Colleen Parsley, M.A.
Colleen Parsley is an experienced archaeologist who leads Aquilla Archaeology, specializing in bioarchaeology, mortuary practice and community‑centred fieldwork.
Colleen Parsley, M.A. has many years experience as an expert in Northwest Coast archaeology and particularly in Coast Salish archaeology.
Over the years, she developed extensive bioarchaeology and mortuary expertise in coastal archaeology settings in BC. Intersections between ethics, archaeology, colonialism and interactions with the dead are research themes commonly explored in Colleen's work.
Colleen also uses 3D laser and other technologies as tools to enhance documentation of Northwest Coast indigenous heritage.
Colleen has directed multi-year archaeological excavation projects and has gone on to manage projects for municipal, provincial, First Nation communities and private sectors. Colleen's project management portfolio include large scale projects such as large scale infrastructure for municipalities, pipelines, and mining projects but also smaller projects such as residential development, dock installations, and not-for-profit heritage work.
In 2020 Colleen completed the Stz'uminus Origins Project which is the largest study of ancestral human remains undertaken from in British Columbia. Under Colleen’s direction, Aquilla Archaeology has grown extensively since 2008.