The archaeology of northern New Guinea, a cultural corridor between Asia, Island Melanesia and the Pacific. The project seeks to define the chronology, and clarify the dynamics of prehistoric human colonisation, settlement, subsistence and exchange in northern New Guinea. Integrated archaeological and palaeoenvironmental sequences will show settlement, environmental change and development of agriculture across 40,000 years. The significance is in understanding a key area in the settlement of gre ....The archaeology of northern New Guinea, a cultural corridor between Asia, Island Melanesia and the Pacific. The project seeks to define the chronology, and clarify the dynamics of prehistoric human colonisation, settlement, subsistence and exchange in northern New Guinea. Integrated archaeological and palaeoenvironmental sequences will show settlement, environmental change and development of agriculture across 40,000 years. The significance is in understanding a key area in the settlement of greater Australia and the Pacific.Read moreRead less
A mechanism to authenticate porcelain treasures from the Yuan-Ming dynasties (1260-1644 AD) in China. Jingdezhen wares were the most widely exported of all Chinese porcelains with worldwide distribution and representation in ancient sites and museum collections, including many in Australia. They are often auctioned at high prices (e.g. £15.68 million for one Yuan dynasty blue-and-white jar in 2005), but their authenticity is often controversial, leading to lawsuits and attracting public interest ....A mechanism to authenticate porcelain treasures from the Yuan-Ming dynasties (1260-1644 AD) in China. Jingdezhen wares were the most widely exported of all Chinese porcelains with worldwide distribution and representation in ancient sites and museum collections, including many in Australia. They are often auctioned at high prices (e.g. £15.68 million for one Yuan dynasty blue-and-white jar in 2005), but their authenticity is often controversial, leading to lawsuits and attracting public interest. The chemical database from this research will enable unequivocal authentication of Jingdezhen porcelain prevailing world antique markets, allowing treasures to be sorted out of trashes. The project strengthens links with China, UK, USA and Japan. It greatly enhances knowledge base about China, which is having increasing interaction with Australia.Read moreRead less
Rethinking Cultural Heritage in Southeast Asia: A Case Study From the New Nation of Timor Leste. The project will contribute to the economic and socially sustainable conservation of cultural heritage in Timor Leste. Collaborative work between project personnel and Timor Leste communities and government agencies will promote good will, strengthen ties and enhance cross-cultural understanding between both countries, as will the training of Timor Leste nationals in techniques of heritage assessment ....Rethinking Cultural Heritage in Southeast Asia: A Case Study From the New Nation of Timor Leste. The project will contribute to the economic and socially sustainable conservation of cultural heritage in Timor Leste. Collaborative work between project personnel and Timor Leste communities and government agencies will promote good will, strengthen ties and enhance cross-cultural understanding between both countries, as will the training of Timor Leste nationals in techniques of heritage assessment and management. Communication of the results of the project will also enhance Australia's understanding of social and cultural issues within Timor Leste and raise Australia's profile overseas. Read moreRead less
The Adelaide Hills Face Zone: Reconstructing the cultural landscape and the identification of sites of cultural significance. Aim is to document historical cultural impacts on the landscape of the Adelaide Hills Face Zone, to identify and document sites of cultural heritage significance and to develop selected sites as cultural tourism destinations.The study will test developing methodologies for the interpretation of cultural landscapes with potential to pioneer the application of cultural heri ....The Adelaide Hills Face Zone: Reconstructing the cultural landscape and the identification of sites of cultural significance. Aim is to document historical cultural impacts on the landscape of the Adelaide Hills Face Zone, to identify and document sites of cultural heritage significance and to develop selected sites as cultural tourism destinations.The study will test developing methodologies for the interpretation of cultural landscapes with potential to pioneer the application of cultural heritage management strategies to a broad landscape. University departments and industry groups from diverse backgrounds will collaborate to develop management strategies and cultural tourism opportunities in a significant landscape. Outcomes will include improved planning strategies and new economic opportunities for semi-rural and rural communities.Read moreRead less
Understanding the early phases of Neolithic dispersal in the western Pacific. The project investigates the transition of mainland Asian cultures to a world of islands from 6000-3500 years ago by an archaeological and palaeoenvironmental study of near-Asian islands including the Philippines and Taiwan. This transition is the formative process that saw island colonisation extend out into the Pacific and Indian Oceans in subsequent millennia, and the project aims to build on earlier archaeological ....Understanding the early phases of Neolithic dispersal in the western Pacific. The project investigates the transition of mainland Asian cultures to a world of islands from 6000-3500 years ago by an archaeological and palaeoenvironmental study of near-Asian islands including the Philippines and Taiwan. This transition is the formative process that saw island colonisation extend out into the Pacific and Indian Oceans in subsequent millennia, and the project aims to build on earlier archaeological work by taking a colonisation approach that assesses resource richness and other environmental forces on the populations. Outcomes include a new and more detailed account of neolithic expansion including accounts of settlement pattern, subsistence development and environmental relationships.Read moreRead less
Bayini, Macassans, Balanda and Bininij: A Case Study of Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management and Tourism in West Arnhemland Northern Territory. Contact between cultures is a defining theme in history and is especially relevant to contemporary Australia. The timing of contact between South East Asians and Europeans with Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land is of great historical significance to Australia. This knowledge will enhance the national heritage registration efforts for cultural heri ....Bayini, Macassans, Balanda and Bininij: A Case Study of Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management and Tourism in West Arnhemland Northern Territory. Contact between cultures is a defining theme in history and is especially relevant to contemporary Australia. The timing of contact between South East Asians and Europeans with Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land is of great historical significance to Australia. This knowledge will enhance the national heritage registration efforts for cultural heritage places in the region. Conservation efforts will be undertaken for the first time for these potentially world heritage significant Indigenous cultural heritage places. Indigenous communities will potentially make significant economic gains from developing sustainable land management and cultural tourism initiatives through the results and skills obtained from his project.Read moreRead less
Chemical and isotopic fingerprinting of ancient porcelains and pottery. This project aims to establish provenance of ancient porcelains and pottery of archaeological or antique collection significance using trace element and lead-strontium-neodymium (Pb-Sr-Nd) isotopic compositions, which serve as fingerprints of porcelains and pottery of different places or ages. High quality multi-element and isotopic data will be obtained using facilities at ACQUIRE¡¯s state-of-the-arts geochemistry laborator ....Chemical and isotopic fingerprinting of ancient porcelains and pottery. This project aims to establish provenance of ancient porcelains and pottery of archaeological or antique collection significance using trace element and lead-strontium-neodymium (Pb-Sr-Nd) isotopic compositions, which serve as fingerprints of porcelains and pottery of different places or ages. High quality multi-element and isotopic data will be obtained using facilities at ACQUIRE¡¯s state-of-the-arts geochemistry laboratory. The results will have significant implications for investigation of ancient cultures, technology and trades, artefact authentication and even forensic studies. Established database is potentially patentable for commercialization in the antiquity market.Read moreRead less
Developing an Integrative Approach to Sustaining Indigenous Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management in the Top End of Australia. This project aims to assess economic, ecological and socio-cultural impacts and sustainability of Indigenous tourism, compared with other Top End land uses. The Darwin region will be used as a case study to provide the traditional owners, the Larrakia, with information on the feasibility of incorporating cultural heritage management with Indigenous tourism, by assessi ....Developing an Integrative Approach to Sustaining Indigenous Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management in the Top End of Australia. This project aims to assess economic, ecological and socio-cultural impacts and sustainability of Indigenous tourism, compared with other Top End land uses. The Darwin region will be used as a case study to provide the traditional owners, the Larrakia, with information on the feasibility of incorporating cultural heritage management with Indigenous tourism, by assessing the scientific and cultural significance, conservation needs and likely tourism interest of cultural heritage sites around Darwin. The international literature and history of Indigenous Tourism will be reviewed to identify markets, and examine policy and practice of government strategies in terms of Indigenous participation and links between mainstream Cultural Tourism, Indigenous Tourism and Indigenous rural industry. A case study database will be built to identify factors that contribute to success of Indigenous tourism projects in the Top End.Read moreRead less
Analysis and interpretation of the cultural and environmental landscape of the nationally significant Mt. Eccles lava flow: a GIS approach. The project focuses on analysis and interpretation of Digital Terrain Models, using Geographical Information Systems, produced from high resolution aerial photography of the globally significant Mt Eccles lava flow, Southwest Victoria. Via predictive modelling, we will identify the extent and status of archaeologically significant Indigenous eel aquaculture ....Analysis and interpretation of the cultural and environmental landscape of the nationally significant Mt. Eccles lava flow: a GIS approach. The project focuses on analysis and interpretation of Digital Terrain Models, using Geographical Information Systems, produced from high resolution aerial photography of the globally significant Mt Eccles lava flow, Southwest Victoria. Via predictive modelling, we will identify the extent and status of archaeologically significant Indigenous eel aquaculture systems and dwellings; investigate land modification through simulation of past water flows; design protective measures for ecological/cultural heritage; provide a database for eco/cultural tourism and educational interpretation and ongoing archaeological and palaeoenvironmental research. The resulting information will be incorporated into management plans forming the basis of sustainable land/wetland projects and World Heritage nomination.projects and World Heritage nomination.Read moreRead less