Associate ProfessorJames Flexner

James L. Flexner teaches historical archaeology and heritage studies at the University of Sydney. His main research interests are in landscape archaeology and historical archaeology, with a geographic focus on Oceania. His research projects involve fieldwork, artefact analysis, archival research, and studying historical ethnographic collections. James is also involved in developing close partnerships with local communities in the Pacific region, as well as broader public outreach efforts to make archaeology accessible to many audiences. His doctoral research at UC Berkeley was a study of the landscapes of the 19th century leprosarium at Kalawao, Moloka'i in the Hawaiian Islands. From 2011-2021 he focused his research efforts on fieldwork projects in Vanuatu, Tasmania, and Queensland. From 2022-2026 James was an ARC Future Fellow working on the project ‘Archaeologies of community and colonialism in Oceania’ (FT210100244). He is currently the Director of the Vere Gordon Childe Centre at the University of Sydney.