Claire Smith (archaeologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claire Smith
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Claire Smith (centre) with Joan Gero and H. Martin Wobst at WAC-5, Washington D.C., 2005
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| Born | 15 July 1957 |
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| Occupation | Archaeologist |
| Employer | Flinders University |
| Organization | World Archaeological Congress, President from 2003 to 2008 & 2008-2014 |
Claire Edwina Smith is a famous Australian archaeologist. She was born on July 15, 1957, in Sydney, Australia. Claire Smith is an expert in Indigenous archaeology, which is about studying the past of Indigenous peoples. She also specializes in how people use symbols to communicate and in rock art.
From 2003 to 2014, she was the president of the World Archaeological Congress. This is a big international group for archaeologists. She also helped lead the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University in Australia. One of her most important works is the Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology.
Contents
Claire Smith's Journey in Archaeology
Early Studies and Research
Claire Smith earned her first degree in archaeology in 1990 from the University of New England. She continued her studies there and received her PhD in 1996. Her PhD research focused on Australian Aboriginal art. This type of study, called ethnoarchaeology, looks at how people live today to understand how people lived in the past.
After her PhD, she received special fellowships to continue her research. These included an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship and a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Working with Indigenous Communities
Claire Smith has worked for a long time with Aboriginal communities, especially in Barunga, Australia. She often worked with her husband, Gary Jackson. She helped bring Aboriginal students to Adelaide for training in archaeology. She also set up special field schools where Aboriginal students could learn about archaeology hands-on.
Her work has greatly helped develop Indigenous archaeology around the world. This field focuses on working with Indigenous communities to study their heritage.
Leading the World Archaeological Congress
As the president of the World Archaeological Congress, Claire Smith helped create a scholarly journal called Archaeologies. She also started programs like "Archaeologists without Borders" and the "Global Libraries Project." These programs help share archaeological knowledge and support archaeologists globally.
Sharing Knowledge and Teaching
Claire Smith has written many books and articles. Her work often explores the relationship between archaeologists and Indigenous communities. She also wrote books to help people learn about archaeology, like Archaeology to Delight and Instruct and Digging It Up Down Under.
She wrote a textbook for students learning archaeological field methods. This book has been used in Australia and the United States. Claire Smith also writes articles for The Conversation, a news source, to share information about heritage and community archaeology, especially about Aboriginal peoples in Australia. She is also on the advisory board for the archaeology journal Antiquity.
Awards and Special Recognition
Claire Smith has received many important awards for her work.
- In 2018, she received the Lucy Mair Medal and the Marsh Award from the Royal Anthropological Institute.
- She also received a Commemorative Medal from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 2018.
- In 2016, she was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Archaeological Congress.
She was made a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2010. In 2019, she became a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. In 2025, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, which is a high honor in Australia.
Selected Publications
Encyclopedias
- C. Smith (editor) (2020). Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. 2nd edition. This huge book covers archaeology from all over the world.
- C. Smith (editor) (2014). Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. The first edition of this important reference book.
Books
- K. Mizoguchi and C. Smith (2019). Global Social Archaeologies. Making a Difference in a World of Strangers.
- H. Burke, M. Morrison and C. Smith (2017). The Archaeologist’s Field Handbook. This book helps archaeologists learn how to work in the field.
- H. Burke and C. Smith (2007). Archaeology to Delight and Instruct. Active Learning in the University Classroom.
- C. Smith and H. Burke (2007). Digging it up Down Under: A Practical Guide to Doing Archaeology in Australia.
- C. Smith and H.M. Wobst (2005). Indigenous Archaeologies: Decolonising Theory and Practice. This book is about making archaeology more fair and respectful to Indigenous cultures.
- C. Smith (2004). Country, Kin and Culture. Survival of an Australian Aboriginal Community.
Online Articles
Claire Smith has written many articles for The Conversation website, sharing her insights on important topics.
- C. Smith, A. Kearney, A. Kotaba, C. Wilson, J. Grant, K. Pollard and U. Saikia (2020). "Friday Essay - Voices from the bush: how lockdown affects remote Indigenous communities differently."
- C. Smith (2019). "What the termite mound ‘snowmen’ of the NT can tell us about human nature."
- C. Smith, G. Jackson and J. Ralph (2019). "Budj Bim’s world heritage listing is an Australian first – what other Indigenous cultural sites could be next?"
- C. Smith and J. Ralph (2019). "Notre Dame: how a rebuilt cathedral could be just as wonderful."
- C. Smith, G. Jackson, G. Gray, and V. Copley (2018). "Who Owns a Family's Story: Why it's Time to Lift the Berndt Field Notes Embargo."
See also
- Heather Burke
- World Archaeological Congress
- Indigenous Archaeology
