David Burley

David V. Burley is a Professor of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University's Department of Archaeology under the Faculty of Environment. His research focuses on Pacific prehistory, particularly the Lapita culture and early Polynesian settlement patterns in Tonga, Fiji, and Jamaica. He has conducted fieldwork since 1989, examining topics like Lapita chronology, monumental earthworks, and prehistoric subsistence strategies. His recent projects include a SSHRC Insight grant-funded study of Tongan pigeon snaring mounds and book projects synthesizing decades of research. He holds a BA and MA from the University of New Brunswick and a PhD from SFU. His teaching includes courses on archaeological field methods and theory.

Education: BA/MA (University of New Brunswick), PhD (Simon Fraser University).

Research interests emphasize the archaeology of Remote Oceania, with expertise in radiocarbon dating, lidar technology, and interdisciplinary approaches to cultural landscapes. Key projects include investigations into Tongan political theater, Fiji’s Sigatoka Sand Dunes, and Jamaican Taino settlements. He collaborates widely, co-authoring works on topics like Pacific rat dispersal and Fijian polygenesis.

Publications span over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, addressing Lapita chronology, prehistoric avifauna, and ceramic analysis. He advises graduate students and directs field schools in Squamish and Curacao. His work bridges academic and public archaeology through open-access articles in Matangi Tonga Online News.