Hugh ThomasView profile
Lecturer
Hugh Thomas is a Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Sydney’s Discipline of Archaeology within the School of Arts and Social Sciences. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and specializes in ancient mortuary practices and digital archaeological methodologies. His work focuses on Neolithic to Bronze Age Saudi Arabia, particularly the transition from ritual to funerary landscapes between 5000-2800 BCE, and the application of cutting-edge technologies like 3D recording, drone-based remote sensing, and multispectral analysis. He directed the Aerial Archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (AAKSA) project (2019–2023), identifying hundreds of thousands of stone structures including monumental Neolithic mustatils and Bronze Age burial sites. Current work includes the PAKEP project (2023–2026) and thermal imaging studies at Greek sites like Methone and Zagora. His research emphasizes digital innovation in archaeology and the integration of advanced technologies for subsurface feature detection. Education: PhD in Archaeology, University of Sydney Labs/Teams: Member of the Vere Gordon Childe Centre Media: Featured in Discovery Channel’s Architects of Ancient Arabia , NBC News, and Smithsonian Magazine. He advises Aristotelis Gazeas on the thesis "The ancient Greek male body ideal: Form and Meaning" . His publications span over 15 years, with recent focus on Saudi Arabian prehistoric landscapes and technological advancements in archaeological prospection.








