Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100464
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,724.00
Summary
Conservatism as a dynamic response to the diffusion of innovations. This project aims to investigate how resistance to new and foreign practices and technologies can be a dynamic response to rapid cultural change, rather than a failure to innovate. The project will examine the underlying factors that influence innovation adoption and rejection. It will examine settlement structure and ritual activities in later prehistoric Cornwall, which was simultaneously a key node in the prehistoric economy ....Conservatism as a dynamic response to the diffusion of innovations. This project aims to investigate how resistance to new and foreign practices and technologies can be a dynamic response to rapid cultural change, rather than a failure to innovate. The project will examine the underlying factors that influence innovation adoption and rejection. It will examine settlement structure and ritual activities in later prehistoric Cornwall, which was simultaneously a key node in the prehistoric economy and a periphery, with a distinctly local material culture and way of life. The intended outcome is a model of innovation and conservatism, linking the uptake of new ideas and technologies to participation in local and more widespread networks of contact and exchange. This project will increase the profile of Australian research in archaeology and technology on the world stage.Read moreRead less
Western Torres Strait Cultural History Project. This Project provides the first archaeological study on long-term human presence in Torres Strait. Objectives are to research 1), the antiquity of earliest occupation, and 2), the subsequent emergence of ethnographically documented cultural practices through excavation of key village, rockshelter and ceremonial sites in Western Torres Strait. Current evidence suggests the complex maritime lifeways of Islanders developed <2600 years BP. We will exca ....Western Torres Strait Cultural History Project. This Project provides the first archaeological study on long-term human presence in Torres Strait. Objectives are to research 1), the antiquity of earliest occupation, and 2), the subsequent emergence of ethnographically documented cultural practices through excavation of key village, rockshelter and ceremonial sites in Western Torres Strait. Current evidence suggests the complex maritime lifeways of Islanders developed <2600 years BP. We will excavate sites on remnant landforms along the ancient landbridge and colonisation pathway between mainland Australia and New Guinea. Results will provide internationally significant insights into Australia's place in an interconnected world during prehistory. International publications will be produced.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354580
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Sustainable Futures through Understanding Past Human Responses to Environmental Change. This Network brings together researchers within archaeology and environmental sciences to develop cross-disciplinary and internationally comparative approaches to understanding past human responses to rapid environmental change. Integration of skills and perspectives from the Humanities and Sciences will create a generation of scholars able to work across different theoretical frameworks to formulate credible ....Sustainable Futures through Understanding Past Human Responses to Environmental Change. This Network brings together researchers within archaeology and environmental sciences to develop cross-disciplinary and internationally comparative approaches to understanding past human responses to rapid environmental change. Integration of skills and perspectives from the Humanities and Sciences will create a generation of scholars able to work across different theoretical frameworks to formulate credible responses to the challenge of creating sustainable societies in a changing world. Through a greater understanding of past societies' reactions to rapid environmental change, the Network will build on existing leading edge research and create a more informed guide to a sustainable future.Read moreRead less
Indigenous heritage: working ancient wetlands for social benefit and cultural understanding. This research will answer important theoretical and practical questions about Aboriginal community engagement with Heritage research. It will generate significant archaeological outcomes on the nature of Indigenous occupation in ancient eastern Australian landscapes, and this research will also improve the employability of young Aboriginal people.
The recognition, interpretation and management of significant rock art and related dreaming (Jukurrpa) sites on the Canning Stock Route, Western Australia. The Canning Stock Route is an iconic linear transect of profound importance to a variety of parties: the original inhabitants of the Western Desert, surveyors and drovers who used it in the 20th century and more recently tourists and outback adventurers. Systematic documentation, mapping and synthesis of Indigenous cultural values of the Cann ....The recognition, interpretation and management of significant rock art and related dreaming (Jukurrpa) sites on the Canning Stock Route, Western Australia. The Canning Stock Route is an iconic linear transect of profound importance to a variety of parties: the original inhabitants of the Western Desert, surveyors and drovers who used it in the 20th century and more recently tourists and outback adventurers. Systematic documentation, mapping and synthesis of Indigenous cultural values of the Canning Stock Route will provide a unique resource of benefit to traditional custodians as well as the wider community. Accurate information on sites, places and landscapes and their cultural and scientific values should underpin successful management, protection of sites and sustainable use of the Canning Stock Route into the future.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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101703
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,505.00
Summary
Mission archaeology and colonial encounters in Southern Vanuatu. The remains of Christian missions in southern Vanuatu are important heritage sites for local communities, and for their place in world history as part of one of the final frontiers of European colonialism. This project explores these sites to produce a new picture of everyday life that includes the perspectives of missionaries and native people.
3000 Years of settlement and interaction in southern Vanuatu. This project aims to conduct an archaeological survey of Vanuatu. One of archaeology's most significant contributions is providing models for the emergence of cultural diversity through time. Vanuatu is one of the most diverse regions on Earth. The southern islands were an important hub in early settlement and long-term inter-island interactions of Island Melanesia. Yet little is known about the origins of cultural contacts and divers ....3000 Years of settlement and interaction in southern Vanuatu. This project aims to conduct an archaeological survey of Vanuatu. One of archaeology's most significant contributions is providing models for the emergence of cultural diversity through time. Vanuatu is one of the most diverse regions on Earth. The southern islands were an important hub in early settlement and long-term inter-island interactions of Island Melanesia. Yet little is known about the origins of cultural contacts and diversity in the area. A major archaeological survey of the Polynesian outliers Futuna and Aniwa and neighbouring islands Tanna and Aneityum would greatly improve our knowledge of settlement patterns, long-distance exchange, and cross-cultural interaction in the region, from initial Lapita settlement 3000 years ago through to the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 1860s.Read moreRead less
Wadi Rayyan and Olive Production in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages (4500-3000 BCE). This project seeks funds to excavate two sites in the Wadi Rayyan in the highlands of Jordan. This previously unexplored area of Jordan is at high altitude and an excellent region for olive growing. Both sites show evidence of agricultural processing (features cut into the bedrock) and both show evidence of Chalcolithic/EBA occupation (4500-3000 BCE). Excavation will reveal the relationship between the ch ....Wadi Rayyan and Olive Production in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages (4500-3000 BCE). This project seeks funds to excavate two sites in the Wadi Rayyan in the highlands of Jordan. This previously unexplored area of Jordan is at high altitude and an excellent region for olive growing. Both sites show evidence of agricultural processing (features cut into the bedrock) and both show evidence of Chalcolithic/EBA occupation (4500-3000 BCE). Excavation will reveal the relationship between the changing economy in the Late Chalcolithic (4000-3500 BCE) and the changing pattern of settlement in the region through excavations at these key sites. Specifically this project will investigate the links between early olive processing and early complex society.Read moreRead less
Persistence and transformation in Ancestral Oceanic Society: the archaeology of the first 1500 years in the Vanuatu archipelago. Supporting research programs with smaller Pacific Island neighbours fosters Australia's relationship with those countries generally. The project will contribute to regional capacity building in the areas of archaeology, heritage studies and management. This research will enhance understanding of the region's deep human past and the way it articulates historically with ....Persistence and transformation in Ancestral Oceanic Society: the archaeology of the first 1500 years in the Vanuatu archipelago. Supporting research programs with smaller Pacific Island neighbours fosters Australia's relationship with those countries generally. The project will contribute to regional capacity building in the areas of archaeology, heritage studies and management. This research will enhance understanding of the region's deep human past and the way it articulates historically with the rest of the world. It will advance Australia's understanding of its nearest neighbours as well as provide those neighbours with information that goes towards strengthening national identity. The proposed research has direct relevance to ongoing debates within Australian and World archaeology and related disciplines, and fosters international collaborative links. Read moreRead less