Nikole Wills is the anthracologist and archaeologist behind Lignum Lab. Nikole completed a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Anthropology in 2012. After several rewarding years working in the disability sector, Nikole returned to Otago University for postgraduate study in Archaeology. During her study, Nikole gained experience with excavation and survey of historic archaeological sites including gold mining sites in Otago and artefact analysis. She was also fortunate to join excavations and surveys at Māori kainga and mahinga kai areas at Red Cliffs, Papanui, and Horotiu.

In 2019, Nikole completed her master’s thesis, an anthracological study of Māori-plant interactions at Cook’s Beach (Pukaki), Coromandel based on a dendrological and taxonomic study of wood charcoal remains. In addition to her principal research, Nikole also had the opportunity to develop her anthracology skills through Marsden funded projects at Horotiu and working with legacy charcoal collections from the Chatham Islands, housed in the Otago Museum.

After completing her study, Nikole took on the role of Archaeologist at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, for the Otago/Southland area office. In this role, Nikole administered the archaeological provisions of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 and worked to increase public awareness and understanding of archaeological sites and their importance, and protection, in New Zealand. Nikole had the opportunity to be involved in outreach and survey projects across Otago and Southland, investigating and recording sites from throughout the history of the area. She also had the opportunity to meet the kaitiaki and communities protecting and advocating for these sites, seeing firsthand the importance archaeological sites hold in the minds and spirits of people now and into the future.

Throughout her scientific studies, Nikole become enamored with the images she was seeing under the microscope, appreciating the unique perspective of seeing wood grain so close. This ignited a second passion for looking at this under the microscope to see the minute features that make a forest giant like the kauri or bright yellow kowhai flower what it is. Nikole started showing friends and family images she was taking for her thesis work, sewing the seed which would develop a passionate interest in photomicrography and providing an opportunity for others to enjoy the beauty of things too small for the human eye to see. Nikole uses photomicrography to show that science isn’t just stuffy words in papers, its natural and beautiful, and ready for appreciation.

In 2023, Nikole began Lignum Lab with a vision to be a part of the protection and appreciation of archaeology and nature and to continue to explore the connection between our history and the natural world.