Peter Veth, Lisa Matisoo-Smith, Adam Brumm, Huw S. Groucutt, Eleanor M. L. Scerri
{"title":"Do Recent DNA Studies Refute a 65 kya Arrival of Humans in Sahul?","authors":"Peter Veth, Lisa Matisoo-Smith, Adam Brumm, Huw S. Groucutt, Eleanor M. L. Scerri","doi":"10.1002/arco.70005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.70005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"191-194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent DNA Studies Question a 65 kya Arrival of Humans in Sahul","authors":"Jim Allen, James F. O'Connell","doi":"10.1002/arco.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Recent reports present evidence of Neanderthal introgression among all non-African human populations after 50 kya. Here we trace the implications of this claim for Sahul history. If correct, ancestral Sahul populations bearing Neanderthal DNA must have arrived after this date. Such data offer no support for a purported 65 kya human presence on the continent.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"187-190"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.70002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"First Nations Aboriginal Ring Trees in New South Wales—Establishing a Cultural Context and Basic Archaeological Recording Typology","authors":"Hannah Morris, Talei Holm, Norma Freeman, Timothy Owen","doi":"10.1002/arco.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This paper examines ring trees—a type of culturally modified tree, intentionally created by Australian First Nations Aboriginal peoples by manipulating tree growth to form permanent loops (rings) within the structure. Historically, this site type has been underrepresented and underappreciated by academics and archaeologists. Investigations into ring trees, however, are vital for ensuring their recognition and protection, and can allow Aboriginal community members to (re)connect with traditions, culture and place. Drawing on collaborative research with Wiradjuri and Dharawal Knowledge Holders in southeastern Australia, we propose a methodological framework for identifying and recording ring trees that integrates scientific documentation with Aboriginal cultural knowledge. This paper presents an approach that others engaging with ring trees can take forward and apply to their own specific contexts and needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"156-175"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.70003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Locating Traces of Arboreal Beings: Connecting the Tree and the Woodblock","authors":"Julian Laffan","doi":"10.1002/arco.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Woodblocks for printmaking are multi-perspectival communicators inscribed with layered narratives. The artistic process of cutting excavates the surface of a woodblock, making visible lesser-seen traces of the past, reflective of the practice of archaeology. Printmakers and carvers make arboreal alterations as they gouge into surfaces of woodblocks, modifying them for cultural and communicative purposes. These artefacts also retain more-than-human marks from burrowing, clawing and gnawing of insects, marsupials and birds. The printable visual narrative of a woodblock simultaneously uncovers the life of a tree as an arboreal being, revealing traces of growth and past alterations. The continuing substantive presence of a tree is made evident through woodgrain, visible within a woodblock, transferred via the corresponding print. Through collecting and printing discarded or broken wooden fragments, I explore creative processes to unearth past histories of salvaged woodblocks. The marks trace multiple narratives of the life of the woodblock, conveying the wear of time and connection to living trees. Investigating exploratory methods that bridge the tactile connectivity of the living tree with its remnants is a reparative action. Cutting, inking and printing subjectively connect fragments <i>with</i> life to inform an understanding of our arboreal ancestors through a material understanding of wood.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"145-155"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.70001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sue O'Connor, Jane Balme, Ursula K. Frederick, Melissa Marshall
{"title":"Arboreal Alterations: An Introduction to Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs) in Australia","authors":"Sue O'Connor, Jane Balme, Ursula K. Frederick, Melissa Marshall","doi":"10.1002/arco.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Culturally modified trees (CMTs) were once ubiquitous throughout the Australian landscape but they have been significantly affected by tree-clearing practices associated with pastoralism, residential expansion and forestry. These, in addition to effects of bushfires and floods have had a massive impact on the survival of both dead and living CMTs. Despite their past ubiquity and current threats, they are probably one of the most under-researched archaeological and cultural heritage site type. In recent years the diversity and significance of CMTs has gained prominence and their documentation is now a growing area of enquiry for archaeologists, cultural heritage specialists, artists and First Nations communities. This volume ‘Arboreal Alterations’ brings together papers examining recent research on CMTs from across Australia.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"73-77"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.70006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mia Dardengo, Lynley A. Wallis, Djaykuk Djandjomerr, May Nango, Clarrie Nadjamerrek, Murray Garde, Anthony Pagels
{"title":"Karribolknahnan kunred la kundulk: Contemporary Culturally Modified Trees in Mirarr Country, Northern Territory","authors":"Mia Dardengo, Lynley A. Wallis, Djaykuk Djandjomerr, May Nango, Clarrie Nadjamerrek, Murray Garde, Anthony Pagels","doi":"10.1002/arco.70000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.70000","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In Mirarr <i>Kunred</i> (Country) in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory, Australia, a particular form of scarred, culturally modified tree (CMT) is actively being created as <i>Bininj</i> (Aboriginal people) harvest bark to be used as art canvases (<i>dolobbo</i>). Cultural heritage surveys carried out over the past 5 years in and near the township of Jabiru have recorded numerous <i>dolobbo</i> trees, along with a smaller number of older CMTs containing scars from other forms of resource extraction. These newly created CMTs are a tangible demonstration of cultural continuity, produced by <i>Bininj</i> adapting traditional practices to engage with the contemporary economy. Although <i>dolobbo</i> trees are a relatively new addition to the cultural landscape of Mirarr <i>Kunred</i>, they are warmly regarded by <i>Bininj</i> when encountered and have heritage value as indicators of current cultural activities. This study highlights the significance of recording these trees as part of the contemporary cultural landscape of Mirarr <i>Kunred</i> and considers the environmental and heritage implications of this practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"132-144"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.70000","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dendroglyphs, Pictographs and Social Identity in the Wet Tropics Rainforest of Northeastern Australia","authors":"Alice Buhrich","doi":"10.1002/arco.5353","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5353","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This research examines rock art and dendroglyphs in the Wet Tropics of northeast Australia to investigate their relationship to linguistic social identity. The region was selected for its complex socio-cultural landscape, marked by a diversity of languages in a distinct, relatively small area. The study was co-designed with nine First Nations partner organisations representing five language groups and employed rock art methodologies and interviews with First Nation knowledge holders. Findings reveal that neither rock art nor dendroglyph motifs correspond neatly with linguistic boundaries. Within a single language area, stylistic variations were observed—rock art is more figurative in the east and abstract in the west, while dendroglyphs, found only in the eastern Wet Tropics, feature predominantly abstract designs. Rather than signifying socio-cultural differences, the dendroglyphs and rock art illustrate connections. Senior custodians identify dendroglyphs as story places, clan symbols, and sites of cultural significance, reflecting a deep and enduring relationship by First Nations with these rare cultural expressions. This study contributes new insights into dendroglyphs and rock art in Queensland's Wet Tropics rainforests, challenging assumptions that stylistic boundaries align strictly with language groups and significantly broadening knowledge of Australian dendroglyphs.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"119-131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.5353","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kieran McGee, Justine Kemp, Joshua Gorringe, George Gorringe, Trudy Gorringe
{"title":"Multi-Century Grindstone Quarrying at Brumby Yard, Queensland","authors":"Kieran McGee, Justine Kemp, Joshua Gorringe, George Gorringe, Trudy Gorringe","doi":"10.1002/arco.5352","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5352","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The timing and duration of prehistoric quarrying is poorly understood within Australia, with limited ages available for quarries owing to the difficulties in dating these rock-sediment constructions. We report the first multi-sample, optically stimulated luminescence ages from quarry pits in Brumby Yard, an Aboriginal grindstone quarry situated in the Channel Country region of Western Queensland. Our results indicate three pit abandonments at ∼970, ∼600 and ∼540 years ago. Our results present the first absolute dating evidence that quarrying was a complex, multi-century practice with the use of open sections of the quarry in the presence of abandoned pits.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"176-186"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.5352","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modeling the Past–Archaeology, History, and Dynamic Networks","authors":"Dale F. Simpson Jr.","doi":"10.1002/arco.5354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5354","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"197-198"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kate Greenwood, Amy Roberts, Madonna Thomson, James Bonner
{"title":"Culturally Modified Trees and Bark and Wooden Material Culture From Yagara Country, Southeast Queensland, Australia: A Preliminary Overview of Indigenous Biocultural Knowledge","authors":"Kate Greenwood, Amy Roberts, Madonna Thomson, James Bonner","doi":"10.1002/arco.5351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5351","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This paper outlines preliminary results from our multimethod research about Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs) and associated bark and wooden material culture in Yagara Country in southeast Queensland. Methods employed include historical source and modern database analysis, archaeological field surveys, semi-structured interviews with Yagara Traditional Owners and recording of bark and wooden objects housed in museums/institutions. Our work aims to highlight the complexity of Yagara biocultural knowledge and to produce practical models that will assist with the recording and interpretation of Yagara CMTs.</p>","PeriodicalId":46465,"journal":{"name":"Archaeology in Oceania","volume":"60 2","pages":"95-118"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/arco.5351","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144705632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}