Mr Mark Polzer
Academic Level B
College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Mark Polzer is a Lecturer (Academic Level B) in the Maritime Archaeology Program at Flinders University, as well as a Research Associate of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) and a National Geographic Explorer. Mark is an expert in early shipbuilding in the Mediterranean, where his studies have focused primarily on Early Iron Age and Archaic ships and seafaring and their associated socio-economic contexts. His research includes the archaeological remains of an early 6th-century BC East Greek vessel that he excavated at Pabuç Burnu, Turkey, and the contents of a late 7th-century BC Phoenician shipwreck that he excavated at Bajo de la Campana, Spain. More locally, Mark has studied the remains of South Australian, the earliest known shipwreck in SA, the hull remains of a mid-19th-century American brig south of Adelaide, and the hull remains of Three Sisters, a late-19th-century shipwreck on the Eyre Peninsula (SA). He also assisted in the excavation of the Barangaroo boat, the earliest European boat remains yet to be found in NSW. Other research interests include the development and transference of maritime technologies, early European seafaring in the Indian Ocean and the maritime archaeology of Southeast Asia.
Doctor of Philosophy (candidate) – Archaeology / Classics and Ancient History, University of Western Australia. Thesis: A Moveable Feast: The Bajo de la Campana Phoenician Shipwreck and Implications for Commercial and Cultural Engagement in Iron Age Spain.
Master of Arts – Anthropology (Nautical Archaeology), Texas A&M University. Thesis: Hull Remains from the Pabuc Burnu Shipwreck: Early Transition in Archaic Greek Shipbuilding.
Bachelor of Science – Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University. Specialisations: chemical engineering; refinery process engineering; petroleum engineering.
Professional Development and Extra-Curricular Courses
- AMFA Certificate II in Maritime Operations / Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal (2019)
- AMFA Shipboard Safety Skill Set (2019)
- Workplace Health and Safety Queensland Construction Induction (2018)
- Sydney Metro City and Southwest Project Induction (2018)
- EOT CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry (2018)
- DAN 10523NAT Course in Oxygen First Aid for Dive Accidents (2018)
- DAN HLTAID001 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (2018)
- AMFA Marine Radio Operator’s VHF and HF Skill Set – LROCP (2017)
- Bruker AXS Handheld XRF Workshop – Part 3 (2011)
- Bruker AXS Handheld XRF Workshop – Part 2 (2010)
- Bruker AXS Handheld XRF Workshop – Part 1 (2009)
- AAUS Scientific Diving; NAUI Master Diver; NSS–CDS Cavern Diver (2005)
- PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Diver; PADI Advance Open Water Diver (2000)
- NAUI Scuba Diver (1979)
- AINSE Research Award (ALNGRA16014), Australasian Institute of Nucleaqr Science and Engineering, 2016 (with W. van Duivenvoorde)
- AINSE Research Award (ALNGRA14519), Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2014 (with W. van Duivenvoorde)
- Rodney R.T. Prider Travel Scholarship, University of Western Australia, 2011
- NGS Expeditions Council Grant (EC0490-11, EC0451-10, EC0422-09, EC0400-08), 2008-2011
- Graduate Research Travel Award, Graduate Research School, University of Western Australia, 2011
- Prescott Postgraduate Scholarship, Departments of Archaeology and Classics & Ancient History (joint), University of Western Australia, 2010-2013
- Postgraduate Top-Up Scholarship, Departments of Archaeology and Classics & Ancient History (joint), University of Western Australia, 2010-2013
- Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Research Award, 2008-2010
- Dissertation Research Grant, Program for Cultural Cooperation Between the Spain's Ministry of Culture and United States Universities, 2009
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 2008
- Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation Project Award, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 2008;
- Graduate Research Travel Award, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 2008
- Mr. and Mrs. Ray H. Siegfried II Research Fellowship, Nautical Archaeology Program, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University; 2007-2008
- Spain-USA Foundation Graduate Research Award, Ministry of Culture of Spain, 2007
- Graduate Research Award, Institute of Nautical Archaeology, 2007
- Zale Parry Scholarship, Academy of Underwater Arts and Science, 2006
- National Scholars Honor Society, 2006
- Research Development Award, Institute of Nautical Archaeology, 2006
- Graduate Research Award, RPM Nautical Foundation, 2005
- Graduate Research Travel Award, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 2004
- Graduate Enhancement Award, Nautical Archaeology Program, Texas A&M University, 2004
- Mary A. Tooze Graduate Scholarship, Nautical Archaeology Program, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 2003-2004
- Graduate Research & Conservation Grant, Institute of Nautical Archaeology, 2003
- Ray Siegfried Graduate Scholarship, Nautical Archaeology Program, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 2002-2003
- Graduate Research Assistantship, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 2001
Professional
- Senior Maritime Heritage Officer, Department for Environment and Water, 2021-present
- Editor, Australasian Journal of Maritime Archaeology, 2017–2020
- Editorial Board Member, Australasian Journal of Maritime Archaeology, 2017–present
- Editorial Board Member, Australian National Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology, 2011–present
- Research Associate, Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA), Texas A&M University, 2002–present
- AIMA Councilor for South Australia, Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA), 2012–2016, 2023-present
- Committee Member, Maritime Archaeology Advisory Committee, Western Australian Museum, 2011–2015
- Editor, AIMA Newsletter, Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA), 2009–2015
- Member, American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)
Community & Media
- Jason Urbanus, Masters of the Ancient Mediterranean, Archaeology Magazine (May/June 2016), vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 38–43: http://www.archaeology.org/issues/212-1605
- Eric A. Powell, Discover Q&A: George Bass, Discover Magazine (June 2012), pp. 40–47: http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jun/07-interview-deep-underwater-george-bass-pieces-past
- Mikel Elkin, La historia del Odyssey, un tesoro de ida y vuelta, Vanity Fair (February 2012): http://www.revistavanityfair.es/articulos/la-historia-del0odyssey-un-tesoro-de-ida-y-vuelta/16108
- James Delgado, History's 10 Greatest Wrecks...and 5 Yet to Be Discovered: Bajo de la Campana, Spain, Shipwrecks (Limited Edition Special Issue by the editors of Archaeology Magazine, 2011): http://www.archaeology.org/exclusive/artiles/643-bajo-de-la-campana-phoenician-cartagena
- Heather Pringle, Diving into History: The Latest Underwater Discoveries. Phoenician Shipwreck, Cartagena, Archaeology Magazine (July/August 2009), vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 20–26: http://archive.archaeology.org/0907/underwater
- Prospero Productions (Fremantle, WA), Secrets of the Ancient Seas, Shipwreck Detectives 2, episode 2: http://www.prospero.com.au/productions/shipwreck-detectives-two
- Archaeology
- Research
- Ancient Mediterranean seafaring
- Ancient shipwrecks
- Bajo de la Campana shipwreck (Spain, 7th century B.C.)
- Historic shipwrecks
- Kyrenia shipwreck (Cyprus, 3rd century B.C.)
- Maritime archaeology
- Pabuç Burnu shipwreck (Turkey, 6th century B.C.)
- Phoenician ships and seafaring
- Underwater cultural heritage
- Underwater excavation
- Wooden shipbuilding
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