Inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark and family history, Dr Karin Sowada’s passion for archaeology has been underpinned by a sense of wonder and opportunity to discover new knowledge about humanity. We hear more about her Future Fellowship and focus for the rest of the year
1. How did you originally become interested in your area of research, and what keeps you interested in it?
My parents both had family histories which involved travel to exotic desert places, and those stories were very influential as a child. As a young adult I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark at the movies and two years later visited Pompeii. My reaction was ‘wow, you can study this stuff???’ so I chucked in my insurance job to study archaeology at Sydney University.
I’ve never lost the sense of wonder when ‘touching’ the past & creating new knowledge (read discoveries!) about humanity through archaeological, scientific and historical enquiry.
2. Tell us a bit about your current research and what makes it so important?
The final outputs of my Future Fellowship, due out this year, will change understandings of Egypt’s role as a state actor in the eastern Mediterranean during the third millennium BC – the time of the Pyramids.
The economic and political ‘push-pull’ of the powerful Egyptian state helped drive the emergence of early networked trade systems and the development of social complexity in the wider region.
3. What is something you have recently accomplished?
‘Accomplishing’ is a better word. Our Egyptology team is working to land the 6th Australasian Egyptology Conference at MQ on 9–12 June. We are nearly there!
4. What do you need to do your best work?
The Aussie bush. Music. Thinking time. Sleep.
5. What is the most useful piece of equipment you use in your work?
A macro lens on a Canon SLR digital camera. I use it to take very close-up photos of tiny rocks and minerals in ancient pottery. That information helps me determine if pottery is imported or not, and is a key piece of data for understanding foreign connections.
6. What do people always ask you when they find out what you do for a living?
‘Have you ever found anything?’ Seriously. What people mean is ‘anything…of importance?’.
7. What is your definition of success?
Being part of influencing change for the greater good.
8. A bit about where you live and what you like about it?
Having grown up in Bronte, the eastern beaches are still home. Our family lives at Bondi Beach and we never grow tired of the surf, beach, and local people.
9. A moment you felt proud?
Giving birth to a child.
10. What would people be surprised to know about you or your work?
That archaeology involves a lot of paperwork!
11. What is on your agenda for the remainder of 2022?
Preparing for renewed Macquarie University fieldwork in Egypt for January 2023, while just getting on with being a 40:40:20 academic.