Old News
The Canberra Archaeological Society Newsletter
ISSN 1440-7035
April 2007
2007 Public Lecture Series
Manning Clark Centre Theatre 6
7:30pm Wednesday 19 April
EMMA BONTHORNE
BIOARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN CENTRALEASTERN EUROPE
Emma Bonthorne is a Bachelor of Archaeological Practice student currently
studying at the ANU School of Archaeology and Anthropology. She has fieldwork
experience in both Europe and the Asia Pacific region, and will be presenting a
seminar on human burial sites from Poland and the Czech Republic excavated
during the 2006 field season. This presentation will look at burial practices from
the medieval period in Poland and the Neolithic in the Czech Republic, and
examine them in terms of demography, burial orientation, social organisation and
health and pathologies. Two sites will be used as primary case studies; Giecz, a
significant economic and political centre during the emergence of the Polish state
in the 10th and 11th centuries AD; and Stříbrnice, a Neolithic burial ground
excavated as part of an on-going rescue expedition to salvage remains prior to the
construction of a highway through Moravia, eastern Czech Republic.
All welcome. Entry is by gold coin donation at the door.
Please join us afterwards for light supper and a chat – find out how “down to earth” archaeologists
really are.
ACT HERITAGE GRANT –
to Document the Heritage Unit's 'collection'
Calling all
would-be archaeologists
and anyone with an interest in old stuff!
CAS has received the above grant to make an inventory of the Unit's material, re-bag or box it,
provide summary information on the items and any related documents and make some
recommendations on conservation, further study and long-term storage.
The material is in a variety of sheds and containers in a secure compound at Lyneham. There is a
range of material, including quite well listed Aboriginal artefacts and less well documented
material from various historic locations. Some will need research to pinpoint provenance and
attempt descriptions.
In order for CAS members to work on this project on weekends, the material must be moved on a
Monday or a Tuesday from Lyneham to another location in Macquarie. We may need several of
these days but initially will try to do it all in one.
The first day to move the material is during the semester break, from 9am to 12noon on
Monday 16 April. If we don't finish, we may need another Monday or Tuesday during the break.
We particularly need vehicles to carry this material from Lyneham to Macquarie - utes, cars with
trailers, vans, trucks – anything appropriate.
For those keen souls who can't make this day, the bulk of the work will be done on weekends in
May and June.
Please register with Helen if you may be available. There will be a range of tasks to be
done, ranging from the physical to the esoteric, so you can specify what sort of tasks you fancy. No
prior experience or qualifications are required; tasks will be allocated according to skill and
training requests. And it should be fun as well as a great experience for incipient archaeologists,
especially those looking for future research projects near to home.
Anyone that may be available to help for any part of
this project, and/or has a vehicle that can be used on
the day, please contact:
Helen Cooke on 0408 443 243.
Q. How many archaeologists does it take to change a light
bulb?
A. No amount of them can do it, but for an underground
antiquities dealer it only takes 5 minutes...
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FRIDAY, MAY 25
National Archaeology Week is fast approaching, and to celebrate, CAS is holding an
Archaeology Trivia Night at the National Museum of Australia.
There will be a fun BYO picnic outside the museum beforehand, for members to
meet, eat and discuss tactics!
Any members who are interested in donating prizes, or are willing to approach
businesses on behalf of CAS, please contact Emma Bonthorne on 0402 649 123.
All donations are very much appreciated, and will be acknowledged in Old News
as well as on the night.
MAQUARIE UNIVERSITY Geoarchaeology/Cultural
Heritage Management PhD Scholarship
Closing date: 4 May 2007
A postgraduate research scholarship, commencing in 2007, is available in
the Graduate School of the Environment at Macquarie University, as part
of the Western NSW Archaeology Program. This interdisciplinary project
will contribute to an integrated methodology based on archaeology,
Quaternary geochronology and geomorphology that emphasises the
landscape setting as a means for evaluating the surface archaeological
record in Australia and what it means in terms of Indigenous Australian
place use history. The outcomes will include a more landscape-focused
framework for Cultural Heritage Management.
For further information and discussion regarding the project please
contact the supervisor: Dr Trish Fanning; email: pfanning@gse.mq.edu.au
Telephone on +61-2- 9850 7979.
Application forms, and conditions for MQRES awards, are available from
the Higher Degree Research Office, telephone: +61-2-9850 7663, e-mail:
hdrschol@vc.mq.edu.au, or from our web site:
www.research.mq.edu.au/students/scholarships/pages/
MQRESGeoarchaeology
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Deep Time and Archaeology :
Aboriginal Australia before 1788
An archaeology and Australian prehistory course for the general public.
I have recently developed and run a course on archaeology and Australian prehistory aimed at the
general public – for people who know little of what happened in Australia before the coming of
Europeans. It’s PowerPoint pretty pictures based and non-academic, but strongly grounded in the
latest ideas of what happened in Australia’s human past. I cover all the usual themes and issues that
can be managed in 20 hours of lectures over 10 weeks. We all have friends who yawn at the idea of
archaeology and prehistory. But this course is definitely not boring.
The next course is to run through Canberra U3A (University of the Third Age) and starts on Tuesday
afternoon, 8 May.
The U3A runs a wide range of courses, mainly aimed at older or retired people. To attend the course
would require joining U3A (very low cost) while the course itself is only $20. The course would not be
of interest to most CAS members, but members may know other people who could be interested. I
am keen that knowledge of Australia’s fascinating prehistoric past should be more widely known in
the general community.
Anyone who wants to know more can give me a ring on 6258 9354.
Peter White
HOW ABOUT A DATE?
A Radiocarbon Dating Workshop at the University of
Sydney
May 8, 2007
Dr. Fiona Petchey, Deputy Director of the Waikato Radiocarbon Dating
Laboratory will be holding a 3 hour workshop/question answer session. Dr Petchey specialises
in the radiocarbon dating of all material but in particular bone and marine shell. Fiona has a
special interest in the archaeological application of radiocarbon data.
The workshop will cover sample selection, sample type problems,
calibration, web based services and publication of radiocarbon dates.
The aim of the workshop is to up-skill practising archaeologists but
students who are interested in learning about radiocarbon dating in the field are also
welcome.
The session will be followed by an informal meet and great, wine and
nibbles will be provided.
If you are interested in participating would you please RSVP to Trudy Doelman
Archaeology Department
University of Sydney
Ph. - 02 90365117
Email - trudy.doelman@arts.usyd.edu.au
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NEW! Flinders University Maritime Archaeology Monograph Series (MAMS)
These publications are edited versions of theses and
reports produced by staff and students in Maritime Archaeology at
Flinders University over recent years. Ten volumes are available for purchase.
For further information, see: http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/research/publications/MAMARS/index.php
Copies can be ordered by printing and completing the attached Order
Form and faxing or emailing it to
Claire Dappert (editor)
Email: claire.dappert@flinders.edu.au
08 8201 5195 (office)
08 8201-3845 (fax)
CAS Public Lecture Series – Speaker List 2007:
Date
April 18
Speaker
Emma Bonthorne
May 16
Friday May 25
7pm
Sunday June
17, 2-4pm
June 20
July 18
August 15
Ben Kelly
Imagining Atlantis
Trivia night for
In the Friends lounge at the NMA
archaeology week
Tour of 'Open Collections’ at NMA
David Kaus
September 19
Graham Connah
October 17
Rainer Grün
Direct Dating of Human Fossils
November 21
Peter Hiscock
'Hollywood and Archaeology: representations of
archaeologists and the past in feature films'
Michael Pickering
Phil Boot
Aedeen Cremin
Topic
Bio-archaeological Excavations in Central-Eastern
Europe
Repatriation
Cup and Ring marks on the NSW South Coast
Image and Reality: Representations of Daily Life at
Ankor, as shown on the reliefs of the Bayon and
Banteay Chhmar Temples
The archaeology of privilege and servitude at Lake
Innes.
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NEED WORK EXPERIENCE??
The Australian National Committee for Archaeology Teaching and Learning (ANCATL) is
pleased to announce the launch of the Register of Work Experience Partners of organisations
willing to consider placement of students and graduates.
The Register is hosted on the Australian Archaeological Association Inc. website and
provides a central meeting point to connect industry with students and graduates interested in
obtaining work experience.
Recent surveys of archaeologists working in Australia have identified a range of skill gaps
amongst recent graduates, most related to basic archaeological competencies. Industry bodies
have a central role to play, in partnership with universities, in providing opportunities for skill
development in these areas.
In 2007, a key priority for ANCATL is to establish better coordination of vocational
experience in archaeology for both university students and early career graduates. To achieve
this we have established a Register of Work Experience Partners of organisations willing to
consider placement of students and graduates.
The Register can be accessed at:
http://www.australianarchaeologicalassociation.com.au/work_experience/register
Further details about the programme can be found at:
http://www.australianarchaeologicalassociation.com.au/work_experience
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
Friday May 25th – CAS Trivia Night at the Friend’s Lounge, National Museum!!!
Australasian Primate Society 23rd Annual Conference, Sat-Sun 10-11 March. See
http://www.primates.on.net/
Indigenous Biography and Autobiography conference, 9-12 July, Humanities Research
Centre, ANU. Calling for papers! Enquiries to Leena Messina at HRC
Leena.Messina@anu.edu.au
Heritage of Off-World Landscapes: a session at the Extreme Heritage ICOMOS
Conference, 19-21 July 2007, James Cook University, Cairns Qld. Calling for papers! See
http://www.aircomos.com/
World Heritage of Human Origins Conference, Mildura 18-21 April 2007. See
http://www.mungofestival.com.au/events.php?id=19
New Ground: Australasian Archaeology Conference. September 21-26, University of
Sydney. Calling for papers! See: www.newground.org.au
Preserving Aboriginal Heritage: Technical and Traditional Approaches.
Symposium, Ottawa, Canada, September 24-28, 2007. See Website for details:
http://www.cciicc.gc.ca/symposium/index_e.aspx
Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual
Property Rights http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org/site/burra.php
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TERRA AUSTRALIS ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
New Terra Australis publications that are now online with free downloads are:
Terra Australis 21- What's Changing: Population Size or Land-Use
Patterns? The Archaeology of Upper Mangrove Creek, Sydney Basin
(Val Attenbrow)
Terra Australis 22- The Archaeology of the Aru Islands, Eastern Indonesia
(edited by S. O'Connor, M. Spriggs and P. Veth)
Terra Australis 23- Pieces of the Vanuatu Puzzle Archaeology of the
North, South and Centre (Stuart Bedford)
Go to ANU E Press http://epress.anu.edu.au/ and follow the links.
2007 Memberships
Just a reminder that membership renewals are now due. If you haven’t yet joined for 2007 you can
renew by filling out the membership form in this newsletter and either posting it with your payment
or bringing it to the meeting on Wednesday. If you joined in the last few months of 2006 your
membership includes 2007 and you do not need to renew for this year. If you aren’t sure whether
you need to renew or not email us at contact@cas.asn.au and we’ll let you know.
Inspired by last month’s lecture on the Dampier Archipelago?
FIND OUT MORE!
There is now a vast array of media material on the Burrup at the following unlinked site:
http://www.dampierrockart.net/Media/ and at the Stand Up for the Burrup site at
http://standupfortheburrup.com/
It is also worthwhile to visit the National Trust site at http://www.burrup.org.au/ and
download the Dr Caroline Bird & A/Prof Sylvia J Hallam reviews.
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The Sydney Historical Archaeology Professional (SHAP) Workshop
The next SHAP Workshop will be held on Friday 25th May, 2007, during National
Archaeology Week. It will be held at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Sydney and as
tradition dictates, the post-workshop drinks will be help at the Courthouse Hotel nearby.
The SHAP Workshop is meant to be an informative day which aims to be all-inclusive and
welcoming to people from all areas of the archaeological industry and wider including
practitioners, academics, students and developers.
It is hoped that this workshop will present new and interesting historical sites from in and
around Sydney and generate discussion and debate. As part of National Archaeology Week
it would be interesting to focus on what archaeologists have been excavating recently, this
will appeal to practitioners and non-archaeologists. The following themes might prompt a
few ideas for speakers:


Development problems/issues in commercial archaeology
The portrayal of archaeology in the media.
Please feel free to suggest anything you wish to present. Talks are usually short and concise
(about 20 minutes each) aimed at updating people on your work or work-related
experiences you wish to share.
It is hoped that by doing this the open communication spirit of the SHAP Workshops will
continue.
Closing date for papers and discussion topics is Friday May 4th, 2007. Please feel free to
make contact on (02) 9568 6701 or lance@australarchaeology.com.au
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ANU HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES
All seminars are scheduled for 11 a.m. Fridays and in the Fairbairn Room (HA1207) of the HaydenAllen Building. Please direct queries to Mark Dawson: mark.dawson@anu.edu.au
27 April
Dr. Roger Hillman (ANU):
‘Representing Gallipoli: from National to Transnational Myth’
04 May
Louise Douglas (ANU):
‘Australian Representations at International Exhibitions 1901-1939: Some Early
Considerations’
11 May
Professor Barbara Caine (Monash University):
‘Writing the History of Friendship’
18 May
Professor Ann Curthoys (ANU):
‘The Ideal of Liberty in a Colonial Context: Indigenous Peoples, the British Empire, and
Self-Government for the Australian Colonies’
25 May
Chris Bishop (ANU):
T.B.A.
01 June
Travis Cutler (ANU):
‘Filming a Colonial History: Exploring Deadwood, Visualising Thick Description’
ANU Anthropology Seminars
Time: Wednesday mornings, 9:30 - 11:15
Place: Coombs Building, Seminar Room A
Convenor: Alan Rumsey, Dept. of Anthropology, RSPAS
alan.rumsey@anu.edu.au, tel. 6125-2365
May 2
Jennifer Deger, Anthropology, Macquarie University.
Imprinting on the Heart: viewing photos of the dead in Arnhem Land
May 9
Tamara Kohn, Anthropology, Melbourne University.
Discipline, creative power, and the body in martial arts practice
May 16
Kalpana Ram, Anthropology, Macquarie University.
Presencing the Amman in Tamil cinema: Cinema spectatorship as sensuous
Apprehension. Also showing film made by Kalpana Ram and Selvaraj Velayuthan
'The Goddess in Tamil Cinema'
May 23
Ben Smith, CAEPR, ANU.
An Aboriginal man of sorrow: sorcery and the individual in the context of native title
May 30
Nicolas Peterson¸ Archaeology and Anthropology, Arts, ANU
Animism in Australia? A Warlpiri perspective on metaphor
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