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David Burley is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University. His research primarily focuses on archaeological fieldwork in the Pacific region, with significant projects that include conducting research in Tonga, Fiji, and Jamaica. In 2020, he received a SSHRC Insight grant to initiate a study of the Tongan 'sia heu lupe,' which are large flat-top mounds used for snaring pigeons. Due to global pandemic travel restrictions, his fieldwork has encountered limitations, prompting a shift towards developing book projects that compile his extensive research. This includes a synthesis of findings from a decade-long excavation project at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park in Fiji. Additionally, Burley is currently collaborating on a book about 'Sevilla la Nueva', the first Spanish capital in Jamaica during the early 16th century. He has also been writing a series of popular articles for Matangi Tonga Online News, aimed at a Tongan audience, in an open-access format, which reflects on various aspects of Tongan history.
Department of Philosophy