Associate Professor Dougald O'Reilly
Areas of expertise
- Archaeology 2101
- Archaeology Of Asia, Africa And The Americas 210103
Research interests
The prehistory of Southeast Asia, rise of complex society, Archaeological theory, Heritage preservation.
Biography
Dougald O’Reilly was granted an M.A. and PhD in Archaeology by the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. His researched involved the exploration of the development of political complexity in Bronze and Iron Age Thailand. He lived in Cambodia from 1999, working as a UNESCO lecturer at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh. From 2006 -2008 he lectured at the University of Sydney, Australia, was a visiting lecturer at Yale University in 2008-09 and is currently employed with the Australian National University.
In response to the looting of archaeological sites in Cambodia, a non-governmental organization called Heritage Watch (www.heritagewatchinternational.org) was founded by O'Reilly in 2003 in an effort to combat the loss of heritage in Cambodia. Heritage Watch established a nationwide education campaign highlighting the importance of heritage and continues to work in heritage preservation, currently running a programme called Heritage for Kids.
O'Reilly has worked extensively in the archaeology of Southeast Asia. His research in recent years has been focussed in Cambodia where he oversaw several multi-disciplinary project examining ancient mobility, health and social organization of Iron Age settlements. He has also led research examining the rise of the state in the region with excavations undertaken in both Cambodia and Thailand, the core and periphery of empire.
In 2015 O'Reilly was awarded the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences Award for Programs that Enhance Learning and the Vice Chancellor's Award for Public Policy and Outreach. He was nominated in 2016 for a Vice Chancellor's Award for Programs that Enhance Learning.
O’Reilly received an Award for Programs that Enhance Learning from the College of Arts and Social Sciences in 2017 and the ANU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Education in 2018. His e-book ‘An Interactive Guide to Angkor’ won the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s Gold Award for best Guide Book in 2018.
His current research focusses on the enigmatic sites of the 'Plain of the Jars' in Northern Laos. This is a collaborative project with Lao government archaeologists aimed at shedding more light on the origin and purpose of the megalithic jar sites.
Researcher's projects
Chief Investigator - Unravelling the Mystery of the Plain of Jars, Laos- Australian Research Council Grant (https://www.facebook.com/Plain-of-Jars-Archaeological-Project-1032083466834899/)
Chief Investigator – From Paddy to Pura Archaeological Project, Cambodia/Thailand – Australian Research Council Grant
Chief Investigator – History in Their Bones Project, Cambodia – Australian Research Council Grant
Founder/Board Member - Heritage Watch (www.heritagewatchinternational.org) The organisation is currently running a project called Heritage for Kids in Cambodia which sees school children trained in heritage and environmental protection.
Australian National Commission for UNESCO Grants Program World Heritage Status Realized: Plain of the Jars. Meeting 1-3 July 2013, Xieng Khuang Lao PDR.
Co-Investigator- The Monash Immersive Visualisation Platform (MIVP) CAVE2 Pilot Project Grant. 2015 Title: Unravelling the mystery of the plain of Jars, Laos: Investigating a prehistoric cultural landscape contaminated by Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)
Current student projects
Analysis of megalithic jars at selected sites in Laos - Andrew Ball (Doctoral Candidate)
Spatial analysis of megalithic sites in Laos from a GIS perspective - Nick Skopal (Doctoral Candidate)
Recently completed projects:
Chaine operatoire and Cambodian and Thai ceramics - Tse Siang Lim (Doctoral Candidate)
Analysis of manufacturing marks on megalithic jars - Simon Tenner (Honours)
Publications
- Shewan, L, Ikehara-Quebral, R, Stark, M et al. 2020, 'Resource utilisation and regional interaction in protohistoric Cambodia - The evidence from Angkor Borei', Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol. 31, pp. 1-12.
- O'Reilly, D, Shewan, L, Domett, K et al. 2020, 'Revisiting Prei Khmeng: The Excavation of an Iron Age Settlement and Cemetery in Cambodia', Asian Perspectives, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 33-60.
- Shewan, L, Armstrong, R & O'Reilly, D 2020, 'Baseline bioavailable strontium isotope values for the investigation of residential mobility and resource-acquisition strategies in prehistoric Cambodia', Archaeometry, vol. online.
- Ward, S, Halcrow, S, Buckley, H et al. 2019, 'Social Status and Its Relationship to Non-specific Stress at Late Iron Age Non Ban Jak, Northeast Thailand', Bioarchaeology International, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 283-304.
- O'Reilly, D, Shewan, L, Domett, K et al. 2019, 'Excavating among the megaliths: recent research at the 'Plain of Jars' site 1 in Laos', Antiquity, vol. 93, no. 370, pp. 970-989.
- O'Reilly, D, Shewan, L, Khamphouvong, M et al. 2019, 'Research at megalithic jar site 52 and the discovery of new jar sites in Xiang Khouang Province, Laos', Asian Archaeology, vol. Online, pp. 1-13.
- Pedersen, L, Domett, K, Chang, N et al. 2019, 'A Bioarchaeological Study of Trauma at Late Iron Age to Protohistoric Non Ban Jak, Northeast Thailand', Asian Perspectives, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 220-249.
- Shewan, L & O'Reilly, D, eds, 2019, Madeleine Colani's Megaliths of Upper Laos, Barcaray International Publishing, Dubai.
- O'Reilly, D, Shewan, L, Van Den Bergh, J et al. 2018, 'Megalithic Jar Sites of Laos: a Comprehensive Overview and New Discoveries', Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology, vol. 42, no. 2018, pp. 1-31.
- Pryce, T, O'Reilly, D & Shewan, L 2017, 'Copper-base metallurgy in Late Iron Age Cambodia: Evidence from Lovea', Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol. 13, pp. 395-402pp.
- Scott, G & O'Reilly, D 2017, 'A re-appraisal of the spatial distribution of single and multi-moat prehistoric sites in Northeast Thailand', Archaeological Research in Asia, vol. 11, pp. 69-76pp.
- O'Reilly, D, Evans, D & Shewan, L 2017, 'Airborne LiDAR prospection at Lovea, an Iron Age moated settlement in central Cambodia', Antiquity, vol. 91, no. 358, pp. 947-965.
- O'Reilly, D & Shewan, L 2016, 'Phum Lovea: A moated precursor to the pura of Cambodia? Sociopolitical transformation from Iron Age settlements to early state society', Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 468-483.
- O'Reilly, D & Shewan, L 2016, 'Prehistoric mortuary traditions in Cambodia', in Marc Oxenham & Hallie R Buckley (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, London and New York, pp. 45-67.
- O'Reilly, D 2015, 'Preserving the past, enriching the future: the work of heritage watch in Cambodia', in Peter G Stone, Zhao Hui (ed.), Sharing Archaeology: Academe, Practice and the Public, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, London and New York, pp. 215-222.
- O'Reilly, D & Shewan, L 2015, 'A report on the 2011-2012 excavation of Lovea: An Iron Age, moated settlement in Cambodia', Archaeological Research in Asia, vol. 1-2, pp. 33-47.
- O'Reilly, D & Scott, G 2015, 'Moated sites of the Iron Age in the Mun River Valley, Thailand: New discoveries using Google Earth', Archaeological Research in Asia, vol. 3, no. July 2015, pp. 9-18.
- O'Reilly, D & Scott, G 2015, 'Rainfall and circular moated sites in north-east Thailand', Antiquity, vol. 89, no. 347, pp. 1125-1138.
- Sonnemann, T, O'Reilly, D, Rachna, C et al. 2015, 'The buried 'towers' of Angkor Wat', Antiquity, vol. 89, no. 348, pp. 1420-1438.
- O'Reilly, D, Shewan, L, Domett, K et al. 2015, 'The Excavation of Phum Sophy 2009-2010 An iron age site in north-west cambodia', Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology, vol. 39, pp. 57-73.
- O'Reilly, D 2015, 'Complex society in prehistoric mainland southeast asia', in Colin Renfrew (ed.), The Cambridge World Prehistory, Cambridge University Press, United States of America, pp. 478-493.
- O'Reilly, D 2014, 'The Excavation of Phum Lovea, Siem Reap Cambodia', The 20th Congress of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association (IPPA), Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association, Cambodia.
- O'Reilly, D 2014, 'Summary of Historic Mainland Southeast Asia', in Colin Renfrew, Paul G. Bahn (ed.), The Cambridge World Prehistory Volume 1: Africa, South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 494-503.
- O'Reilly, D 2014, 'Cambodia: Cultural Heritage Management', in Claire Smith (ed.), Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, pp. 1097-1101pp.
- O'Reilly, D 2014, 'Increasing complexity and the political economy model; a consideration of Iron Age moated sites in Thailand', Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 297-309.
- O'Reilly, D 2014, 'Heritage and development: Lessons from cambodia', Public Archaeology, vol. 13, no. 1-3, pp. 200-212.
- Higham, C, Cameron, J, Chang, N et al 2014, 'The excavation of Non Ban Jak, Northeast Thailand- A Report on the First Three Seasons", Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology, vol. 34, pp. 1-41.
- Newton, J, Domett, K, O'Reilly, D et al. 2013, 'Dental health in Iron Age Cambodia: Temporal variations with rice agriculture', International Journal of Paleopathology, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-10.
- Domett, K, Newton, J, O'Reilly, D et al. 2013, 'Cultural Modification of the Dentition in Prehistoric Cambodia', International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 274-286.
- O'Reilly, D 2013, 'An Interactive Guide to Angkor - IBook - digitally interactive'.
- O'Reilly, D 2013, 'Origins of Empire' exhibit at National Museum of Cambodia
- Beavan, N, Halcrow, S, McFadgen, B et al. 2012, 'Radiocarbon dates from jar and coffin burials of the Cardamom Mountains reveal a unique mortuary ritual in Cambodia's late- to post-Angkor period (15th-17th centuries AD)', Radiocarbon, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 1-22.
- O'Reilly, D 2012, 'Heritage Development: lessons from Cambodia', Archaeology and Economic Development AED 2012, Maney Publishing, London, pp. 200-212.
- Domett, K, O'Reilly, D & Buckley, H 2011, 'Bioarchaeological evidence for conflict in Iron Age North-West Cambodia', Antiquity, vol. 85, no. 328, pp. 441-458.
- Matsumura, H, Domett, K & O'Reilly, D 2011, 'On the origin of pre-Angkorian peoples: perspectives from cranial and dental affinity of the human remains from Iron Age Phum Snay, Cambodia', Anthropological Science, vol. 119, no. 1, pp. 67-79.
- O'Reilly, D 2010, 'Cranial Trauma in Prehistoric Cambodia, Berlin Germany Sept 27-Oct 01', International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists, EurASEAA, Dublin.
- O'Reilly, D 2010, 'Preliminary Isotopic Results from Phum Sophy Cambodia', International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists, EurASEAA, Dublin.
- Domett K. M., and O'Reilly D. (2009) Health in Pre-Angkorian Cambodia: a bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains from Phum Snay. Asian Perspectives 48(1):56-78.
- O'Reilly, D. (2009) The Tide is Turning: Battling heritage destruction in Cambodia through social marketing and education, The SAA Archaeological Record, Vol.9, no.1, pp. 11-13.
- O'Reilly, D 2008, 'Multivallate sites and socioeconomic change: Thailand and Britain in their Iron Ages', Antiquity, vol. 82, pp. 377-389.
- Anne-Maria Makela and Dougald O'Reilly (2008) Temples and Tourism-Transfer to or from poverty? in Welterbe und Tourismus -World Heritage and Tourism, pp. 117-123, Kurt Luger and Karlheinz Wöhler Eds. Innesbruk.
- O'Reilly, D. (2007) Shifting Trends of Heritage Destruction in Cambodia: From Temples to Tombs, Historic Environment Vol. 20, Number 2, pp. 12-16.
- O'Reilly, D.J.W. (2007) Early Civilizations of Southeast Asia. Alta Mira Press, Lanham.
- O'Reilly, D., Domett, K. and Pheng, S. (2006) The Excavation of a Late Prehistoric Cemetery in Northwest Cambodia, Udaya Journal, 7: 207-222.
- O'Reilly, D., von den Driesch, A. and Voeun, V. (2006) Archaeology and Archaeozoology of Phum Snay: an Iron Age Cemetery in Northwest Cambodia, Asian Perspectives 45 (2)188-211.
- O'Reilly, D., Thuy C., Domett, K. (2004) Report on the 2001 excavation of the Iron Age site of Phum Snay, Cambodia. Udaya Journal No. 5:219-225.
- O'Reilly, D.J.W. (2003) Further Evidence of Heterarchy in Bronze Age Thailand, Current Anthropology 44 (2) 300-306.
- O'Reilly, D.J.W. (2000) From the Bronze Age to the Iron Age in Thailand: Applying the Heterarchical Approach, Asian Perspectives, 39 (1-2):1-19.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Unraveling the mystery of the Plain of Jars, Laos (Primary Investigator)
- UNESCO World Heritage Status Realized: Plain of the Jars (Primary Investigator)
- From Paddy to Pura: The Origins of Angkor (Secondary Investigator)
