Prehistoric Joy Launch with Andrew Sneddon

Andrew Sneddon has made a name for himself in Australia and internationally as a successful archaeologist and heritage consultant. But his success belies his childhood: at the age of eleven, Sneddon finds himself living in the criminal underbelly of Queensland’s Gold Coast. His conman stepfather has moved the family from suburban Canberra to chase his next scam. But in the 1980s, there is scant help for a woman and her three children who are ricocheting between domestic violence and homelessness.

As Sneddon charts the often frightening and sometimes farcical journey of his teenage years, he also reflects on them through contemporary eyes as an archaeologist. Told with candour and refreshing humour, Prehistoric Joy explores the importance of family and the timeless search for happiness.

Andrew Sneddon is co-owner and a director of Australia’s largest specialist heritage consultancy. He has lived and worked in Melbourne and Sydney, and been involved in archaeological research excavations around the world, including in Cyprus, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Italy, Greece, Cambodia and Myanmar. Andrew was the Director of UQ’s Culture and Heritage Unit from 2009 to 2017. He currently lives in Brisbane with his wife and son. Prehistoric Joy is his first book.

Prof Richard Mackay, AM is an ICOMOS World Heritage Advisor, an Associate member of the Australian Committee for IUCN, a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas. Richard is ‘Director of Possibilities’ at Mackay Strategic and has worked in cultural heritage management for more than 30 years particularly throughout Australia and in Asia. Richard was an ICOMOS  advisor at recent Sessions of the World Heritage Committee and is a past Chair of the Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee. In 2003, he was made a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to archaeology and cultural heritage.