The orientalist fallacy: Greek-Persian enmity in ancient Athens. This project aims to investigate classical Greek depictions of Persians and their mythological cognates across the 200 years of the Persian Empire. The mid-sixth century BC Persian conquest of West Asia introduced a dangerous neighbour to the Aegean. The historical record focuses on enmity between Athenians and Persians, especially after the Persians sacked Athens in 480-79. The unofficial record, however, tells a different story. ....The orientalist fallacy: Greek-Persian enmity in ancient Athens. This project aims to investigate classical Greek depictions of Persians and their mythological cognates across the 200 years of the Persian Empire. The mid-sixth century BC Persian conquest of West Asia introduced a dangerous neighbour to the Aegean. The historical record focuses on enmity between Athenians and Persians, especially after the Persians sacked Athens in 480-79. The unofficial record, however, tells a different story. Representations in Greek vase-painting exhibit a range of psychological responses beyond hostility, including accommodation and curiosity. The project will yield insight into changes in private thought as well as public representation and undercut the dominant paradigm that presumes enmity is the basic form of cultural exchange.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
Crisis as Opportunity: Societal Change in Early Middle Kingdom Egypt. The project aims to address political and social shifts in the ancient Egyptian early Middle Kingdom c. 4000 years ago. For the first time, and with exclusive study concessions from the government of Egypt, material data of the two most significant cemeteries of the period will be investigated. The project not only expects to generate new knowledge about human interaction during crisis but will utilise interdisciplinary resear ....Crisis as Opportunity: Societal Change in Early Middle Kingdom Egypt. The project aims to address political and social shifts in the ancient Egyptian early Middle Kingdom c. 4000 years ago. For the first time, and with exclusive study concessions from the government of Egypt, material data of the two most significant cemeteries of the period will be investigated. The project not only expects to generate new knowledge about human interaction during crisis but will utilise interdisciplinary research strategies to investigate the emerging opportunities, such as social mobility, for individuals from all strata of society. It will provide significant benefits such as understanding the mechanics of post-crisis political leadership and the cultural impact that enabled the classical period of ancient Egypt to emerge.Read moreRead less
A spring of silver, a treasury in the earth: coinage and wealth in archaic Athens. The purpose of the project is to study the impact of locally mined silver on the public treasury of the Athenians, and thus on the developing political economy of this important city-state during the years c.550-480 BC, by examining its employment for the minting of coins.
The Archaeology of the Queensland Native Mounted Police. This project plans to conduct a systematic archaeological study of the Queensland Native Mounted Police. While previous studies have focused on policing activities as revealed by the historical record, this project will combine material, oral and historical evidence from a range of sites across central and northern Queensland to understand more fully the activities, lives and legacies of the Native Police. This project aims to provide an a ....The Archaeology of the Queensland Native Mounted Police. This project plans to conduct a systematic archaeological study of the Queensland Native Mounted Police. While previous studies have focused on policing activities as revealed by the historical record, this project will combine material, oral and historical evidence from a range of sites across central and northern Queensland to understand more fully the activities, lives and legacies of the Native Police. This project aims to provide an alternative lens through which to understand the nature of frontier conflict, initiate new understandings of the Aboriginal and settler experience, and contribute to global studies of Indigenous responses to colonialism.Read moreRead less
Traditions, Transformations and Technology in Aboriginal Australia. This project aims to understand the development and spread of technological systems in pre-contact Aboriginal Australia and the connection between that diffusion process and the major expansion of Pama-Nyungan languages spoken over much of our country. Fundamental change occurred in Aboriginal societies over the last ten millennia, as new technologies and languages were adopted during a period of climatic shifts. Using archaeolo ....Traditions, Transformations and Technology in Aboriginal Australia. This project aims to understand the development and spread of technological systems in pre-contact Aboriginal Australia and the connection between that diffusion process and the major expansion of Pama-Nyungan languages spoken over much of our country. Fundamental change occurred in Aboriginal societies over the last ten millennia, as new technologies and languages were adopted during a period of climatic shifts. Using archaeological observations and statistical methods from evolutionary biology, the project plans to map the spread of ancient technologies across the continent and compare the direction and sequence of that expansion to the reconstructed pattern of language spread. The result is expected to be a new understanding of the evolution of Aboriginal cultural systems.Read moreRead less
Settlement sustainability and societal change in the ancient Mediterranean: the case of Zagora. A settlement becomes a community when its physical design supports its social structure and thrives when diversity secures its economic base. Probing the failure of once-prosperous centers like 8th-century BC Zagora will illuminate past approaches to issues of settlement sustainability in the face of environmental, social and economic challenge.
Evolution of the Economic Landscape in Taiwan: Looking Inward and Outward. Over several centuries since 4000 BC, the social-ecological setting of Taiwan transformed from low-impact hunting-foraging to high-density village residence and intensive farming. Meanwhile, it was reshaped by new strategic relations with the outside world through migration and trade networks. New research aims to investigate how these long-term developments inter-related and transcended changing climate, natural habitats ....Evolution of the Economic Landscape in Taiwan: Looking Inward and Outward. Over several centuries since 4000 BC, the social-ecological setting of Taiwan transformed from low-impact hunting-foraging to high-density village residence and intensive farming. Meanwhile, it was reshaped by new strategic relations with the outside world through migration and trade networks. New research aims to investigate how these long-term developments inter-related and transcended changing climate, natural habitats, population size, and other factors. The research is designed to address how a complex economic landscape system developed and sustained itself through ongoing challenges, by concentrating on Taiwan as a uniquely informative example of combined intensive internal land-use and external partnerships.Read moreRead less
The emergence of farming beyond the Fertile Crescent at Boncuklu Höyük, Central Turkey. International collaborative research at Boncuklu Höyük will identify when farming first spread beyond Asia's Fertile Crescent 10,500 years ago. In answering whether migrating farmers caused this key event in global history it will refine our knowledge of the link between migration and culture change relevant to understanding both past and present.
Megalithic Connections: Imperilled Cultural Heritage in Laos and India. This interdisciplinary project aims to document and explore the cultural connections between the geographically disparate megalithic cultures of Laos and India and create an enduring digital record of these threatened cultural assets. Integrating archaeological science and pioneering data capture technologies, the project will create globally significant new knowledge; advance heritage management processes including transfer ....Megalithic Connections: Imperilled Cultural Heritage in Laos and India. This interdisciplinary project aims to document and explore the cultural connections between the geographically disparate megalithic cultures of Laos and India and create an enduring digital record of these threatened cultural assets. Integrating archaeological science and pioneering data capture technologies, the project will create globally significant new knowledge; advance heritage management processes including transferrable exploratory technologies; and help underpin economic, social and cultural benefit in these regions. With an increasing awareness of the need to conserve global cultural assets, Australia will take the lead in developing breakthrough technological solutions and new cross-country research and practitioner capability.Read moreRead less