How Do Stone Tools Reflect Cognition Among the First Australians and their Precursors? The popularity of the Indonesian 'hobbit' (Homo floresiensis) discovery provides an ideal platform for interpreting Australasian prehistory to a wider community. This project explores the arrival of modern humans in Indonesia, their interaction with 'hobbits', and the colonisation of Australia by comparing the different ways these hominins made stone tools. Although research indicates a significant level of ....How Do Stone Tools Reflect Cognition Among the First Australians and their Precursors? The popularity of the Indonesian 'hobbit' (Homo floresiensis) discovery provides an ideal platform for interpreting Australasian prehistory to a wider community. This project explores the arrival of modern humans in Indonesia, their interaction with 'hobbits', and the colonisation of Australia by comparing the different ways these hominins made stone tools. Although research indicates a significant level of behavioural unity in our genus, 'hobbits' were not like us. 'Us' refers, of course, to modern humans, and hence this research is of global relevance. By applying a 'design space' model to toolmaking in the past, this project will demonstrate that the earliest trends in technology apply equally to human groups throughout the world. Read moreRead less
Raising and Solving New Questions in China's Late-Imperial Demographic History, and their Economic and Environmental Implications. Examining China's premodern demographic history shows that age-specific rates of births and deaths are a crucial element usually missing in reconstructing the local histories needed to refine nationwide generalizations. They also raise unanticipated questions, relating for example to diet, stress, and disease . The extensive data on ?virtuous women? in local gazettee ....Raising and Solving New Questions in China's Late-Imperial Demographic History, and their Economic and Environmental Implications. Examining China's premodern demographic history shows that age-specific rates of births and deaths are a crucial element usually missing in reconstructing the local histories needed to refine nationwide generalizations. They also raise unanticipated questions, relating for example to diet, stress, and disease . The extensive data on ?virtuous women? in local gazetteers, never previously utilized, show wide local variations in expectancy of life. The project will determine parts of this spatial pattern, and that of fertility where information is systematic enough. These findings will be interpreted by integrating them with the local histories of women's experiences. Read moreRead less
Slicing India: a new perspective for understanding contemporary India. This project exploits techniques of slice history, pioneered in AUSTRALIANS: A HISTORICAL LIBRARY. Using the 12-yearly religious festival, the Kumbh Mela, to define its slice years, the study compares over time the extent to which men and women were involved with, or divorced from, the ideas of an Indian nation, political decision-making and institutions, religious practices, a wider economy and the ecology of their dwelling ....Slicing India: a new perspective for understanding contemporary India. This project exploits techniques of slice history, pioneered in AUSTRALIANS: A HISTORICAL LIBRARY. Using the 12-yearly religious festival, the Kumbh Mela, to define its slice years, the study compares over time the extent to which men and women were involved with, or divorced from, the ideas of an Indian nation, political decision-making and institutions, religious practices, a wider economy and the ecology of their dwelling places. The Project aims to identify neglected aspects of politics and society in modern India and thus sharpen understanding of India's current condition and potential.Read moreRead less
Molecular Archaeology: Carbon isotope analysis of amino acids as a means to investigate diets, physiology, metabolism and palaeoenvironment. The investigation of the bones of past societies and animals at the molecular level opens up a whole array of alternative data about palaeodiet and environment. Investigating the past in this way provides a unique perspective about how diet and health have changed in humans and about how animals and the environment have changed. When we understand the past ....Molecular Archaeology: Carbon isotope analysis of amino acids as a means to investigate diets, physiology, metabolism and palaeoenvironment. The investigation of the bones of past societies and animals at the molecular level opens up a whole array of alternative data about palaeodiet and environment. Investigating the past in this way provides a unique perspective about how diet and health have changed in humans and about how animals and the environment have changed. When we understand the past in this manner we can better understand current health issues linked to diet and how the environment and climate is changing.Read moreRead less
The Baining languages: a window on the history of Island Melanesia. Papua New Guinea is Australia's nearest neighbour. The province of East New Britain is one of Papua New Guinea's most economically important regions due to its significant natural resources. However, it is also home to long-standing ethnic tensions over the distribution of land and resources. This project will increase Australia's understanding of the languages, cultures, history and politics of the province, and strengthen Aust ....The Baining languages: a window on the history of Island Melanesia. Papua New Guinea is Australia's nearest neighbour. The province of East New Britain is one of Papua New Guinea's most economically important regions due to its significant natural resources. However, it is also home to long-standing ethnic tensions over the distribution of land and resources. This project will increase Australia's understanding of the languages, cultures, history and politics of the province, and strengthen Australia's ability to make informed economic and political decisions in the area. The project will reinforce Australia's leadership in the field of Melanesian Studies, train postgraduate students, and strengthen strategic ties in the region.Read moreRead less
The Development of Quantum Gravity. This research constitutes the first large-scale effort to unpack and make sense of the development of quantum gravity. Given the pressing nature of this problem and its importance for our worldview, such a study would be of great benefit to several sectors of the academic community. By giving a global perspective of the field from its origins those outside the field will be able to appreciate its importance and its place in contemporary physics. Quantum gravi ....The Development of Quantum Gravity. This research constitutes the first large-scale effort to unpack and make sense of the development of quantum gravity. Given the pressing nature of this problem and its importance for our worldview, such a study would be of great benefit to several sectors of the academic community. By giving a global perspective of the field from its origins those outside the field will be able to appreciate its importance and its place in contemporary physics. Quantum gravity researchers will be able to see how their preferred approach fits into the web of research programmes, thus opening the door for greater collaboration between the various approaches. This research will greatly enhance Australia's position in this breakthrough science.Read moreRead less
The origins of human colonization in East Polynesia and their relevance to maritime migration. The Indo-Pacific is a world of islands, including Australia, which was colonized during prehistory in several phases of migration, the last and longest of which was in East Polynesia. Extensive excavation of a large, waterlogged archaeological site of this era in French Polynesia will provide a better understanding of the period, society and external relationships of the early migrants, and of the proc ....The origins of human colonization in East Polynesia and their relevance to maritime migration. The Indo-Pacific is a world of islands, including Australia, which was colonized during prehistory in several phases of migration, the last and longest of which was in East Polynesia. Extensive excavation of a large, waterlogged archaeological site of this era in French Polynesia will provide a better understanding of the period, society and external relationships of the early migrants, and of the processes of prehistoric maritime migration which link Australian peoples to those of our neighbours across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.Read moreRead less
Colonization of the Mariana Islands and its implications for Indo-Pacific prehistory. The Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, is linked by seas and oceans that have been crossed by colonists in ancient as well as recent times. The most significant prehistoric migration was the movement of people out of southern China, into Taiwan, Island Asia and from there into Micronesia and across the Pacific. New investigations of the oldest sites in the Marianas will provide better understanding of ea ....Colonization of the Mariana Islands and its implications for Indo-Pacific prehistory. The Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, is linked by seas and oceans that have been crossed by colonists in ancient as well as recent times. The most significant prehistoric migration was the movement of people out of southern China, into Taiwan, Island Asia and from there into Micronesia and across the Pacific. New investigations of the oldest sites in the Marianas will provide better understanding of early prehistoric maritime capacity, the connections between migrant groups who settled the islands of Asia and Oceania, and the processes of Indo-Pacific colonization. Improved knowledge of our neighbours capabilities and history is of clear national benefit to Australia.Read moreRead less
Chinese Middle to Late Pleistocene hominid behaviour: exploring cultural variability through time and space. This research will contribute to the understanding of the spread of our species out of Africa 2 million years ago into East Asia. It examines the range of hominid behaviours and ecological circumstances that led to the successful colonisation of China by Homo erectus. It also addresses the vexed question of the relationship between H. erectus and H. sapiens. Did the latter evolve in situ ....Chinese Middle to Late Pleistocene hominid behaviour: exploring cultural variability through time and space. This research will contribute to the understanding of the spread of our species out of Africa 2 million years ago into East Asia. It examines the range of hominid behaviours and ecological circumstances that led to the successful colonisation of China by Homo erectus. It also addresses the vexed question of the relationship between H. erectus and H. sapiens. Did the latter evolve in situ from their antecedents as some suggest, or did H. sapiens replace H. erectus, in the great diaspora from Africa 120,000 years ago?Read moreRead less
Elam in the 2nd millennium B.C.: A multi-regional approach. Although it was one of the Near East's most powerful ancient states, Elam has received less scholarly attention than its neighbours. Using an innovative approach targeting three unexcavated sites (Deh-e Now, Tepe Senjar and Liyan) in Iran, this project aims to investigate Elam at its height during the 2nd millennium B.C. Archaeological excavations will be undertaken over a 5 year period and materials which have rarely received attention ....Elam in the 2nd millennium B.C.: A multi-regional approach. Although it was one of the Near East's most powerful ancient states, Elam has received less scholarly attention than its neighbours. Using an innovative approach targeting three unexcavated sites (Deh-e Now, Tepe Senjar and Liyan) in Iran, this project aims to investigate Elam at its height during the 2nd millennium B.C. Archaeological excavations will be undertaken over a 5 year period and materials which have rarely received attention in the past will be analysed using a wide range of scientific techniques. The project will be the first major investigation of Elam in almost 25 years.Read moreRead less