About
Makanani is a Postgraduate Research Student in Archaeology focusing on community archaeology and the evaluation of these methodologies in terrestrial and maritime contexts. Makanani's research blends her backgrounds in anthropology and archaeology. Alongside her own research, she serves as a research assistant on projects in Archaeology and at the Winchester School of Art.
Research
Research interests
- Community Archaeology and Collaborative Methods
- Maritime Archaeology
- Evaluation Methods
Current research
Makanani's PhD research aims to develop an effective and desireable evaluation framework for community engagement in archaeology and heritage management alongside those that might actually use it: funders, practitioners, and community members. A series of semi-structured focus groups will be conducted with funders, practitioners, and community members to discuss evaluations and draft a framework together. The created framework will be piloted on three to five case studies from around the world to test its effectiveness and revised accordingly. The resulting framework will be published open-sourced, giving any interested party the opportunity to adapt the evaluation framework to their own projects.
Visit the Evaluating Community Engagement pages on the Centre for Maritime Archaeology's website for more information and opportunites to get involved.
Makanani's Supervisors are Professor Fraser Sturt, Dr Lucy Blue, and Dr Dan Ashton
Research projects
Completed projects
Publications
Biography
My upbringing in Hawai’i instilled a passion for maritime cultures and community engaged research. I pursued these interests through an BA in Anthropology and Italian Studies at American University. After working in the industry for a few years, I earned my MSc in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Southampton in 2019 and returned in 2020 to begin my PhD at the same university.
My PhD research draws on experience working with archaeology and heritage management organisations in private and government sectors across the United States and internationally. These organisations include Kamehameha Schools’ Cultural Resource Department, International Archaeology, LLC, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the United States Naval History and Heritage Command.
Select fieldwork experience includes Bahari Yetu, Urithi Wetu in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, Black Sea MAP in Ropotamo, Bulgaria, geophysics and foreshore survey in Southampton, England, and excavations in Punalu’u, Hawai’i.
Previous scholarships and awards include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hollings Scholarship, Santander Scholarship, and the Brumfit Award.
I undertake the following roles and responsibilities in addition to my PhD:
- Research Assistant on Dr Dan Ashton’s research project: Local government data analytics for culture and creativity
- Co-PGR Representative, shared with Max MacDonald
- Co-Organiser of the Archaeology Departmental Seminar Series with Olivia Britter and Dr Anna Collar
- Co-Coordinator of ARCH1057 with Dr John McNabb
- Ho'opa'a with Hālau Nā Puakea o Koʻolaupoko