A5057964583- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Geological formations and processes
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Cinema and Media Studies
- Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- French Literature and Critical Theory
- Tailings Management and Properties
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Global Maritime and Colonial Histories
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Landslides and related hazards
- African history and culture analysis
- Mining and Resource Management
- Narrative Theory and Analysis
UNSW Sydney
2016-2024
University of Technology Sydney
2024
Bush Heritage Australia
2013-2023
NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research
2023
University of Wollongong
2023
Environmental Earth Sciences
2016-2022
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
2019-2021
Australian National University
2008-2020
Flinders University
2018
English Heritage
2016
This paper presents a new reconstruction of prehistoric population Australia for the last 50 ka, using most comprehensive radiocarbon database currently available continent. The application techniques to manipulate data (including correction taphonomic bias), gives greater reliability reconstructed curve. shows low populations through Late Pleistocene, before slow stepwise increase in beginning during Holocene transition (approx. 12 ka) and continuing pulses 8.3-6.6, 4.4-3.7 1.6-0.4...
A continental-scale model of Holocene Australian hunter-gatherer demography and mobility is generated using radiocarbon data geospatial techniques. Results show a delayed expansion settlement much Australia following the termination late Pleistocene until after 9,000 years ago (or 9ka). The onset climatic optimum (9-6ka) coincides with rapid expansion, growth establishment regional populations across ~75% Australia, including arid zone. This diffusion from isolated refugia provides mechanism...
Exploratory time-series analysis of radiocarbon data from archaeological contexts is used to reconstruct the population history arid Australia, allowing this be read in concert with records climatic variability over last 20 000 years. Probability distribution plots 971 ages 286 sites five dryland regions (the west coast, Pilbara and Murchison, Nullarbor, interior southeastern zone) provide a proxy record prehistoric fluctuations these areas. There regional variation, but density suggest...
Abstract The peopling of Sahul (the combined continent Australia and New Guinea) represents the earliest continental migration settlement event solely anatomically modern humans, but its patterns ecological drivers remain largely conceptual in current literature. We present an advanced stochastic-ecological model to test relative support for scenarios describing where when first humans entered Sahul, their most probable routes early settlement. supports a dominant entry via northwest Shelf...
Abstract Long-standing interpretations of the Last Glacial Maximum (21,000 ± 2000 years ago) in Australia suggest that period was extremely cold and arid, during which Indo-Australian summer monsoon system collapsed, human populations declined retreated to ecological refuges survive. Here, we use transient iTRACE simulations, combined with palaeoclimate proxy records archaeological data re-interpret late terminal Pleistocene – 11,000 years) Australia. The model suggests climates peak were...
Abstract Sum probability analysis of 1275 radiometric ages from 608 archaeological sites across northern and central Australia demonstrates a changing signature that can be closely correlated with climate variability over the last 2 ka. Results reveal marked increase in records ka, notable declines western between ca. AD 700 1000 post‐AD 1500 – two periods broadly coeval Medieval Climatic Anomaly Little Ice Age as they have been documented Asia–Pacific region. Latitudinal longitudinal...
A comparison of archaeological data in the Atacama Desert and Australian arid zone shows impact El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) over last 5,000 years.Using a dataset > 1400 radiocarbon dates from sites across two regions as proxy for population change, we develop density plots, which are then used to explore responses these prehistoric populations ENSO climatic variability.Under an regime, precipitation is anti-phase between Australia coastal Chile.As also impacts marine resource...
The AustArch dataset (Williams and Ulm 2014) consists of 5,044 radiocarbon determinations from 1,748 archaeological sites across Australia (Figure 1).The also contains a further 478 non-radiocarbon ages, comprising optically stimulated luminescence (n=220), thermoluminescence ages (n=161), oxidisable carbon ratio (OCR) (n=35), uranium-series (n=28), electron spin resonance (n=26), cation dating (n=7) amino acid racemization (AAR) (n=1) 86 up to 26 data fields for each age, including...
We report on early occupation from the Parnkupirti site Salt Pan Creek at Lake Gregory, edge of Great Sandy Desert northwest Australia. OSL ages excavations, and stratigraphic correlations between dated exposures along Creek, show some stone artefacts in situ sediments dating greater than 37ka most probably grounds range ~50–45ka. The deep section also provides a long record Quaternary history which remained freshwater system during Late Quaternary.
The distinctive tool called ‘tula’ is an endemic adaptation, which was adopted by Aboriginal people across central and western Australia, encompassing some two-thirds of the continent. tula a hafted used for working hardwoods as well other tasks including butchery plant-processing. geographic spread tulas appears to have been rapid no antecedent form has identified. sudden appearance coincident with onset El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions. While we do not yet data establish...
Abstract. Southern Hemisphere westerly airflow has a significant influence on the ocean–atmosphere system of mid- to high latitudes with potentially global climate implications. Unfortunately, historic observations only extend back late 19th century, limiting our understanding multi-decadal centennial change. Here we present highly resolved (30-year) record past wind strength from Falkland Islands peat sequence spanning last 2600 years. Situated within core latitude (the so-called furious...
Reconstructing past sea levels can help constrain uncertainties surrounding the rate of change, magnitude, and impacts projected increase through 21st century. Of significance is mid-Holocene relative sea-level highstand in tectonically stable remote (far-field) locations from major ice sheets. The east coast Australia provides an excellent arena which to investigate changes level during Holocene. Considerable debate surrounds both peak timing highstand. southeast Australian site Bulli Beach...
From mobile hunter-gatherers to a series of state societies, Mediterranean climate regions (MED) around the world have been critical areas for human and biological evolution millennia. Comprised five on six continents, MED are important today settlement, global food production, transportation, industry, tourism, but these also extremely vulnerable projected changes in their typically temperate towards more extreme conditions. Researchers strategists exploring implications present future...
Abstract. OCTOPUS v.2 is an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) compliant web-enabled database that allows users to visualise, query, and download cosmogenic radionuclide, luminescence, radiocarbon ages denudation rates associated with erosional landscapes, Quaternary depositional landforms, archaeological records, along ancillary geospatial (vector raster) data layers. The follows the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reuse) principles based on open-source software deployed...
Ethnographic observations suggest that Indigenous peoples employed a distinct regime of frequent, low-intensity fires in the Australian landscape past. However, timing this behaviour and its ecological impact remain uncertain. Here, we present detailed analysis charcoal, including novel measure fire severity using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, at site eastern Australia spans last two glacial/interglacial transitions between 135–104 ka 18–0.5 BP (broadly equivalent to Marine...
Reliable chronological frameworks for archaeological sites are essential accurate interpretations of the past. Geochronology represents core interdisciplinary research because it allows integration diverse data on a common timeline. Since radiocarbon revolution in Australian archaeology 1950s, thousands ages have been produced across Sahul (combined landmass Australia and New Guinea). Methods such as thermoluminescence (TL) optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) also used deposits enabled...