sinclair @jsresearchpro.bsky.social on the low success rate for DECRAs this week, driven by high demand and low Government funding for early career researchers in Australia.
[Free article in @resprofnews.bsky.social]
[Free article in @resprofnews.bsky.social]
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
Fascinating article! www.science.org/content/arti...
Headless bodies hint at why Europe’s first farmers vanished
Wave of mass brutality accompanied the collapse of the first pan-European culture
www.science.org
November 26, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Fascinating article! www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
Are the job losses and restructure being considered by the ARC because of this?
November 26, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Are the job losses and restructure being considered by the ARC because of this?
Wonderful to be part of this succesful ARC LIEF for building further luminesence dating infrastructure for archaeology at the University of Adelaide. Sorry to those that missed out.
November 25, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Wonderful to be part of this succesful ARC LIEF for building further luminesence dating infrastructure for archaeology at the University of Adelaide. Sorry to those that missed out.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
We’ve all seen the evidence that ARC are already stretched. They already outsource so much admin to university research offices – duplication across all unis – & have zero capacity to inform the public about what tax-payer money is funding.
Their response? Reduce capacity further!
Utter nonsense!
Their response? Reduce capacity further!
Utter nonsense!
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
We’ve all seen the evidence that ARC are already stretched. They already outsource so much admin to university research offices – duplication across all unis – & have zero capacity to inform the public about what tax-payer money is funding.
Their response? Reduce capacity further!
Utter nonsense!
Their response? Reduce capacity further!
Utter nonsense!
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
The “consultation” process is still going. ARC staff whose positions may be lost have been informed & the union has apparently been briefed.
But the source says the rationale behind the restructure and the potential job losses is vague.
But the source says the rationale behind the restructure and the potential job losses is vague.
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The “consultation” process is still going. ARC staff whose positions may be lost have been informed & the union has apparently been briefed.
But the source says the rationale behind the restructure and the potential job losses is vague.
But the source says the rationale behind the restructure and the potential job losses is vague.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
ARC are considering a restructure in which jobs there will be lost, a source tells me.
This seems ridiculous when they're about to completely overhaul the entire grants system – they've never undertaken anything so large before!
I've long said ARC needs MANY MORE staff, & should do more, not less.
This seems ridiculous when they're about to completely overhaul the entire grants system – they've never undertaken anything so large before!
I've long said ARC needs MANY MORE staff, & should do more, not less.
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
ARC are considering a restructure in which jobs there will be lost, a source tells me.
This seems ridiculous when they're about to completely overhaul the entire grants system – they've never undertaken anything so large before!
I've long said ARC needs MANY MORE staff, & should do more, not less.
This seems ridiculous when they're about to completely overhaul the entire grants system – they've never undertaken anything so large before!
I've long said ARC needs MANY MORE staff, & should do more, not less.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
#CentresOfExcellence #CE26
ARC has "postponed" announcement of Centres of Excellence outcomes!
It says "due diligence checks" are still being carried out on some applications.
www.arc.gov.au/news-publica...
ARC has "postponed" announcement of Centres of Excellence outcomes!
It says "due diligence checks" are still being carried out on some applications.
www.arc.gov.au/news-publica...
November 3, 2025 at 6:32 AM
#CentresOfExcellence #CE26
ARC has "postponed" announcement of Centres of Excellence outcomes!
It says "due diligence checks" are still being carried out on some applications.
www.arc.gov.au/news-publica...
ARC has "postponed" announcement of Centres of Excellence outcomes!
It says "due diligence checks" are still being carried out on some applications.
www.arc.gov.au/news-publica...
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
“CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges … with current funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.”
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
CSIRO to cut up to 350 research jobs in major overhaul
After 440 positions were slashed last year, the CSIRO has announced more staff cuts across the country in a bid to remain financially viable.
www.abc.net.au
November 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges … with current funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.”
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Long form news article in @science.org covering our latest collaborations between the Drimolen and Kromdraai teams as part of a new 4 year @Australian Research Council Discovery Grant
The world’s greatest concentration of ancestral human remains, in South Africa, poses a 2-million-year-old riddle of coexistence. scim.ag/46xvUwV
Three ancient human relatives once shared the same valley. Did they meet—and compete?
The world’s greatest concentration of ancestral human remains, in South Africa, poses a 2-million-year-old riddle of coexistence
scim.ag
July 27, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Long form news article in @science.org covering our latest collaborations between the Drimolen and Kromdraai teams as part of a new 4 year @Australian Research Council Discovery Grant
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
The world’s greatest concentration of ancestral human remains, in South Africa, poses a 2-million-year-old riddle of coexistence. scim.ag/46xvUwV
Three ancient human relatives once shared the same valley. Did they meet—and compete?
The world’s greatest concentration of ancestral human remains, in South Africa, poses a 2-million-year-old riddle of coexistence
scim.ag
July 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The world’s greatest concentration of ancestral human remains, in South Africa, poses a 2-million-year-old riddle of coexistence. scim.ag/46xvUwV
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
Uniform, circular, and shallow enamel pitting in hominins: Prevalence, morphological associations, and potential taxonomic significance 🏺🧪
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Remarkable consistency across species, time and geography suggests these enamel pits may be something quite interesting.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Remarkable consistency across species, time and geography suggests these enamel pits may be something quite interesting.
June 27, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Uniform, circular, and shallow enamel pitting in hominins: Prevalence, morphological associations, and potential taxonomic significance 🏺🧪
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Remarkable consistency across species, time and geography suggests these enamel pits may be something quite interesting.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Remarkable consistency across species, time and geography suggests these enamel pits may be something quite interesting.
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
2-million-year-old pitted teeth from our ancient relatives reveal secrets about human evolution theconversation.com/2-million-ye...
2-million-year-old pitted teeth from our ancient relatives reveal secrets about human evolution
Curiously uniform dimples on the teeth of ancient hominins may give scientists a new way to trace their origins and relationships.
theconversation.com
June 9, 2025 at 3:38 PM
2-million-year-old pitted teeth from our ancient relatives reveal secrets about human evolution theconversation.com/2-million-ye...
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
Uniform, circular, and shallow enamel pitting in hominins: Prevalence,
morphological associations, and potential taxonomic signals www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
morphological associations, and potential taxonomic signals www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Uniform, circular, and shallow enamel pitting in hominins: Prevalence, morphological associations, and potential taxonomic significance
This study explores a particular form of enamel pitting originally identified in Paranthropus robustus. We call this uniform, circular, and shallow (U…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 7, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Uniform, circular, and shallow enamel pitting in hominins: Prevalence,
morphological associations, and potential taxonomic signals www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
morphological associations, and potential taxonomic signals www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Worth a read for any up and coming Palaeoanthropologists about how not to behave. Let's leave this culture behind in our discipline.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
The curse of Toumaï: an ancient skull, a disputed femur and a bitter feud over humanity’s origins
The long read: When fossilised remains were discovered in the Djurab desert in 2001, they were hailed as radically rewriting the history of our species. But not everyone was convinced – and the bitter...
www.theguardian.com
May 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Worth a read for any up and coming Palaeoanthropologists about how not to behave. Let's leave this culture behind in our discipline.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Andy I.R. Herries at La Trobe Archaeoogy
💥Job Alert!!💥
We’re seeking to appoint a permanent Assistant Professor of Archaeological Science (materials), following the retirement of Prof. Julian Henderson.
Deadline May 5th 2025.
#Archaeology #archeology #archaeologicalScience 🧪
Full details here: jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
We’re seeking to appoint a permanent Assistant Professor of Archaeological Science (materials), following the retirement of Prof. Julian Henderson.
Deadline May 5th 2025.
#Archaeology #archeology #archaeologicalScience 🧪
Full details here: jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
Job Vacancy at the University of Nottingham: Assistant Professor in Archaeological Science (Materials)
The Department of Classics and Archaeology seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor in Archaeological Science (Materials) from 1 September 2025. Following £1.6 million investment from UKRI in our Archa...
jobs.nottingham.ac.uk
April 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
💥Job Alert!!💥
We’re seeking to appoint a permanent Assistant Professor of Archaeological Science (materials), following the retirement of Prof. Julian Henderson.
Deadline May 5th 2025.
#Archaeology #archeology #archaeologicalScience 🧪
Full details here: jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
We’re seeking to appoint a permanent Assistant Professor of Archaeological Science (materials), following the retirement of Prof. Julian Henderson.
Deadline May 5th 2025.
#Archaeology #archeology #archaeologicalScience 🧪
Full details here: jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...