Anna Willis
- anna.willis1@jcu.edu.au
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3265-862X- Senior Lecturer in Archaeology
- Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
Projects
2
Publications
33
Awards
0
Biography
Anna is a bioarchaeologist whose research focuses on ancient human skeletal remains from archaeological sites in mainland Southeast Asia. She has participated in collaborative, multidisciplinary research projects in Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Myanmar. Using an osteobiographical approach, she examines how oral pathology, trauma, infectious diseases, and metabolic diseases have influenced the social identities and lifeways of ancient people within the context of their natural and cultural environment.
Her ARC DECRA project involves applying stable isotope analysis to study ancient subsistence strategies and human behaviour during the adoption and intensification of agriculture.
Anna supervises JCU students with colleagues from the College of Arts, Society, and Education (CASE) and colleagues with related research interests in the College of Medicine and Dentistry (CMD). She actively supports her students in developing their research profiles through conference attendance and co-publication.
Anna teaches forensic archaeology and evolution. Her research interests and background directly complement her teaching, and she emphasises a conscientious and ethical approach to human skeletal analysis to understand the lived experience of people, whether they are from the present or the past.
Research
Projects
Advancing analytical techniques and research capacity in bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia
01 Jun 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Primary
Research Advisor Accreditation
Role
Chair; Independent Academic
Taught Modules
[AR2407] Forensic ArchaeologyCoordinator, Lecturer
2026
[AR2416] Ancient Ancestors to Digital Devices: Our Evolutionary JourneyCoordinator, Lecturer
2026
Current JCU Research Students
Osteoporosis from the Neolithic to the Iron Age in Northeast Thailand: A holistic approach to investigating bone loss in bioarchaeology;;
Doctor of Philosophy (Society and Culture)
Completed JCU Research Students
A new lease on life: using advanced analytical techniques in bioarchaeology to maximise a new understanding of past populations of Sardinia
Doctor of Philosophy (Society and Culture)- 2023
Investigating health, diet, and mobility in the pre-Neolithic community of Con Co Ngua, northern Vietnam
Doctor of Philosophy (Society and Culture)- 2025
The effects of aging on bone macro- and microstructure of two populations in the Asia-Pacific region
Doctor of Philosophy (Society and Culture)- 2024
The dentition of the people of Iron Age Non Ban Jak
Master of Philosophy (Society and Culture)- 2022
Output
Kinaston, Rebecca; Willis, Anna; Miszkiewicz, Justyna J.; Tromp, Monica; Oxenham, Marc F. (2019) The dentition: development, disturbances, disease, diet, and chemistry. San Diego, CA, USA: [Non-Research Book Chapter] [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Pryce, T.O.; Willis, Anna (2025) 'Southeast Asian mainland archaeological science 1964–2034: Multiscalar relations between individuals, communities and neighbouring populations during the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages (early-3rd mill. BC to late-1stmill. AD)'. Journal of Archaeological Science, 176 . [DOI]
Pradier, Baptiste; Nafplioti, Argyro; Turchyn, Alexandra V.; Bradbury, Harold J.; Cooper, Matthew J.; Htwe Oo, Daw Kay; Naing Oo, U. Saw; Willis, Anna; Valentin, Frédérique; Pryce, T.O. (2025) 'Mobility patterning during the Neolithic and the Bronze Age in north-central Myanmar'. Journal of Archaeological Science, 184 . [DOI]
Muir, Brianna J.; Trinh, Hiep H.; Buckley, Hallie R.; Domett, Kate; Willis, Anna; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Minh, Tran T.; Cuong, Nguyen Lan; Huu, Nghia T.; Oxenham, Marc F. (2025) 'Fragmentary and dispersed: Preadult personhood and social memory in a Southeast Asian forager cemetery'. Hunter Gatherer Research, 11 (1):87-124. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Willis, Anna; Pradier, Baptiste; Rogers, Laura; Halcrow, Siân; Kleffmann, Torsten; Cali, Joe; Koutamanis, Dafne; Mahan, Brandon; McCoy-West, Alex; Oo, U Saw Naing; Oo, Daw Kay Thwe; Pryce, T.O. (2025) 'Living in the middle of the edge: an insight into ancient subsistence practices in Myanmar'. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 17 . [DOI]
Late prehistoric and early historic chronology of Myanmar: a four-millennia sequence from Halin
2024
Pryce, T.O.; Pradier, Baptiste; Favereau, Aude; Naing Oo, U. Saw; Le Meur, Clémence; Thwe Oo, Daw Kay; Aye, U. Arkar; Win, Daw Thu Thu; Langowska, Kinga Alina; Hanus, Kasper; Iizuka, Yoshiyuki; Georgon, Cloé; Zhuang, Yijie; Castillo, Cristina; Fuller, Dorian; Win, Daw Hlaing Sabai; Aung, Daw Han Myo Kyi; Champion, Louis; Minh Oo, U. Myo; Naing Oo, U. Min; Phyo, U. Zayar; Wai Maung, U. Phyo; Myat, Daw Yin Min; Zaw, U. Thein; Paibool, Khun Atiphat; Domethong, Khun Varis; Willis, Anna; Higham, Charles F.W.; Higham, Thomas (2024) 'Late prehistoric and early historic chronology of Myanmar: a four-millennia sequence from Halin'. Antiquity, 98 (397):30-47. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Pedersen, Lucille T.; Miszkiewicz, Justyna; Cheah, Lit Chien; Willis, Anna; Domett, Kate M. (2024) 'Age-dependent change and intraskeletal variability in secondary osteons of elderly Australians'. Journal of Anatomy, 244 (6):1078-1092. [DOI]
Wang, Tianyi; McFadden, Clare; Buckley, Hallie; Domett, Kate; Willis, Anna; Trinh, Hoang; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Vlok, Melandri; Oxenham, Marc F. (2023) 'Paleoepidemiology of cribra orbitalia: Insights from early
seventh millennium BP Con Co Ngua, Vietnam'. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 181 (2):250-261. [DOI]
Paba, Rossella; D'Orlando, Dario; Willis, Anna; Lugliè, Carlo; Domett, Kate (2023) 'An unusual case of prone position in the Punic/Roman necropolis of Monte Luna in Sardinia (Italy): A multi-disciplinary interpretation of Tomb 27'. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 48 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Vlok, Melandri; Oxenham, Marc Fredrick; Domett, Kate; Trinh, Hiep Hoang; Minh, Tran Thi; Mai Huong, Nguyen Thi; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Truong Huu, Nghia; Nguyen, Lan Cuong; Willis, Anna; Buckley, Hallie (2023) 'Scurvy in the Tropics: Evidence for increasing non-adult micronutrient deficiency with the transition to agriculture in northern Vietnam'. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 180 (4):715-732. [DOI]
Willis, Anna; Roberts, Patrick; Kyaw, Myo Min; Win, Thu Thu; Pradier, Baptiste; King, Charlotte; Ilgner, Jana; Lucas, Mary; Cook, Amanda; Piper, Philip; Pryce, T.O. (2023) 'Living in the dry zone: Stable isotope insights into palaeodiet in ancient Myanmar'. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 48 . [DOI]
Vlok, Melandri; Buckley, Hallie R.; Domett, Kate; Willis, Anna; Tromp, Monica; Trinh, Hiep H.; Minh, Tran T.; Mai Huong, Nguyen T.; Nguyen, Lan Cuong; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Huu, Nghia T; Oxenham, Marc F. (2022) 'Hydatid disease (Echinococcosis granulosis) diagnosis from skeletal osteolytic lesions in an early seventh‐millennium BP forager community from preagricultural northern Vietnam'. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 177 (1):100-115. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Vlok, Melandri; Buckley, Hallie R.; Miszkiewicz, Justyna J.; Walker, Meg M.; Domett, Kate; Willis, Anna; Trinh, Hiep H.; Minh, Tran T.; Nguyen, Mai Huong T.; Nguyen, Lan Cuong; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Wang, Tianyi; Nghia, Huu T.; Oxenham, Marc F. (2021) 'Forager and farmer evolutionary adaptations to malaria evidenced by 7000 years of thalassemia in Southeast Asia'. Scientific Reports, 11 (1). [DOI]
MacGregor, Donna M.; Lain, Russell; Bernie, Andrew; Cooper, Alan; Dawe, Tim; Donlon, Denise; Fitzmaurice, Terrence; Kelly, Grant; Heiman, Scott; Lowe, Anthony; Manns, Brian; Matic, Ashley; Mitchell, Natasha; Oakley, Dermot; Tutty, Malcolm; White, Toni; Williams, Gregory; Willis, Anna; Wright, Kirsty; Wu, Yuan-Heng; Oxenham, Marc F. (2021) '“Lest we forget”: an overview of Australia’s response to the recovery and identification of unrecovered historic military remains'. Forensic Science International, 328 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Georjon, Cloé; Kyaw, Aung Aung; Win, Tin Tin; Win, Thu Thu; Pradier, Baptiste; Willis, Anna; Petchey, Peter; Iizuka, Yoshiyuki; Gonthier, Eric; Pelegrin, Jacques; Bellina, Bérénice; Pryce, T.O. (2021) 'Late Neolithic to Early-Mid Bronze Age semi-precious stone bead production and consumption at Oakaie and Nyaung'gan in central-northern Myanmar'. Archaeological Research in Asia, 25 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Pradier, Baptiste; Kyaw, Aung Aung; Win, Tin Tin; Willis, Anna; Favereau, Aude; Valentin, Frederique; Pryce, T.O (2019) 'Pratiques funéraires et dynamique spatiale à Oakaie 1: Une nécropole à la transition du Néolithique à l’âge du Bronze au Myanmar (Birmanie) [Funerary practices and spatial dynamic at Oakaie 1, a burial ground at the transition of the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Myanmar (Burma)]'. Bulletin de la Societe Prehistorique Francaise, 116 (3):539-560.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Scott, Rachel M.; Buckley, Hallie R.; Domett, Kate; Tromp, Monica; Hoang Trinh, Hiep; Willis, Anna; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Oxenham, Marc F. (2019) 'Domestication and large animal interactions: skeletal trauma in northern Vietnam during the hunter-gatherer Da But period'. PLoS ONE, 14 (9). [DOI]
Lipson, Mark; Cheronet, Olivia; Mallick, Swapan; Rohland, Nadin; Oxenham, Marc; Pietrusewsky, Michael; Pryce, Thomas; Willis, Anna; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Buckley, Hallie; Domett, Kate; Nguyen, Giang Hai; Trinh, Hoang Hiep; Kyaw, Aung Aung; Win, Tin Tin; Pradier, Baptiste; Broomandkhoshbacht, Nasreen; Candilio, Francesca; Changmai, Piya; Fernandes, Daniel; Ferry, Matthew; Gamarra, Beatriz; Harney, Eadaoin; Kampuansai, Jatupol; Kutanan, Wibhu; Michel, Megan; Novak, Mario; Oppenheimer, Jonas; Sirak, Kendra; Stewardson, Kristin; Zhang, Zhao; Flegontov, Pavel; Pinhasi, Ron; Reich, David (2018) 'Ancient genomes document multiple waves of migration in Southeast Asian prehistory'. Science, 361 (6397):92-95. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Pryce, Thomas Oliver; Kyaw, Aung Aung; Kyaw, Myo Min; Win, Tin Tin; Win, Thu Thu; Win, Khin Htwe; Mon, May Myat; Aye, Mar Mar; Htay, Su Hlaing; Mar, Aye Aye; Bellina, Bérénice; Bentley, R. Alexander; Champion, Louis; Colonna, Camille; Cook, Amanda J.; Favereau, Aude; Fuller, Dorian Q.; Georjon, Cloe; Higham, Charles; Htwe, Kalayar Myat Myat; Iizuka, Yoshiyuki; Innanchai, Jitlada; Le Meur, Clemence; Peixoto, Xavier; Petchey, Peter; Pinhasi, Ron; Pradier, Baptiste; Valentin, Frederique; Willis, Anna; Zazzo, Antoine (2018) 'A first absolute chronology for Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age Myanmar: new AMS C-14 dates from Nyaung'gan and Oakaie'. Antiquity, 92 (363):690-708. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Between foraging and farming: strategic rseponses to the Holocene Thermal Maximum in Southeast Asia
2018
Oxenham, Marc F.; Trinh, Hiep Hoang; Willis, Anna; Jones, Rebecca K.; Domett, Kathryn; Castillo, Cristina; Wood, Rachel; Bellwood, Peter; Tromp, Monica; Kells, Ainslee; Piper, Philip; Pham, Son Thanh; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Buckley, Hallie (2018) 'Between foraging and farming: strategic rseponses to the Holocene Thermal Maximum in Southeast Asia'. Antiquity, 92 (364):940-957. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Matsumura, Hirofumi; Shinoda, Ken-ichi; Shimanjuntak, Truman; Oktaviana, Adhi Agus; Noerwidi, Sofwan; Sofian, Harry Octavianus; Prastiningtyas, Dyah; Nguyen, Lan Cuong; Kakuda, Tsuneo; Kanzawa-Kiriyama, Hideaki; Adachi, Noboru; Hung, Hsiao-Chun; Fan, Xuechun; Wu, Xiujie; Willis, Anna; Oxenham, Marc F. (2018) 'Cranio-morphometric and aDNA corroboration of the Austronesian dispersal model in ancient Island Southeast Asia: Support from Gua Harimau, Indonesia'. PLoS ONE, 13 (6). [DOI]
Bentley, R. Alexander; Willis, Anna; Pradier, Baptiste; Kyaw, Aung Aung; Win, Tin Tin; Brandon, Alan D.; Pryce, T.O. (2018) 'Social differences in Neolithic/Bronze Age Myanmar: 87Sr/86Sr in skeletal remains from Oakaie 1 and Nyaung'gan'. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 21 :32-37. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Favereau, Aude; Pryce, Thomas O.; Win, Tin Tin; Champion, Louis; Win, Thu Thu; Htwe, Kalayar Myat Myat; Mar, Aye Aye; Pradier, Baptiste; Willis, Anna (2018) 'Étude du mobilier céramique de deux cimetières de la fin du deuxième au début du premier millénaire avant notre ère en Haute Birmanie : technologie, typologie et chronologie [A study of the ceramic furniture of two cemeteries from the end of the second to the beginning of the first millennium BC in Upper Burma: technology, typology and chronology]'. Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, 104 :33-61.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Emergence and diversification of the neolithic in southern Vietnam: insights from coastal Rach Nui
2015
Oxenham, Marc F.; Piper, Philip J.; Bellwood, Peter; Hoang, Bui Chi; Nguyen, Khanh Trung Kien; Nguyen, Quoc Manh; Campos, Fredeliza; Castillo, Cristina; Wood, Rachel; Sarjeant, Carmen; Amano, Noel; Willis, Anna; Ceron, Jasminda (2015) 'Emergence and diversification of the neolithic in southern Vietnam: insights from coastal Rach Nui'. Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 10 (3):309-338. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dating the Myanmar Bronze Age: preliminary 14C dates from the Oakaie 1 cemetery near Nyaung'gan
2015
Pryce, Thomas Oliver; Kyaw, Aung Aung; Andia, Lucy; Champion, Louis; Colonna, Camille; Favereau, Aude; Htwe, Kalayar Myat Myat; Peixoto, Xavier; Pradier, Baptiste; Willis, Anna; Valentin, Fréderique; Zazzo, Antoine (2015) 'Dating the Myanmar Bronze Age: preliminary 14C dates from the Oakaie 1 cemetery near Nyaung'gan'. Journal of Indo-Pacific Archaeology, 39 :38-49. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Piper, P.J.; Campos, F.Z.; Kinh, D. Ngoc; Amano, N.; Oxenham, M.; Hoang, B. Chi; Bellwood, P.; Willis, A. (2014) 'Early evidence for pig and dog husbandry from the Neolithic site of An Son, southern Vietnam'. International Journal of Osteoarcheology, 24 (1):68-78. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Willis, Anna; Oxenham, Marc F. (2013) 'A case of maternal and perinatal death in Neolithic southern Vietnam, c. 2100–1050 BCE'. International Journal of Osteoarcheology, 23 (6):676-684. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Willis, Anna; Oxenham, Marc F. (2013) 'The neolithic demographic transition and oral health: the Southeast Asian experience'. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 152 (2):197-208. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Bellwood, Peter; Oxenham, Marc; Hoang, Bui Chi; Nguyen, Kim Dzung; Willis, Anna; Sarjeant, Carmen; Piper, Philip; Matsumura, Hirofumi; Tanaka, Katsunori; Beavan-Athfield, Nancy; Higham, Thomas; Nguyen, Quoc Manh; Dang, Ngoc Kinh; Nguyen, Khanh Trung Kien; Vo, Thanh Huong; Van, Ngoc Bich; Tran, Thi Kim Quy; Nguyen, Phuong Thao; Campos, Fredeliza; Sato, Yo-Ichiro; Nguyen, Lan Cuong; Amano, Noel (2011) 'An Sơn and the neolithic of southern Vietnam'. Asian Perspectives, 50 (1 & 2):144-175. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Oxenham, Marc; Willis, Anna; Nguyễn, Lân Cường; Matsumura, Hirofumi (2022) 'Hunter-Gatherer Mortuary Variability in Vietnam' In: Oxenham, Marc, Willis, Anna, Nguyễn, Lân Cường, and Matsumura, Hirofumi (2022) Hunter-Gatherer Mortuary Variability in Vietnam. In: Higham, Charles F.W., and Kim, Nam C., (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Early Southeast Asia. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA, pp. 229-271(Eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Early Southeast Asia. New York, NY, USA : Oxford University Press. [DOI]
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Oxenham, Marc; Willis, Anna (2017) 'Towards a bioarchaeology of care of children' In: Oxenham, Marc, and Willis, Anna (2017) Towards a bioarchaeology of care of children. In: Tilley, Lorna, and Schrenk, Alecia A., (eds.) New Developments in the Bioarchaeology of Care: further case studies and expanded theory. Bioarchaeology and Social Theory . Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 219-236(Eds.). New Developments in the Bioarchaeology of Care: further case studies and expanded theory. Cham, Switzerland : Springer.
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Willis, Anna; Oxenham, Marc (2016) 'Reconstructing diet at An Són and Hòa Diêm: implications for understanding Southeast Asian subsistence patterns' In: Willis, Anna, and Oxenham, Marc (2016) Reconstructing diet at An Són and Hòa Diêm: implications for understanding Southeast Asian subsistence patterns. In: Oxenham, Marc, and Buckley, Hallie, (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Routledge, Abingdon, UK, pp. 137-157(Eds.). The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Abingdon, UK : Routledge.
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Oxenham, Marc; Willis, Anna; Hung, Hsiao-Chun; Page, Ruth; Matsumura, Hirofumi (2016) 'Dealing with death in late Neolithic to Metal Period Nagsabaran, the Philippines' In: Oxenham, Marc, Willis, Anna, Hung, Hsiao-Chun, Page, Ruth, and Matsumura, Hirofumi (2016) Dealing with death in late Neolithic to Metal Period Nagsabaran, the Philippines. In: Oxenham, Marc, and Buckley, Hallie, (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Routledge, Abingdon, UK, pp. 311-338(Eds.). The Routledge Handbook of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Abingdon, UK : Routledge.
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU