Dr Guillaume Molle
Ph.D (University of French Polynesia), MA (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne)
Senior Lecturer in Pacific Archaeology, School of Archaeology and Anthropology - Head of Archaeology
ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Areas of expertise
- Archaeology 2101
- Archaeology Of New Guinea And Pacific Islands (Excl. New Zealand) 210106
- Anthropology 1601
Research interests
Pacific archaeology, Polynesia, Marquesas islands, Tuanotu atolls, Gambier islands, Human colonization of Oceania, island socio-ecosystems, evolution of chiefdoms, ceremonial architecture, funerary practices, material culture
Researcher's projects
Current and past projects:
- ANR PASTAtolls : Multidisciplinary Approach to Polynesian Atolls Socio-ecosystems in Time, Co-Principal investigator, 2024-2028
- ARC DECRA Fellow (DE190100187), Ethnoarchaeological investigation of religious systems in Ancient Polynesia, Principal Investigator, 2019-2023
- Teti’aroa Society Project: An Atoll in History: Archaeological Research on Teti’aroa (Society Islands). Principal investigator, 2014-present
- (France)Ministère des Outre-Mers, Les atolls des Tuamotu : Passé et présent d’une adaptation sociale à un environnement hostile, Co-Principal Investigator (Eric Conte), 2018-2019
- NSF Project, Developing 230Th/U Dating of Coral Artifacts for High-Precision Cultural Chronologies in Eastern Polynesia, NSF Archaeometry Program. Senior Collaborator, Principal Investigator Warren Sharp, 2015-2017
- Grand Observatoire du Pacifique Sud (GOPS consortium) Project: Des rats et des hommes. Approches archéologiques et écologiques d’une espèce commensale (Rattus exulans) pour reconstituer l’évolution des interactions hommes-milieux en Polynésie française. Principal investigator, 2014-2016
Publications
- Molle, G, Wadrawane, J, Lagarde, L et al. 2023, 'The sacred stone from the sea. Archaeological and ethnographic perspectives on the ritual value of coral across the Pacific', Archaeology in Oceania, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 40-55.
- Molle, G & Marolleau, V 2022, 'The 'enata way of war: An ethnoarchaeological perspective on warfare dynamics in the Marquesas Islands', in Geoffrey Clark and Mirani Litster (ed.), Archaeological Perspectives on Conflict and Warfare in Australia and the Pacific, ANU Press, Canberra, pp. 107-129.
- Molle, G 2018, 'Pathway of the Birds: The Voyaging Achievements of Maori and Their Polynesian Ancestors', Journal of the Polynesian Society, vol. 128, no. 2, pp. 245-246.
- Kirch, P, Molle, G, Niespolo, E et al. 2021, 'Coordinated 14C and 230Th dating of Kitchen Cave rockshelter, Gambier (Mangareva) Islands, French Polynesia: Comparing 230Th coral dates with Bayesian model ages.', Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 35, no. 3.
- Conte, E, Molle, G, Hermann, A et al. 2021, 'Nouvelles recherches sur le site dunaire de Hane, Ua Huka (Archipel des Marquises)', Dossier d'Archéologie Polynésienne, vol. 6, pp. 277-284.
- Kirch, P & Molle, G 2021, 'Nouvelles recherches sur le site de Kitchen Cave, île de Kamaka (Archipel des Gambier)', Dossier d'Archéologie Polynésienne, vol. 6, pp. 323-330.
- Molle, G, Conte, E, Marolleau, V et al. 2021, 'Archéologie d'une histoire 'enata: Bilan des travaux à Ua Huka, Marquises.', Dossier d'Archéologie Polynésienne, vol. 6, pp. 285-294.
- Molle, G, Conte, E, Murail, P et al. 2021, 'L'atoll désert de Temoe, conservatoire du patrimoine architectural et lieu d'étude privilégié des anciennes pratiques funéraires des Gambier.', Dossier d'Archéologie Polynésienne, vol. 6, pp. 315-322.
- Molle, G, Hermann, A, Lagarde, L et al. 2021, 'Teti'aroa (Iles de la Société) : Archéologie et Histoire d'un atoll polynésien.', Dossier d'Archéologie Polynésienne, vol. 6, pp. 25-32.
- Molle, G 2021, 'Book review of: Pour une histoire de la préhistoire océanienne. Approches historiographiques de l'archéologie francophone dans le Pacifique - Edited by Emilie Dotte-Sarout, Anne Di Piazza, Frédérique Valentin and Matthew Spriggs, Pacific-credo Publications', Archaeology in Oceania, vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 144-1445.
- Lagarde, L, Nolet, & Molle, G 2020, 'Hokikakika: History and archaeology of a Catholic village in the Eastern Tuamotus', Journal of Pacific Archaeology, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 74-89.
- Hermann, A, Molle, G, Maury, R et al. 2019, 'Geochemical sourcing of volcanic materials imported into Teti'aroa Atoll shows multiple long-distance interactions in the Windward Society Islands, French Polynesia', Archaeology in Oceania, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 184-199.
- Molle, G, Hermann, A, Lagarde, L et al. 2019, 'The Long-Term History of Teti'aroa (Society Islands, French Polynesia): new archaeological and ethnohistorical investigations', Journal of Pacific Archaeology, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 55-62.
- Molle, G & Hermann, A 2018, 'Pitcairn before the Mutineers: Revisiting the Isolation of a Polynesian Island', in Sylvie Largeaud-Ortega (ed.), The Bounty from the Beach: Cross-Cultural and Cross-Disciplinary Essays, ANU Press, Canberra, pp. 67-93.
- Dotte-Sarout E, Cauchois H, Charleux M, Domergue S, Hermann A, Lagarde L, Leclerc M, Maric T, Molle G, Nolet E, Noury A, Rurua VA and Wadrawane J-M. 2018, 'Putting new francophone archaeology on the Pacific map', Archaeology in Oceania, vol. 53, pp. 103-115.
- Molle, G 2017, 'Curve of the Hook: An Archaeologist in Polynesia', Journal of Pacific History, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 247-249pp.
- Swift, J, Molle, G & Conte, E 2017, 'Coastal subsistence and settlement at the Hane dune site, Ua Huka (Marquesas Islands): New insights from Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) stable isotope analysis', Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol. 15, pp. 161-168pp..
- Molle, G, ed., 2016, The Journal of the Polynesian Society.
- Molle, G 2016, 'Exploring religious practices on Polynesian atolls: a comprehensive architectural approach towards the marae complex in the Tuamotus Islands', Journal of the Polynesian Society, vol. 125, no. 3, pp. 263-288.
- Molle, G 2015, Ancetres-Dieux et Temples De Corail - Approche Enthoarcheologique du complexe Marae dans L'Archipel Des Tuamotu, Polnesie Francaise, Centre for Polynesian Archaeological Research (CIRAP), French Polynesia.
- Kirch, P, Molle, G, Nickelsen, C et al. 2015, 'Human Ecodynamics in the Mangareva Islands: A stratified Sequence from Nenega-Iti Rock Shelter (site AGA-3, Agakauitai Island)', Archaeology in Oceania, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 23-42.
- Molle, G & Conte, E 2015, 'Nuancing the Marquesan Post-contact Demographic Decline: An Archaeological and Historical Case Study on Ua Huka Island', Journal of Pacific History, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 253-274.
- Kahn, J, Dotte-Sarout, E, Molle, G et al 2015, 'Landscape Change, Settlement Histories and Agricultural Practices on Maupiti, Society Islands.', Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 363-391.
- Valentin, F & Molle, G 2014, 'Foreward - La Pratique De L'espace En Oceanie Decouverte, Appropriation Et Emergence Des Systemes Sociaux Traditionnels', Spatial Dynamics in Oceania Discovery, Appropriation and the Emergence of Traditional Societies, Societe Prehistorique Francaise, TBC, pp. 7-13pp.
- Molle, G & Conte, E 2014, 'La Pratique De L'espace En Oceanie Decouverte, Appropriation Et Emergence Des Systemes Sociaux Traditionnels', Spatial Dynamics in Oceania Discovery, Appropriation and the Emergence of Traditional Societies, Societe Prehistorique Francaise, TBC, pp. 125-140pp.
- Conte, E & Molle, G 2014, 'Reinvestigating a key site for Polynesian prehistory: new results from the Hane dune site, Ua Huka (Marquesas)', Archaeology in Oceania, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 121-136.
- Molle, G 2013, 'Archeologie et fonction rituelle de la maison tapu. Les poteaux anthropomorphes sculptes des iles Marquises', Bulletin de la Societe des Etudes Oceaniennes (Society of Oceanic Studies), vol. September 2013, no. 329, pp. 72-103.
- Molle, G & Conte, E 2013, '[Techno-typological approach to Polynesian mother-of-pearl tattoo combs: A way to understand technical thinking]', Journal de la Société des Océanistes, vol. 136-137, pp. 209-226.
- Conte, E & Molle, G, eds, 2012, Vestiges D'une Histoire Marquisienne - Contribution A L'archeologie de us Huka, Centre for Polynesian Archaeological Research (CIRAP), Polynesia.
- Molle, G & Conte, E 2011, 'New Perspectives on the Occupation of Hatuana Dune Site, Ua Huka, Marquesas Islands', Journal of Pacific Archaeology, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 103-108pp.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Ethnoarchaeological investigation of religious systems in Ancient Polynesia (Primary Investigator)
