Don Boyer

Don Boyer is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Discipline of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Western Australia's School of Humanities. His research focuses on ancient water management systems, settlement history, and palaeolandscapes in the Near East, particularly through aerial archaeology. He directed the Jarash Water Project, investigating water systems in Jordan's Gerasa (modern Jarash) from Roman to Early Islamic periods. Previously, he held roles in Saudi Arabia's AAKSAU/AAKSAK aerial archaeology programs and contributed to the Aerial Archaeology of Jordan (AAJ) since 2008.

Education

• PhD in Ancient History from the University of Western Australia (2012–2019), focusing on Gerasa's water systems.
• BSc(Hons) in Geology from Aberystwyth University (1968).

Research Interests

His interdisciplinary work combines geoarchaeology, geomorphology, and remote sensing to analyze ancient water infrastructure. Key topics include Roman aqueducts, irrigation networks, and their socio-environmental impacts. He also studies historical photographs and archival records to understand settlement patterns and landscape changes.

Articles Overview

Boyer's publications cover Gerasa's water management, including monographs and peer-reviewed articles on aqueduct systems, nymphaea, and watermills. His work highlights innovative methods like radiocarbon dating of mortar to determine construction timelines. He also explores broader regional contexts, such as Saudi Arabia's Neolithic monuments and Holocene funerary practices through aerial surveys.

Awards & Grants

• National Archaeology Student Conference award (2016).
• Recipient of Rodney R. T. Prider Scholarship (2015, 2016 field seasons).
• ANSTO grant for dating spring sources in Gerasa (2016).

Professional Activities

He has presented at major conferences including the International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East and the 5th IWA Symposium on Ancient Water Technologies. His work is cited in 82+ news outlets and referenced in Wikipedia pages.

Labs & Projects

Leads the Jarash Water Project, integrating ground surveys, remote sensing, and interdisciplinary studies. Collaborates on Saudi Arabia's AAKSA archaeological projects, documenting landscapes via aerial photography and ground surveys.