Geography in Conversation
Northern Australia hosts some of the oldest and most spectacular bodies of rock art in Australia, and the world. Recent investigations, including the Agayrr Bamangay Milbi project at Cape York, have uncovered art and artifacts that document the life-ways of generations of First Nations people, from their original settlement, through major environmental changes, to the impact of European invasion. Indigenous archaeology not only brings this art to the public view but increasingly drives engagement with indigenous cultural heritage and incorporates indigenous knowledge systems to improve our understanding of the past. Our panel of distinguished Australian archaelogists will present on their work and discuss the rich indigenous history these investigations have uncovered.
Speakers
Professor Lynley Wallis of Griffith University is an Australian archaeologist with more than twenty-five years' experience in remote area fieldwork. Her major research achievements represent a highly significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in Australian and global archaeology. With colleagues she presented new models for the colonisation of both offshore islands and desert regions which challenged fundamental notions about the timing and nature of colonisation of Australia, resulting in paradigm shifts. Lynley also played a key role in the recent re-excavation and analysis of Australia’s oldest evidence for human occupation, the oft-cited 65,000 year old site of Madjedbebe in northern Australia, and is now a leading researcher in the Agayrr Bamangay Milbi project.
Professor Bryce Barker is a professor in archaeology at the University of Southern Queensland. He has worked extensively with First Nations Traditional Owners on archaeological projects on the central Queensland coast, northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. His research has been widely published in local, national and international journals and is the author or co-author of several books relating to his research. Current projects include the UniSQ Australian Research Council (ARC) funded Discovery grant project, ‘Pathways Through Sahul’ examining the evidence for the early movement of people into northern Australia and the Griffith University led ARC Linkage funded Agayrr Bamangay Milbi project which in partnership with several First Nations communities is recording cultural heritage places on Cape York Peninsula to provide a framework for sustainable management for future generations.
Dr Jillian Huntley leads the Safeguarding Heritage theme in the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research and is the convenor of Indigenous Studies major within the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science. Her research centres on the resilience of Indigenous cultures through adaptation to sweeping environmental and social changes across the human history of Australasia. She investigates cultural reisilience through the materiality of rock art and mineral pigments. A field archaeologist with 25 years' experience across industry and academia, Jillian strives to work collaboratively with Indigenous custodians and other key stakeholders to co-design and conduct accountable archaeological/conservation research. Her work has taken place on Indigenous lands and waterways across the rugged sandstone escarpments of southeastern Cape York Peninsula, the northwest Kimberley, Sydney Basin and western Arnhem Land; the BIF gorges of the central Pilbara; the limestone caves of Island Southeast Asia; and the remote volcanic islands of Eastern Torres Strait.
Each speaker will have 8 minutes to spotlight their work. During the Q&A forum the audience will have up to 60 minutes to ask questions of the experts on their research.
Light refreshments are served on arrival. This is a chance to network with colleagues and friends interested in this topic.
Date: Tuesday 24 February
Time: 5:30 pm light refreshments – doors open @ 5:15
6:00 – 6:30 pm Presentations
6:30 – 7:30 Q&A Forum
7:30 – 8:00 Mingling
Place: Gregory Place, Level 1, 28 Fortescue St. Spring Hill
Cost: $5.00 for refreshments, included in registration.
Cost: $5.00 Members
$10.00 Non-Members
Free Students
