Prehistoric Joy

If being powerless makes you jumpy, then being poor makes you envious. You notice when other people are happy and you become keenly aware of those things that they have, that make them happy, that you do not have. Sometimes, you know better than they do about what brings them joy.

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.

About the Author

Andrew Sneddon is co-owner and a director of Australia's largest specialist heritage consultancy, Extent Heritage. 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.