Professor Donald Pate
Emeritus Professor
College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Emeritus Professor Pate was appointed foundation lecturer in Archaeology at Flinders University in 1990 following a two year post-doctoral research program in Archaeological Chemistry at Harvard University and the Australian National University. He currently has Full Academic Status at Level E.
Pate played a critical role in the establishment and ongoing development of the Archaeology teaching and research programs at Flinders University.
He has over 200 publications, including papers in 37 different journals internationally. He has provided expert assessment of research grant and fellowship applications for numerous global institutions.
His initial field training was in the North American Southwest and Great Basin. He has also conducted fieldwork and research in California, Chile, Antigua, Australia, the Pacific, Italy, the Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Research for Pate's MA, PhD, and post-doctoral studies were all completed in South Australia in association with the South Australian Museum, University of Adelaide, and CSIRO Land and Water.
He established stable isotope chemical analyses of archaeological bones and teeth as new teaching and research areas in Australia. Today these areas are represented as major sub-disciplines of archaeological chemistry globally and in many universities throughout Australia and the surrounding regions.
Pate is a tribal member and citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (North America).
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Bio-Archaeology, Harvard University and Australian National University
Doctor of Philosophy, Anthropology, Brown University
Master of Arts, Anthropology, Brown University
Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education, Flinders University
Certificate in Peer Education, South Australian Health Commission
Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Anthropology; Bachelor of Science (Hons), Biology; Minor, Chemistry, San Diego State University
Emeritus Professor, Flinders University from December 2022: The letter from the Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor indicates that the prestigious title of Emeritus Professor was awarded in recognition of distinguished service to Flinders University and the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.
Expert of International Standing, Australian Research Council
Nominated as one of top 5 leading Australian researchers in Biological Anthropology, Australian Research Council
Selected for inclusion in Who's Who in the World
Selected for inclusion in Who's Who in Australia
Flinders University 25 Year Staff Service Award in 2015
Visiting Professor, Department of Anthropology, University ot California, San Diego
Visiting Professor, Department of Anthropology, Brown University
Harvard University Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Australian National University Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Invited participant: First International Workshop on Fossil Bone, Oxford University, in relation to results of PhD Dissertation
Elected to Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Brown University Graduate Fellowship
Watson Smith Prize for Best MA Thesis, Anthropology, Brown University
Elected to Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
University Medal, San Diego State University (Outstanding Contributions in Anthropology)
Valedictorian, Bishop Union High School, Bishop, California
Key Teaching and Research Areas:
Archaeological Science
Archaeological Chemistry
Palaeodiet and Past Health
Palaeoecology
Bio-Archaeology
Behavioral Biology
Human Evolution
Australian Indigenous Archaeology
Archaeology of Native North America
Modern Material Culture
Cultural Anthropology
Key Administration Areas:
Chair, Archaeology Teaching Learning Committee (2017-2020)
Member, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Transition Team (2017)
Archaeology Undergraduate Programs Coordinator (2015-2020)
Chair, Archaeology Laboratory Working Group (2014-2016)
Member, Flinders University-South Australian Museum MOU Steering Group (2011-2013)
Member, Academic Senate (2010)
Deputy Chair, Bachelor of Arts Board of Studies (1999-2001, 2009-2010)
Member, Bachelor of Arts Board of Studies (1995-2001, 2006-2010)
Chair, Humanities Board of Studies (1994-1999)
Dean of Studies, Humanities (1995-1999)
Associate Dean, School of Humanities (1994)
Member, Humanities Board of Studies (1991-1999)
Member, School of Humanities Executive (2000-2001, 2006-2007, 2009-2012)
Member, Board, Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology (1998-2000, 2006-2007)
Head, Department of Archaeology (2000-2001, 2009-2012)
Bachelor of Archaeology Degree Coordinator (2002-2006, 2008, 2015-2020)
Co-Coordinator, BSc (Earth Sciences) Major in Archaeology (1995-2004)
Archaeology Honours and Research Higher Degrees Coordinator (1991-1997, 2000, 2008-2009)
Graduate Diploma in Archaeology Degree Coordinator (1991-1997)
Education- Teaching
Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education, Flinders University (1998)
Certificate of Peer Education Training, South Australian Health Commission (1992)
Administration- Teaching
Undergraduate Course Coordinator, Archaeology (2017-2020)
Undergraduate Programs Coordinator, Archaeology (2015-2017)
Bachelor of Archaeology Coordinator (2002-2006, 2008, 2015-2020)
Acting Chair, Bachelor of Arts Board of Studies (2000, 2001, 2009)
Deputy Chair, Bachelor of Arts Board of Studies (1999-2001, 2009-2010)
Dean of Studies, Humanities (1995-1999)
Associate Dean, School of Humanities (1994)
Member, Humanities Board of Studies (1991-1999); Chair (1994-1999)
Co-Coordinator, BSc (Earth Sciences) major in Archaeology (1995-2004)
Graduate Diploma in Archaeology Degree Coordinator (1991-1997)
Main Areas of Expertise
Archaeological Science
Bio-Archaeology
Anthropological Archaeology
Archaeological Theory and Method
Australia
North America
Publications- Teaching
Colley, S., S. Ulm and F.D. Pate, Editors (2005) Teaching, Learning and Australian. Canberra: Australian Archaeological Association. Australian Archaeology, Special Volume No. 61,100 pp.
Pate, F.D. (2005) The education of archaeologists for the 21st century. In Teaching, Learning and Australian Archaeology. S. Colley, S. Ulm and F.D. Pate, eds. Canberra: Australian Archaeological Association. Australian Archaeology, Special Volume No. 61: 1-6
Pate, F.D. (1999) The Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education at Flinders University: Improving teaching and learning in undergraduate archaeology. Australian Archaeology 49: 60-63.
Pate, F.D. (1998) Field and laboratory based experiential teaching as a strategy to promote active, independent learning in undergraduate archaeology. In Improving University Teaching and Learning. Volume III. H. Silins, R. Murray-Harvey and J. Orrell, eds. Pp. 57-67. Adelaide: Flinders University.
Member, Editorial Board, Acta Palaeomedica: International Journal of Palaeomedicine (2021-present)
Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Archaeology (2012-2016)
Member, Flinders University-South Australian Museum MOU Steering Group (2011-2013)
Coordinator/Participant, Australian National Archaeology Week, South Australia (2002-present)
Management, Human Biology Collections, South Australian Museum (1991-present)
Research Associate, CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide (1985-present)
Research Associate, Archaeology, South Australian Museum (1985-present)
Member, Australian Federal Police Expert Committee, Forensic Archaeology Development (2003-2008)
Principal Investigator, The Adelaide Hills Face Zone: Reconstructing the Cultural Landsacpe and Indentification of Sites of Cultural Significance. Over $1 million of research funding provided by Australian Research Council, Flinders University, and ten industry partners: Boral Resources, National Parks and Wildlife SA, Planing SA, SA Tourism Commission, Adelaide Hills Council, Burnside Council, Onkaparinga Council, Mitcham Council, Marion Council, Tea Tree Gully Council (2002-2007)
Editor-in-Chief, Australian Archaeology (2000-2005), Editor (1999)
Executive Committee Member, Australian Archaeological Association (1999-2005)
Ambassador, Australian National Science Week (2004)
Executive Committee Member, Treasurer, Unity Foundation Organisation, Health Education (1997-2000)
Health Education Counsellor, Second Story Youth Health Centre (1991-1994)
South Australian State Representative, Australian Archaeological Association (1991-1992)
Hosted Major Conferences Including:
Australian Archaeological Association (1996, 2009)
National Archaeology Student Conference (2000, 2004)
Australasian Society for Human Biology (2000)
Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology/Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (2000)
Cultural Studies Association of Australia (1998)
- Aboriginal Issues
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Environment
- Aboriginal Archaeology
- Aboriginal Studies
- Archaeological Chemistry
- Biological Anthropology
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Medical Anthropology
- Palaeoecology
- Prehistoric Archaeology
- Prehistoric Diet and Health
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