Dr. Mathieu Leclerc

Biography

Mathieu Leclerc is an ARC DECRA Fellow and Lecturer at the Australian National University (ANU), specializing in Archaeology. He received his B.A. and M.Sc. in Anthropology from Université de Montréal, followed by a Ph.D. in Archaeology from ANU. His research work is particularly focused on the archaeological science of initial human colonization of the Pacific Ocean. Leclerc's innovative research combines analytical techniques with contemporary theoretical frameworks to shed light on the past of Asia-Pacific populations. He has participated in archaeological excavations and has worked with collections from various sites across Canada, the United States, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Australia, Tonga, and New Caledonia. His DECRA project involves studying preserved residues in archaeological pottery from Vanuatu to document how pottery usage and diet have changed over time, collaborating with local potters to record oral histories and traditional knowledge. Leclerc has founded the Interdisciplinary Pottery Research Group, Australia's leading research collective focused on pottery studies, and is also an Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures.

Research Interests

Experience