Rate My Professor Baylee Smith

Baylee Smith is an archaeologist and researcher associated with the University of Otago, where she serves as a PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology within the Division of Humanities. She earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Otago in 2018, completing a thesis entitled 'Fantastic Pā and Where to Find Them: A Spatial Analysis of the pre-European Pā of Aotearoa,' under the supervision of Tim Thomas and Tilman Davies. This work utilized advanced spatial analysis methods to investigate the distribution patterns of pre-European pā sites across Aotearoa New Zealand, contributing valuable insights into prehistoric settlement and landscape use. Smith's academic interests center on archaeology, spatial archaeology, and spatial statistics, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach combining archaeological fieldwork with statistical modeling.

Smith has authored and co-authored several significant publications demonstrating her expertise in both New Zealand and international contexts. Notable among them is 'A nineteenth century settlers’ graveyard: preliminary report on the excavation of St. John’s cemetery, Back Road, Milton, Otago' (2017, Archaeology in New Zealand 60(1): 19-30, co-authored with P. Petchey, H. Buckley, and R. Kinaston), which details findings from a key excavation project revealing aspects of 19th-century settler life and health through bioarchaeological evidence, amassing 22 citations. Another key contribution is 'Spatial and social variables in the Bronze Age Phase 4 cemetery of Ban Non Wat, northeast Thailand' (2015, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 4: 362-370, with T.M. Davies and C.F.W. Higham), analyzing cemetery data to explore social dynamics, cited 21 times. She also co-authored 'Survey of the Canton Battery Site, Waipori, Otago' (2016, Archaeology in New Zealand 59(2): 39-45, with F. Allen and J. Hurford). In recognition of her research, Smith received the Best Student Conference Paper Award at the 2016 New Zealand Archaeological Association Conference for her presentation on population-adjusted spatial analysis of pā distribution. Additionally, she participated directly in the St. John's Cemetery excavation, enhancing her practical experience in historical archaeology. Currently, Baylee Smith holds the position of Collections Assistant at the Hocken Collections, University of Otago Library, managing special collections pertinent to New Zealand's cultural and historical heritage, which complements her archaeological background.