thea kinsela project officer young archaeologists’ program
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30/07/2013
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Teaching depth studies in Ancient World History
Thea KinselaProject OfficerYoung Archaeologists’ ProgramLa Trobe University
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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High school teaching, university lecturing, research and contract experience
Archaeology field experience:
Western Sydney –Year 10 work experience
Port Arthur – 2011
Czech Republic – 2012
Australia – 2011-ongoing
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
1. Clarify important historical and archaeological terms of reference
2. Define ‘Ancient Australia’3. Cover critical points in the ‘Ancient Australia’
timeline4. Discuss ways to approach the topic ‘Ancient
Australia’ in the classroom5. Examine some stone tools
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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The study of the human past using scientific analysis of material remains
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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What? Where? When? Who? Why? How?
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Sites Surveys Excavations
Tools Food remains Other disciplines
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Archaeology
Anthropology
Geology
History
Geography
PalaeoclimatologyBiology
Art history
Ecology
Palaeontology
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
But is it possible to define the ‘history’ of Ancient Australia?
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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A record or account of past events
All that is preserved or remembered of the past
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Challenges from a ‘Western’ perspective: No written records
No visible architecture or infrastructure
Historical sources often biased
Approaches: Evidence
Theory
Interpretation
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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What is it? Where did it start? When did it start? Who came here? Why did they come? How do we know?
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Artefact types and styleStratigraphy and contextual data
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Measures the rate of decay in the unstable, radioactive isotope C14 to determine the age of organic matter
Only reliable for dates younger than about 40,000BP
Dates charcoal and bone
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1990 2000 2010
TH
OU
SA
ND
S O
F Y
EA
RS
AG
O
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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1. Electron spin resonance (ESR)2. Thermoluminescence (TL)3. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL)
Often used in conjunction with radiocarbon dating to ensure accuracy of age-estimates
Often used when radiocarbon dates are not able to be determined
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Measures the number of trapped electrons in enamel since the time of burial
Dates teeth
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Measures the number of trapped electrons that have accumulated since last exposure to sunlight
Uses heat to release the electrons Dates sand grains
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Measures the number of trapped electrons that have accumulated since last exposure to sunlight
Uses light to release the electrons Dates sand grains
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1990 2000 2010
TH
OU
SA
ND
S O
F Y
EA
RS
AG
O
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Estimated arrival of humans:
Conservative: 40,000 BP
Intermediate: 50-60,000 BP
Radical: 120,000 BP
Generally accepted baseline: 50,000 BP
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE PRESENT (BP)
People arrive in Australia c. 50,000 BP
Hig
her
sea
leve
ls
Last Glacial Maximumc. 18,000 BP
War
mer
tem
per
atu
res
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
30,000 years ago 18,000 years ago
9,000 years ago 3,000 years ago (c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Sea levels = 80 metres lower
Deep sea channels
People arrive: 50,000 BP
Sahul
Sunda
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
How did people get here?
Hiscock, 2008
Sea crossingbut…Multiple entry points?Multiple migration attempts?Multiple reasons?
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Reasons for attempting the journey
People had to move to escape the fallout of the Toba eruptionc.69-77,000 BP?
Hiscock, 2008
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Reasons for attempting the journey
People saw smoke frombushfires across the horizonand decided to investigate?
Hiscock, 2008
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
We may never know…
Hiscock, 2008
…because the earliest evidence is probably underwater
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
Passed from mother to child Measures historical distance between individuals
and a common ancestor Used to study the recent evolutionary history of
human lineages Has linked Aboriginal people to a single female
ancestor living 50,000 - 90,000 years ago(Hiscock 2008)
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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mtDNA ≠ conclusive colonisation dates
Because this female ancestor may have originated outside of Australia
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Arrival:50,000 BP
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
But what about dispersal?
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Theory #1
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Theory #2
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Theory #3
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.Hiscock, 2008
People had settled in most areas of the continent within a few thousand years of arrival
Coasts
Tropics
Sub-tropics
Riverinas
Temperate inland
High altitudes
Interior
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Nomads
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Extended until about 10,500 BP
Drier climate Intense hot/cold
temperatures Lower sea levels Cooler temperatures Much larger arid zone
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE PRESENT (BP)
People arrive in Australia c. 50,000 BP
Hig
her
sea
leve
ls
Last Glacial Maximumc. 18,000 BP
War
mer
tem
per
atu
res
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
LGM at its height around 18,000 BP
Seas up to 120m below present levels
During LGM, people retreated to refuges
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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ARID
Range
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Ranges used as a base and refuge in arid zones and during LGM
Watersource
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Malakanunja II
Upper SwanWillandra Lakes
Over 35,000
Mandu Mandu
Cave Bay Cave
DrualKeilor
Puritjarra
Birrigai
Kenniff
Over 20,000
Koonalda
Devils Lair
Nunamira
Over 30,000
Narrabullgin
Cuddie Springs
Bend Road
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10,500 BP until the present
Sea levels begin to rise Lakes overflowing by
7,000 BP Wetter climate until
5,500 BP Fluctuating wet-dry
conditions until present
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE PRESENT (BP)
People arrive in Australia c. 50,000 BP
Hig
her
sea
leve
ls
Last Glacial Maximumc. 18,000 BP
War
mer
tem
per
atu
res
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
30/07/2013
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TEMPERATE
Range
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Ranges used as a resource on the edge of occupation zones
Watersource
Watersource
EARLIER TOOLS
Primarily backed tools Used mainly for hunting Probably a male activity
LATER TOOLS
Variety of tools Used in everyday activities Used by both men and
women
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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The Grampians:Pleistocene
The Grampians:Holocene
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Same place…
…different timeand use
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Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
Nabulwinjbulwinj, Kakadu National Park
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
Rock shelter, Kakadu National Park
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
30/07/2013
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Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
Shell midden at the PAHSMA Coal Mines, Tasman Peninsula
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
WLH3, Lake Mungo (australiangeographic.com.au)
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Glass scraper, Whittlesea, VIC
Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
Mount William greenstone quarry
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
Scar tree, Goulburn River (taungurung.info)
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Bay of Fires, TAS (aboriginalheritage.tas.gov.au)
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Rock art Rock shelters Shell middens Burials Contact sites Quarries Scarred/carved trees Stone arrangements Cultural/spiritual sites
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Lightning Dreaming site, Arnhem Land
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Malakanunja II
Upper SwanWillandra Lakes
Over 35,000
Mandu Mandu
Cave Bay Cave
DrualKeilor
Puritjarra
Birrigai
Kenniff
Over 20,000
Koonalda
Devils Lair
Nunamira
Over 30,000
Narrabullgin
Cuddie Springs
Bend Road
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Hiscock, 2008
MegafaunaBlack = extinct Pleistocene speciesWhite = living species
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Hiscock, 2008
MegafaunaBlack = extinct Pleistocene speciesWhite = living species
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Hiscock, 2008
MegafaunaBlack = extinct Pleistocene speciesWhite = living species
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Hiscock, 2008
MegafaunaBlack = extinct Pleistocene speciesWhite = living species
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Hiscock, 2008
MegafaunaBlack = extinct Pleistocene speciesWhite = living species
Occurred at or just before human arrival Debated causes – natural or human?
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Diprotodon skeleton(Cosgrove, 2006)
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Evidence suggests megafauna naturally died out due to drastic ecological change
Studies of emu egg shells reveal a change in diet – food supplies dried up
Most megafauna extinctby 45,000 BP
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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“The Ancient period covers history from the development of early human communities (from 60 000 BCE) to the end of late antiquity (around 650 CE)”
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Ancient Australia
What is it? Where did it start? When did it start? Who came here? Why did they come? How do we know?
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
30/07/2013
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Malakanunja II
Upper SwanWillandra Lakes
Over 35,000
Mandu Mandu
Cave Bay Cave
DrualKeilor
Puritjarra
Birrigai
Kenniff
Over 20,000
Koonalda
Devils Lair
Nunamira
Over 30,000
Narrabullgin
Cuddie Springs
Bend Road
Nauwalabila
MUNGO BURIALS COASTAL SHELL MIDDENS
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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Fullagar, Price and Head, 1996
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
30/07/2013
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
TL sample
Engraved sandstone
Ground mudstone
2,300 years 50,000 years
75,300 years
Fullagar, Price and Head, 1996
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
TL sample
Engraved sandstone
Ground mudstone
2,300 years 50,000 years
75,300 years
Artefact!
Artefact!
Fullagar, Price and Head, 1996
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
TL sample
Engraved sandstone
Ground mudstone
2,300 years 50,000 years
75,300 years
Artefact!
Artefact!
What went wrong?
Fullagar, Price and Head, 1996
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Fullagar, Price and Head, 1996
TL sample
Ground mudstone
Engraved sandstone
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Which dating methods were used?
How old did archaeologists first suggest Jinmium was?
What did people think about these dates?
Why did the world react this way?
How old is Jinmium really? How might this change the
way we think about history and archaeology?
Jinmium
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.Burke and Smith, 2004
Flake
Core
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Burke and Smith, 2004
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(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
Questions?
(c) Alethea Kinsela 2013. All rights reserved.
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