Wal Ambrose

{{Short description|Experimental archaeologist (1933–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox academic | name = Wal Ambrose | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = {{#statements:P18}} | image_size = | alt = | caption = {{#statements:P2096}} | birth_date = 1933 | birth_place = {{#statements:P19}} | death_date = 9 January 2024 | death_place = {{#statements:P20}} | resting_place = {{#statements:P119}} | resting_place_coordinates =  | citizenship = | other_names = Wallace Raymond Ambrose | occupation = Archaeologist | known_for = | spouse = | children = | awards = {{#statements:P166}} | signature =  | signature_alt = | alma_mater = {{#statements:P69}} | doctoral_advisor = {{#statements:P184}} | academic_advisors = {{#statements:P1066}} | influences = | workplaces = {{#statements:P108}} | doctoral_students = {{#statements:P185}} | notable_students = | influenced = | website =  | footnotes = | fields = | patrons = | thesis1_title = | thesis1_url = | thesis1_year = | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = }}

'''Wallace Raymond Ambrose''', known as Wal, (1933 – 9 January 2024) was an archaeologist in New Zealand and Australia. Ambrose was one of the first conservators in Australia, and established the Conservation Section of the School of Pacific Studies at the Australian National University.

== Life == Ambrose was born in 1933, and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. He earned a Diploma in Fine Arts, and then worked with Jack Golson at the University of Auckland, being employed as a technician in 1955. There Ambrose was involved in excavation, photography, and illustration, as well as in writing and editing papers. Golson was appointed as a Fellow in Prehistory at the Australian National University in 1961, and Ambrose followed two years later, as a research assistant. While Ambrose had studied geology and anthropology courses at undergraduate level during his time at Auckland, the credits he had earned were not recognised by the ANU, and he did not gain his bachelor's degree. He did earn, however, a Diploma of Archaeological Conservation at the Institute of Archaeology in London, spending two years in London with his wife and children.<ref name=":1">{{Cite Q|Q136270293}}</ref>

Ambrose was one of the first conservators in Australia. He is known for establishing the Conservation Section of the School of Pacific Studies at the Australian National University. He remained at ANU until 1981.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Paul |title=In memorium: Wal Ambrose |url=https://aiccm.org.au/network-news/in-memorium-wal-ambrose/ |access-date=21 March 2026 |website=Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Ambrose studied in the field in Australia and Papua New Guinea, at Kuk Swamp with Winifred Mumford, and Motupore, with Jim Allen. In 1970 he established the archaeology laboratory at the University of Papua New Guinea. He developed new techniques for preserving and freeze-drying wet wooden artefacts.<ref name=":1" />

Ambrose retired in 1998. In 2006, he was awarded a Doctor of Letters by the ANU, on the basis of 42 published papers.<ref name=":1" />

Ambrose died on 9 January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Remembrance... |url=https://chl.anu.edu.au/content-centre/article/news/remembrance |access-date=21 March 2026 |website=School of Culture, History & Language |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/3296649 Interview with Ambrose], by Jan Lyall, 2004, Conservation and preservation profession in Australia oral history project, National Library of Australia

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ambrose, Wal}} Category:1933 births Category:2024 deaths Category:Australian archaeologists Category:New Zealand academics Category:New Zealand archaeologists Category:Academic staff of the Australian National University Category:Australian National University alumni