Research outputs per year
Research outputs per year
Personal profile
Biography
Associate Professor Darren Curnoe is an archaeologist, palaeoanthropologist, cultural heritage specialist and writer. He has worked as an academic (1997-2020) and senior heritage advisor/senior archaeologist in the consulting sector (2022-2025). Prof. Curnoe has also undertaken research and supervised PhD projects in the areas of primate ecology and rehabilitation in South Africa. He has published many popular science articles about archaeology and human origins as well as making short films, as an extension of his former career in TV news (1986-1992).
Prof. Curnoe has held various leadership roles in research and teaching and is passionate about research strategy, research development and capacity building. Since May 2025, he has worked as the research development officer for the School of Arts at Western Sydney University as well as holding an honorary A/Prof. role in this school and one in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science at the University of NSW.
He is an active researcher with projects in Malaysia and China, and a reviewer of grants (e.g. Leakey Foundation) and peer reviewed journal articles for various outlets (e.g. Science, Nature Communications, Journal of Human Evolution) including sitting on the board of several journals.
His research interests include:
1) the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic/early Neolithic of Southeast Asia and East Asia,
2) the Pleistocene peopling of Australia,
3) Archaeological site formation esp. in tropical caves,
4) Archaeological science esp. geochronology, ancient DNA and palaeoproteomic analysis, and
5) Archaeological cultural heritage particularly working with Indigenous communities.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Bachelor of Arts, Australian National University
External positions
Honorary Associate Professor, University of New South Wales
Nov 2020 → …
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A new chronological framework for Chuandong Cave and its implications for the appearance of modern humans in southern China
Wang, Y., Zhang, X., Sun, X., Yi, S., Min, K., Liu, D., Yan, W., Cai, H., Wang, X., Curnoe, D. & Lu, H., May 2023, In: Journal of Human Evolution. 178, 10 p., 103344.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
6 Citations (Scopus) -
Changing climates and emerging patterns: prehistoric human diet of Sri Lanka from Late Pleistocene through Late Holocene
Weerarathne, K. P. M., Pitawala, H. M. T. G. A., Peiris, H. R. D. & Curnoe, D., Oct 2023, In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 51, 16 p., 104167.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
Mid-to-late Holocene environmental changes along the southern coast of Sri Lanka and their impact on sediment dynamics and human behaviour
Weerarathne, K. P. M., Peiris, H. R. D., Curnoe, D., Pitawala, H. M. T. G. A. & Adikaram, A. M. N. M., 2022, In: Ceylon Journal of Science. 51, Special Issue, p. 557-576 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus) -
Ancient DNA and multimethod dating confirm the late arrival of anatomically modern humans in southern China
Sun, X. F., Wen, S. Q., Lu, C. Q., Zhou, B. Y., Curnoe, D., Lu, H. Y., Li, H. C., Wang, W., Cheng, H., Yi, S. W., Jia, X., Du, P. X., Xu, X. H., Lu, Y. M., Lu, Y., Zheng, H. X., Zhang, H., Sun, C., Wei, L. H. & Han, F. & 4 others, , Feb 2021, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 118, 8, 10 p., e2019158118.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
65 Citations (Scopus) -
Further analyses of the Deep Skull femur from Niah Caves, Malaysia
Curnoe, D., Datan, I., Goh, H. M., Bin Sauffi, M. S. & Ruff, C. B., Dec 2021, In: Journal of Human Evolution. 161, 6 p., 103089.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus)