The evolution of landscape use among modern humans. This project aims to understand the evolution of humans’ adaptive landscape use. The dispersal of modern humans from Africa occurred relatively late in our evolutionary history, which suggests a complex pattern of behavioural evolution in our species. Flexible systems of landscape use underpin human adaptation to different environments resulting in our late expansion and modern global distribution. The project will use a configuration of archae ....The evolution of landscape use among modern humans. This project aims to understand the evolution of humans’ adaptive landscape use. The dispersal of modern humans from Africa occurred relatively late in our evolutionary history, which suggests a complex pattern of behavioural evolution in our species. Flexible systems of landscape use underpin human adaptation to different environments resulting in our late expansion and modern global distribution. The project will use a configuration of archaeological and environmental information recovered from around the Doring River, South Africa. The project is expected to open a new avenue of research into the evolution of human behaviour, and address key scientific and general-interest questions about humanity’s emergence.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100160
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,175.00
Summary
The environment and human origins in the Kalahari, South Africa. This project aims to test and expand on existing understandings of early modern human origins and human-environment interaction. South Africa has a rich archaeological record documenting the origins of our species. However, current research is biased toward coastal rockshelter sites. This project will expand the narrative of modern human origins away from the coast to investigate the distribution and success of early modern humans ....The environment and human origins in the Kalahari, South Africa. This project aims to test and expand on existing understandings of early modern human origins and human-environment interaction. South Africa has a rich archaeological record documenting the origins of our species. However, current research is biased toward coastal rockshelter sites. This project will expand the narrative of modern human origins away from the coast to investigate the distribution and success of early modern humans in the deep interior of the country. Through the excavation and dating of newly discovered deposits at Gamohana Hill North Rockshelter, archaeological materials analysis, and local studies of palaeohydrology, this study will generate a new record of early human-environment interaction. Its methods will inform the study of comparable sites in Australia.Read moreRead less
Indian Ocean globalisation and the westward Austronesian expansion. This project aims to apply a multi-analytical archaeological science approach to investigate how cross-cultural interaction transformed peoples, societies and environments in the Indian Ocean. It plans to trace the movement of people, plants, animals, goods and practices to Madagascar and the Comoros over 1000 years ago in order to critically assess evidence for early long-distance contacts between Southeast Asia and Africa. The ....Indian Ocean globalisation and the westward Austronesian expansion. This project aims to apply a multi-analytical archaeological science approach to investigate how cross-cultural interaction transformed peoples, societies and environments in the Indian Ocean. It plans to trace the movement of people, plants, animals, goods and practices to Madagascar and the Comoros over 1000 years ago in order to critically assess evidence for early long-distance contacts between Southeast Asia and Africa. The project seeks to enhance Australia’s capacity for archaeological science and deliver significant social and cultural benefits by shedding light on the history of the diverse but interconnected Indo-Pacific world in which Australia now occupies a central geopolitical position.Read moreRead less