Out of Africa: human prehistory in southwestern China. This project aims to establish the timing and processes of human settlement in East Asia during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Through studying a series of key archaeological sites in southwest China using the most recent innovative scientific approaches in luminescence dating, sedimentary DNA and lithic analysis, we expect to provide new insights into the human prehistory of East Asia over the last 300,000 years. This should provide signi ....Out of Africa: human prehistory in southwestern China. This project aims to establish the timing and processes of human settlement in East Asia during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Through studying a series of key archaeological sites in southwest China using the most recent innovative scientific approaches in luminescence dating, sedimentary DNA and lithic analysis, we expect to provide new insights into the human prehistory of East Asia over the last 300,000 years. This should provide significant contribution to addressing major debates about the timing, rate and route of dispersal of modern humans out of Africa, across south Asia and into Australia. Read moreRead less
Excavating MacGregor: re-connecting a colonial museum collection. Sensing the impacts of colonisation, the first Administrator of British New Guinea William MacGregor made a significant collection of objects specifically for its future citizens. This comprehensive legacy of 13 000 objects did not remain in the country but was dispersed to three Australian and six overseas museums. Our aim is to re-assemble and re-connect this material by 'excavating' its private and official components. This res ....Excavating MacGregor: re-connecting a colonial museum collection. Sensing the impacts of colonisation, the first Administrator of British New Guinea William MacGregor made a significant collection of objects specifically for its future citizens. This comprehensive legacy of 13 000 objects did not remain in the country but was dispersed to three Australian and six overseas museums. Our aim is to re-assemble and re-connect this material by 'excavating' its private and official components. This research aims to focus on the makers and traders to disentangle the social relationships embedded in the objects. Using material-centred, assemblage-based archaeological approaches, we aim to investigate how indigenous groups used objects to negotiate with the new colonial government.Read moreRead less
From the Desert to the Sea: Managing Rock Art, Country and Culture. This Project will expand our understanding of Aboriginal settlement and land-use in north-west Australia by investigating how the mythological narratives of Australia’s deserts enable the transmission of knowledge in water-limited environments. Combining traditional ecological knowledge and novel scientific approaches (e.g. anthracology, remote sensing, oxygen-isotopes) will provide new insights into human behaviours at rock art ....From the Desert to the Sea: Managing Rock Art, Country and Culture. This Project will expand our understanding of Aboriginal settlement and land-use in north-west Australia by investigating how the mythological narratives of Australia’s deserts enable the transmission of knowledge in water-limited environments. Combining traditional ecological knowledge and novel scientific approaches (e.g. anthracology, remote sensing, oxygen-isotopes) will provide new insights into human behaviours at rock art site complexes. It will develop management regimes and formal certification for Indigenous rangers while building heritage capacity in these partner communities: enabling intergenerational, culturally appropriate knowledge transfer protocols are in place to ensure sustainable economic heritage futures.Read moreRead less
Valuing Stones: obsidian stemmed tools in the creation of social complexity in Papua New Guinea. New inter-disciplinary research into the manufacture, use and exchange of highly distinctive obsidian artifacts will evaluate proposals that they signify the existence of social differentiation in the Pacific region more than 6000 years ago. The research employs new social theory, replication experiments, use-wear analyses and pioneers Raman spectroscopy to detect geological sources and identify micr ....Valuing Stones: obsidian stemmed tools in the creation of social complexity in Papua New Guinea. New inter-disciplinary research into the manufacture, use and exchange of highly distinctive obsidian artifacts will evaluate proposals that they signify the existence of social differentiation in the Pacific region more than 6000 years ago. The research employs new social theory, replication experiments, use-wear analyses and pioneers Raman spectroscopy to detect geological sources and identify microscopic residues. The study will make a significant contribution to Australian and world scholarship, continue the innovation and leadership of Australian scholars in research on stone tools and prehistoric exchange, and promote goodwill and better diplomacy with Australia's nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea. Read moreRead less
Enhancing cultural heritage management for mining operations: a multi-disciplinary approach. This project will apply a multi-disciplinary, research-based focus to cultural heritage management on mining leases in the Cape York region. It will improve relations between the mine operators and Indigenous Traditional Owners and allow them to strengthen connections with the past, while at the same time providing an enduring legacy for future generations.
Reconstructing Prehistoric Exchange of Volcanic Glasses in Far East Russia. This project examines competing theories to explain the causes for volcanic glass movement up to 700 kilometres from its source, in Far East Russia 18,000 years ago. As the earliest evidence in the world for long distance overland movement of materials, this case represents a significant innovation within human evolution. The project combines studies of production and consumption to test competing theories to explain wh ....Reconstructing Prehistoric Exchange of Volcanic Glasses in Far East Russia. This project examines competing theories to explain the causes for volcanic glass movement up to 700 kilometres from its source, in Far East Russia 18,000 years ago. As the earliest evidence in the world for long distance overland movement of materials, this case represents a significant innovation within human evolution. The project combines studies of production and consumption to test competing theories to explain why and how volcanic glass was transported. Analyses of geological outcrops, quarries/workshops, and locations of artifact use and discard over a large region enable a comprehensive reconstruction of changing patterns of behaviour between 18,000-2500 bp.Read moreRead less
Size matters: elephantoid dispersal, evolution, paleoecology and extinction in Asia. This project will investigate the natural history of the once widespread elephant lineages in Asia by studying their fossils and unlocking chemical archives from their teeth. It will provide new insights into their adaptive responses to climate change and life on islands, interactions with humans and the factors that eventually led to their demise.
Indigenous foodways in colonial Cape York Peninsula. This project aims to trace historical Indigenous foodways in colonial Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, through a program of collaborative community-based archaeological and anthropological research. Food was a key medium for cultural exchanges between Indigenous peoples and settler-colonists. The analysis of foodways is known to provide unparalleled insights on daily life, as well as the development of both cultural values and social relations ....Indigenous foodways in colonial Cape York Peninsula. This project aims to trace historical Indigenous foodways in colonial Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, through a program of collaborative community-based archaeological and anthropological research. Food was a key medium for cultural exchanges between Indigenous peoples and settler-colonists. The analysis of foodways is known to provide unparalleled insights on daily life, as well as the development of both cultural values and social relationships. This has received limited attention in archaeological investigations in Australia. Results will provide greater insight into the history behind our current society.Read moreRead less
Landscapes of production and punishment: The Tasman Peninsula 1830-77. This project aims to explore the physical effect of convict labour on landscape and convict bodies. It focuses on convict labour at Port Arthur and on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, 1830-77. The Tasman Peninsula presents a rare opportunity to develop and test methodology for examining convict labour management and control, and the systems of production in which they were engaged. This project will study the punitive, economi ....Landscapes of production and punishment: The Tasman Peninsula 1830-77. This project aims to explore the physical effect of convict labour on landscape and convict bodies. It focuses on convict labour at Port Arthur and on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, 1830-77. The Tasman Peninsula presents a rare opportunity to develop and test methodology for examining convict labour management and control, and the systems of production in which they were engaged. This project will study the punitive, economic, technological, organisational, legal and social forces that shaped convict labour and where they laboured. This should deepen the management, interpretation, public outreach and education tools of these sites.Read moreRead less
Early settlements in Upper Burma (Myanmar): an experiment in urban living. This project directly increases access for Australian research to a previously self-isolated nation, Myanmar. It contributes to better understanding of our region and our world by examining how past communities worked together and how they dealt with social and environmental stress.