Mark Moore

Mark Moore is a Professor and former ARC Future Fellow in the Department of Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology. He is the Director of the online Museum of Stone Tools. Prof Moore's research explores how the evolution of hominin cognition—the way that humans think—is reflected in the way they organised their stone-flaking techniques to produce tools. He explores both extremes of stone working complexity, including tools made by non-modern hominins (such as Homo floresiensis, the ‘hobbits’ of Indonesia) and tools made by modern Homo sapiens in various parts of the world, including Australia, Indonesia, Arabia, Europe, India, and North America. The mechanical restrictions of stone flaking can cause similarities in outputs in the absence of complex intentions, a phenomenon he calls the ‘spandrels effect’, and Prof Moore’s theoretical and experimental research documents the nature and implications of this.  He is an expert flintknapper, and he uses insights from stone-flaking experiments in reconstructing complex reduction sequences practiced by flintknappers from throughout prehistory.  Prof Moore applies his research by collaborating with Aboriginal communities to rediscover and reclaim the stone-working practices on traditional country.