Rate My Professor Chris Jennings

Dr. Chris Jennings serves as Senior Archaeologist at Southern Pacific Archaeological Research (SPAR), a research unit and consultancy affiliated with the Archaeology Programme in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Otago. With more than 20 years of professional experience, he has conducted research and consulting projects throughout New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. Jennings manages SPAR's archaeological consulting initiatives, coordinates fieldwork operations, and is an approved archaeologist under Section 45 of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act. His technical proficiencies include archaeological site mapping, survey and excavation techniques, lithic (stone tool) analysis, and the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Jennings earned his BA (Honours) and MA in Anthropology from the University of Otago and his PhD from the University of Queensland. His research centers on Polynesian quarrying practices, adze production, raw material procurement strategies, stone tool technologies, distribution, chronology, and form in southern New Zealand prehistory. Key interests include the archaeology of Foveaux Strait, early Māori stone tool adaptations, social organisation from manufacturing processes, exchange networks, and early Polynesian settlement of Aotearoa New Zealand. Notable publications comprise "The use of Southland Argillite in New Zealand Prehistory: distribution, chronology and form" (2009), "Review of the archaeology of Foveaux Strait, New Zealand" (2010), "Colyers Island: Polynesia's southernmost adze manufacturing complex" (2018), and "Adapting Polynesian Adze Technology to New Raw Material at Tiwai Point, Murihiku, New Zealand" (2020). His work has accumulated 82 citations, contributing to insights on prehistoric Pacific societies. Jennings previously worked as Research Assistant in Otago's Department of Anthropology and Archaeology (2010-2011) and served as President of the New Zealand Archaeological Association (2022-2023). He has engaged in significant projects like the Tiwai Point artefacts analysis, illuminating Murihiku's cultural heritage.