Andy Herries

Professor Andy Herries is a distinguished Palaeoanthropologist and Professor of Palaeoanthropology at La Trobe University's Department of Archaeology and History within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He serves as Director of The Australian Archaeomagnetism Laboratory and holds a Senior Research Fellow position at the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Anthropological Research. Previously, he was Head of the Department of Archaeology and History (2018-2020) and has been an active researcher since joining La Trobe in 2011.

Her research interests span Palaeoanthropology and human evolution, Geomagnetism and palaeoclimatic interactions, Geochronology, Palaeomagnetism, Speleology, cave science, and Palaeolithic archaeology. His work focuses on human origins with particular emphasis on the geochronology and context of hominin fossil sites, primarily in South Africa where he has provided dating for most major hominin fossil sites. He directs the Drimolen Palaeoanthropology Field School where his team discovered the oldest evidence for Homo erectus and co-directs excavations at Amanzi Springs documenting the Acheulian to Middle Stone Age transition.

His publications reveal a strong focus on hominin fossil dating, lithic technology analysis, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Recent work examines the East-to-west human dispersal into Europe 1.4 million years ago, Acheulian giant core reduction efficiency, and dental morphology in hominins. His research consistently bridges geological and anthropological approaches to understanding human evolution.

• Australian Research Council Fellow (Australian Research Fellow and Future Fellow) 2008-2016

Professor Herries has directed two major ARC-funded research projects in South Africa and led the establishment of the Transforming Human Societies Research Focus Area in 2012. He founded the Archaeology Research Partnerships initiative in 2018, facilitating access to laboratory facilities. His teaching includes coordinating the palaeoanthropology stream of the Bachelor of Archaeology and directing the annual Drimolen Palaeoanthropology Field School in South Africa.

The Australian Archaeomagnetism Laboratory, which he directs, promotes magnetic methods for archaeological research including palaeomagnetism, archaeomagnetism, and environmental magnetism. The lab also conducts micromorphology and geochemical analysis using pXRF, XRD, SEM, Raman, and Synchrotron studies, supporting research on early hominin sites and archaeological contexts.