HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2016
ABSTRACT This paper presents new results of on-wall and excavated pigments from two major rock ar... more ABSTRACT This paper presents new results of on-wall and excavated pigments from two major rock art sites in northern Australia: the ‘Genyornis’ site, and Nawarla Gabarnmang. The former site has been argued in the archaeological literature to feature a painting of Genyornis newtoni, thought to have become extinct across Australia 40-45,000 years ago. The second site, Nawarla Gabarnmang, has extensive paintings on its ceiling and pillar walls as well as numerous coloured rocks (some of which are demonstrably ochre crayons) recovered by excavation. To determine the constituents and modes of preparation, pigment sources, and the potential antiquity of on-wall paintings at the ‘Genyornis’ site, tiny pieces of both pigmented and unpigmented rock were sampled from the‘Genyornis’ panel. X-ray fluorescence, SEM-EDX, PIXE, Raman and infrared spectroscopies, and XRD analyses were undertaken to determine the natural or cultural status of the excavated coloured rocks (potential ochre pieces)from Nawarla Gabarnmang. This paper presents results obtained so far.
Bien que l’on ait souvent prétendu avoir la preuve que l’Australie possède certaines œuvres d’art... more Bien que l’on ait souvent prétendu avoir la preuve que l’Australie possède certaines œuvres d’art rupestre les plus anciennes du monde et figure au premier plan des études sur cet art, très peu sont en fait bien datées. Récemment, fut signalée la première date pléistocène pour du pigment (peinture, dessin, imprimé ou en négatif) en Terre d’Arnhem, représentant l’un des exemples les plus anciens bien datés d’un art rupestre enfoui (voir Aubert 2012 et David et al. 2013a pour des études récentes sur les datations d’art rupestre australiennes).
Les sites d'art rupestre de la Terre d'Arnhem (Northern Territory, Australie) sont les te... more Les sites d'art rupestre de la Terre d'Arnhem (Northern Territory, Australie) sont les temoins de l'occupation de ce territoire sur plusieurs dizaines de milliers d'annees par les ancetres des communautes aborigenes. Leur etude permet de mieux connaitre la culture et l'histoire de ces societes et l'antiquite de certains de ces sites (plus de 40 000 ans) laisse entrevoir la possibilite de preciser l'histoire du peuplement du continent australien [1]. C'est dans cette optique, et a l'instigation de la communaute Jawoyn, que le programme de recherche Connecting Country a ete mis en place par l'universite de Monash autour d'une equipe interdisciplinaire et internationale (Australie, Nouvelle-Zelande, France) [2]. La tres grande difficulte de dater directement les peintures des abris-sous-roche de la Terre d'Arnhem a motive l'elaboration d'une methode de reconstitution de la chronologie relative des representations rupestres. Cette methode fait appel a des indices provenant de l'etude de l'art, de la geomorphologie des parois, de l'archeologie du sol et de comparaisons avec les sites voisins. En combinant l'analyse stratigraphique des representations graphiques, la caracterisation physico-chimique des pigments - in-situ avec des techniques portables non-destructives ou en laboratoire sur microechantillons - l'analyse des artefacts et colorants trouves en fouille, l'etude du support rocheux et des mecanismes d'alteration de la roche et des pigments, il est possible de proposer une premiere esquisse de la chronologie relative des interventions humaines sur les parois des sites etudies et des evenements naturels les ayant affectees.
Abstract The archaeological record of Lower Laura (aka Boralga) Native Mounted Police camp, a lon... more Abstract The archaeological record of Lower Laura (aka Boralga) Native Mounted Police camp, a longstanding base for Queensland’s frontier war in Cape York Peninsula, includes a diverse assemblage of culturally modified Erythophleum chlorastychys (Cooktown ironwood) trees. Analysis of cultural scar attributes and tool marks – which were found to be variously associated with Aboriginal stone tools, tomahawks of different types, and long handled axes – reveals a scenario of nineteenth century land use and technology that transcends the pre-conflict era of Aboriginal clan estates. As well as reflecting traditional patterns of Aboriginal tenure of prime waterfront land, the assemblage reveals innovations that occurred in Aboriginal technology in the lead-up to war. However, an unusual style of cultural scar cut using long handled axes appears to signal transformations in demography and land use following Native Mounted Police occupation. By integrating historical, oral history, spatial, typological, and botanical data this study provides evidence of demographic and environmental changes set in train by the gold-rush invasion. It also highlights the complexities of documenting Cooktown ironwood trees of advanced age and their fragile, deteriorating cultural modifications.
CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, 2016
This paper presents archaeological evidence for the initial occupation and use of a large clan os... more This paper presents archaeological evidence for the initial occupation and use of a large clan ossuary on the upper Kikori River at Baina in Papua New Guinea. Drawing extensively on clan oral accounts of its use and function, it is posited that the timing and use of the site as an ossuary effectively dates the establishment of a sub clan entity known as Kesele and the fragmentation of larger clan based land owning units into smaller sub-clan entities dating from around 200 years ago in the region. It is further posited that evidence of the more intensive use of the site from around 600 years ago and its subsequent use as an ossuary at 200 years ago may be linked to its proximity to an important lithic raw material source used in the manufacture of sago pounders, a major trade item linked to the hiri pottery trade.
Western Arnhem Land's rock art is world famous yet very poorly dated. Understanding its histo... more Western Arnhem Land's rock art is world famous yet very poorly dated. Understanding its history over tens of thousands of years has huge implications for understanding Aboriginal cultural history. In this purpose, the rock art of the Arnhem Land plateau of Jawoyn country is archaeologically characterized and dated (1). Within the framework of "Jawoyn Rock Art and Heritage Program", this study focus on one particular rockshelter, where a bird, extincted 45 000 years ago, the Genyornis Newtoni was represented (2). During the excavation, pieces of colored matter were considered as potential pigment. In order to determine, i) the nature of used pigments constituents and their preparation mode, (ii) their geographic origin and (iii) the chronology of paintings, rock-painting pigments were sampled on the Genyornis panel and compared with excavated samples. Macroscopic observations (MO), thus analysis of the pigments composition carried out by means of scanning electron micro...
Dans le cadre du projet du "Jawoyn RockArt and Heritage Program", des membres de la Jaw... more Dans le cadre du projet du "Jawoyn RockArt and Heritage Program", des membres de la Jawoyn Association et les partenaires francais (EDYTEM et CNP) se sont interesses a l'etude du panneau de Genyornis, en Terre d'Arnhem (Australie) qui represente d'un oiseau disparu il y a environ 45 000 ans, Genyornis newtoni. Afin de determiner, i) la nature des constituants des pigments utilises et leur mode de preparation, ii) leur origine geographique et, iii) la chronologie des peintures, neuf echantillons de peinture ont ete preleves sur le panneau. Des observations macroscopiques (OM), ainsi que des analyses sur la composition des pigments faites par microscopie electronique a balayage couplee a un detecteur de rayons X en energie dispersive (MEB-EDS) et par microspectrometrie Raman ont ete effectuees sur echantillons bruts ou blocs polis. Des oxydes de fer, sous forme d'hematite et de goethite, ont ete identifies au niveau de la couche picturale. Le support matricie...
This paper examines the impact the massacre at Myall Creek had on subsequent frontier interaction... more This paper examines the impact the massacre at Myall Creek had on subsequent frontier interactions in other parts of Australia. It is argued that its aftermath in the region then known as Northern NSW, where a Native Police force was formed a decade later was extensive and that Aboriginal responses to the event provide new insights, including how people from different Aboriginal groups at the time may have heard about Myall Creek and other violent clashes with white settlers, and how their families remember frontier conflict today.
Review(s) of: Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: A Reader, by edited by R.W. Preucel and I. Hodd... more Review(s) of: Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: A Reader, by edited by R.W. Preucel and I. Hodder, Blackwell Publishers Ltd. (1996) xiv, 678 pages, ISBN 0 631 19561 0 (paperback), Price US$24.95. Includes references.
This paper examines the nature of archaeological evidence relating to frontier confl ict/violence... more This paper examines the nature of archaeological evidence relating to frontier confl ict/violence in the Australian context. Because of the unique nature of Aboriginal/European frontier encounters, it is argued that a focus on locating archaeological evidence for massacres is problematic. It is suggested that rather than focus on frontier confl ict in terms of massacre sites, archaeologists employ a broader social landscape archaeological approach, thus allowing a more holistic contextualisation of Aboriginal/European frontier interactions.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2016
ABSTRACT This paper presents new results of on-wall and excavated pigments from two major rock ar... more ABSTRACT This paper presents new results of on-wall and excavated pigments from two major rock art sites in northern Australia: the ‘Genyornis’ site, and Nawarla Gabarnmang. The former site has been argued in the archaeological literature to feature a painting of Genyornis newtoni, thought to have become extinct across Australia 40-45,000 years ago. The second site, Nawarla Gabarnmang, has extensive paintings on its ceiling and pillar walls as well as numerous coloured rocks (some of which are demonstrably ochre crayons) recovered by excavation. To determine the constituents and modes of preparation, pigment sources, and the potential antiquity of on-wall paintings at the ‘Genyornis’ site, tiny pieces of both pigmented and unpigmented rock were sampled from the‘Genyornis’ panel. X-ray fluorescence, SEM-EDX, PIXE, Raman and infrared spectroscopies, and XRD analyses were undertaken to determine the natural or cultural status of the excavated coloured rocks (potential ochre pieces)from Nawarla Gabarnmang. This paper presents results obtained so far.
Bien que l’on ait souvent prétendu avoir la preuve que l’Australie possède certaines œuvres d’art... more Bien que l’on ait souvent prétendu avoir la preuve que l’Australie possède certaines œuvres d’art rupestre les plus anciennes du monde et figure au premier plan des études sur cet art, très peu sont en fait bien datées. Récemment, fut signalée la première date pléistocène pour du pigment (peinture, dessin, imprimé ou en négatif) en Terre d’Arnhem, représentant l’un des exemples les plus anciens bien datés d’un art rupestre enfoui (voir Aubert 2012 et David et al. 2013a pour des études récentes sur les datations d’art rupestre australiennes).
Les sites d'art rupestre de la Terre d'Arnhem (Northern Territory, Australie) sont les te... more Les sites d'art rupestre de la Terre d'Arnhem (Northern Territory, Australie) sont les temoins de l'occupation de ce territoire sur plusieurs dizaines de milliers d'annees par les ancetres des communautes aborigenes. Leur etude permet de mieux connaitre la culture et l'histoire de ces societes et l'antiquite de certains de ces sites (plus de 40 000 ans) laisse entrevoir la possibilite de preciser l'histoire du peuplement du continent australien [1]. C'est dans cette optique, et a l'instigation de la communaute Jawoyn, que le programme de recherche Connecting Country a ete mis en place par l'universite de Monash autour d'une equipe interdisciplinaire et internationale (Australie, Nouvelle-Zelande, France) [2]. La tres grande difficulte de dater directement les peintures des abris-sous-roche de la Terre d'Arnhem a motive l'elaboration d'une methode de reconstitution de la chronologie relative des representations rupestres. Cette methode fait appel a des indices provenant de l'etude de l'art, de la geomorphologie des parois, de l'archeologie du sol et de comparaisons avec les sites voisins. En combinant l'analyse stratigraphique des representations graphiques, la caracterisation physico-chimique des pigments - in-situ avec des techniques portables non-destructives ou en laboratoire sur microechantillons - l'analyse des artefacts et colorants trouves en fouille, l'etude du support rocheux et des mecanismes d'alteration de la roche et des pigments, il est possible de proposer une premiere esquisse de la chronologie relative des interventions humaines sur les parois des sites etudies et des evenements naturels les ayant affectees.
Abstract The archaeological record of Lower Laura (aka Boralga) Native Mounted Police camp, a lon... more Abstract The archaeological record of Lower Laura (aka Boralga) Native Mounted Police camp, a longstanding base for Queensland’s frontier war in Cape York Peninsula, includes a diverse assemblage of culturally modified Erythophleum chlorastychys (Cooktown ironwood) trees. Analysis of cultural scar attributes and tool marks – which were found to be variously associated with Aboriginal stone tools, tomahawks of different types, and long handled axes – reveals a scenario of nineteenth century land use and technology that transcends the pre-conflict era of Aboriginal clan estates. As well as reflecting traditional patterns of Aboriginal tenure of prime waterfront land, the assemblage reveals innovations that occurred in Aboriginal technology in the lead-up to war. However, an unusual style of cultural scar cut using long handled axes appears to signal transformations in demography and land use following Native Mounted Police occupation. By integrating historical, oral history, spatial, typological, and botanical data this study provides evidence of demographic and environmental changes set in train by the gold-rush invasion. It also highlights the complexities of documenting Cooktown ironwood trees of advanced age and their fragile, deteriorating cultural modifications.
CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, 2016
This paper presents archaeological evidence for the initial occupation and use of a large clan os... more This paper presents archaeological evidence for the initial occupation and use of a large clan ossuary on the upper Kikori River at Baina in Papua New Guinea. Drawing extensively on clan oral accounts of its use and function, it is posited that the timing and use of the site as an ossuary effectively dates the establishment of a sub clan entity known as Kesele and the fragmentation of larger clan based land owning units into smaller sub-clan entities dating from around 200 years ago in the region. It is further posited that evidence of the more intensive use of the site from around 600 years ago and its subsequent use as an ossuary at 200 years ago may be linked to its proximity to an important lithic raw material source used in the manufacture of sago pounders, a major trade item linked to the hiri pottery trade.
Western Arnhem Land's rock art is world famous yet very poorly dated. Understanding its histo... more Western Arnhem Land's rock art is world famous yet very poorly dated. Understanding its history over tens of thousands of years has huge implications for understanding Aboriginal cultural history. In this purpose, the rock art of the Arnhem Land plateau of Jawoyn country is archaeologically characterized and dated (1). Within the framework of "Jawoyn Rock Art and Heritage Program", this study focus on one particular rockshelter, where a bird, extincted 45 000 years ago, the Genyornis Newtoni was represented (2). During the excavation, pieces of colored matter were considered as potential pigment. In order to determine, i) the nature of used pigments constituents and their preparation mode, (ii) their geographic origin and (iii) the chronology of paintings, rock-painting pigments were sampled on the Genyornis panel and compared with excavated samples. Macroscopic observations (MO), thus analysis of the pigments composition carried out by means of scanning electron micro...
Dans le cadre du projet du "Jawoyn RockArt and Heritage Program", des membres de la Jaw... more Dans le cadre du projet du "Jawoyn RockArt and Heritage Program", des membres de la Jawoyn Association et les partenaires francais (EDYTEM et CNP) se sont interesses a l'etude du panneau de Genyornis, en Terre d'Arnhem (Australie) qui represente d'un oiseau disparu il y a environ 45 000 ans, Genyornis newtoni. Afin de determiner, i) la nature des constituants des pigments utilises et leur mode de preparation, ii) leur origine geographique et, iii) la chronologie des peintures, neuf echantillons de peinture ont ete preleves sur le panneau. Des observations macroscopiques (OM), ainsi que des analyses sur la composition des pigments faites par microscopie electronique a balayage couplee a un detecteur de rayons X en energie dispersive (MEB-EDS) et par microspectrometrie Raman ont ete effectuees sur echantillons bruts ou blocs polis. Des oxydes de fer, sous forme d'hematite et de goethite, ont ete identifies au niveau de la couche picturale. Le support matricie...
This paper examines the impact the massacre at Myall Creek had on subsequent frontier interaction... more This paper examines the impact the massacre at Myall Creek had on subsequent frontier interactions in other parts of Australia. It is argued that its aftermath in the region then known as Northern NSW, where a Native Police force was formed a decade later was extensive and that Aboriginal responses to the event provide new insights, including how people from different Aboriginal groups at the time may have heard about Myall Creek and other violent clashes with white settlers, and how their families remember frontier conflict today.
Review(s) of: Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: A Reader, by edited by R.W. Preucel and I. Hodd... more Review(s) of: Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: A Reader, by edited by R.W. Preucel and I. Hodder, Blackwell Publishers Ltd. (1996) xiv, 678 pages, ISBN 0 631 19561 0 (paperback), Price US$24.95. Includes references.
This paper examines the nature of archaeological evidence relating to frontier confl ict/violence... more This paper examines the nature of archaeological evidence relating to frontier confl ict/violence in the Australian context. Because of the unique nature of Aboriginal/European frontier encounters, it is argued that a focus on locating archaeological evidence for massacres is problematic. It is suggested that rather than focus on frontier confl ict in terms of massacre sites, archaeologists employ a broader social landscape archaeological approach, thus allowing a more holistic contextualisation of Aboriginal/European frontier interactions.
Abstract This paper presents archaeological evidence for the initial occupation and use of a larg... more Abstract This paper presents archaeological evidence for the initial occupation and use of a large clan ossuary on the upper Kikori River at Baina in Papua New Guinea. Drawing extensively on clan oral accounts of its use and function, it is posited that the timing and use of the site as an ossuary effectively dates the establishment of a sub clan entity known as Kesele and the fragmentation of larger clan based land owning units into smaller sub-clan entities dating from around 200 years ago in the region. It is further posited that evidence of the more intensive use of the site from around 600 years ago and its subsequent use as an ossuary at 200 years ago may be linked to its proximity to an important lithic raw material source used in the manufacture of sago pounders, a major trade item linked to the hiri pottery trade.
The Archaeology of Rock Art in Western Arnhem Land, Australia, 2017
This chapter explores the incongruity in the distribution of European contact motifs in northwest... more This chapter explores the incongruity in the distribution of European contact motifs in northwestern and southwestern Arnhem Land.
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Papers by Bryce Barker