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Dr Josh Emmitt

Dr Josh Emmitt

Curator Archaeology

Dr Josh Emmitt

Josh Emmitt is Curator Archaeology and has a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau. He has worked on archaeological sites and collections around the world including from Egypt, Italy, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand. His research interests are in the application of new methods and analyses of old data, including archival studies and the application of 3D technologies.

Josh works with the Museum’s archaeology collections which includes material from Aoteraoa, the Pacific, and around the world, and has material from the Palaeolithic through to the recent past. He has published numerous articles on his research and helped to host local and international archaeology confereces. Josh is one of the editors of the Journal of Pacific Archaeology and serves on the committee of the Polynesian Society. Most recently, Josh has been elected as Chair of Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) International, which hosts an annual conference that brings together archaeologists, computer scientists, and mathematicians from around the world.

View Josh's academic profile

Works by Josh

The Amp: Episode 7, The Past Is Now In 3D!

The Past Is Now In 3D!

Archaeology, prehistoric megabirds, and lasers. In this episode of the Amp the ancient past meets the technology of the future, as we explore the world of 3D in all its Museum forms.
Egypt in the Time of Pharaohs exhibition

Unveiling Egypt's Ancient Marvels

Auckland Museum's international exhibition Egypt: In the Time of Pharaohs was a runaway hit, with over 100,000 people flocking to see the wonders of the ancient world. This isn't the Museum's first Egypt exhibition however, with two other international exhibitions hosted in 1997 and 2007, proving the enduring interest in one of the most prolific cultures in human history. 
The Amp: Episode 5, Collecting Egypt

Collecting Egypt

The mummified woman in our Te Onamata Ancient Worlds gallery has come a long way from her home in Ancient Egypt, and on her journey she lost something really important - her name. In this episode of The Amp we hear the incredible tale of the work done to reunite the mummy with her identity. We also explore the ways we've acquired taonga from ancient Egypt, and what comes next as our role as kaitiaki evolves.
Ancient Egyptian vase

How did Auckland Museum get its Egypt collection?

Auckland Museum houses nearly 2000 artefacts from Egypt. Their ages ranging from 10,000 years old, to the time of the pharaohs, and more recently. But how did these items find their way to a Museum on the other side of the world? In this blog, Dr Josh Emmitt, Curator Archaeology, lifts the lid on the not often told history of museum acquisitions.
Shabti

What did the ancient Egyptians ever do for us?

Ancient Egypt covers over 3,000 years of history. Over time there were many changes and developments in technology, some of which we still use today, albeit in a slightly different form. Here we look at some of the things that have come through time to us, including paper, ink, toothpaste, and hair products.
Kid using a VR headset

The Past Is Now In 3D!

Making 3D models of objects is now a key part of museum practice, helping us analyse, conserve, and better understand items in our care. In this blog, Curator Archaeology Dr Josh Emmitt explores the applications of 3D tech at Auckland Museum, Aotearoa, and beyond.