Publications
A revised chronology and depositional history for the Outer Arumpo lunette, Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, NSW
Lakes in the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area exhibit distinct hydrologic histories, challenging the long-held assumption that Lake Mungo's depositional record is representative of the entire system. A new study reveals that the Outer Arumpo (OA) lunette experienced significant lake level fluctuations between ~40–38 ka ago, contrasting with the relatively stable conditions at Lake Mungo during the same period. Bayesian modeling of 52 single-grain OSL ages and sediment micromorphological analysis across seven stratigraphic units demonstrates that OA's hydrologic history is unique, with lake filling occurring from ~80–56 ka ago and subsequent rapid fluctuations. This research underscores the need for site-specific stratigraphic frameworks to accurately interpret landscape changes in multi-lake systems.
Lead (Pb) isotope signatures for silcrete sources from the Willandra Lakes region, Australia: A pilot study of a new method for provenancing silcrete artefacts
A pilot study demonstrates that lead (Pb) isotope analysis can effectively differentiate silcrete sources within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Willandra Lakes Region, Australia. The research reveals distinct Pb isotope signatures between silcrete sources, enabling potential provenance tracking of artefacts. While intra-source variation lacks spatial patterning, inter-source differences are clear, particularly for more distant sources. This method offers a promising new approach to investigate how silcrete was utilized and transported across landscapes in prehistoric times.
Biocultural GIS mapping: A Living Country and Terra Nullius, Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area (WLRWHA), NSW
A groundbreaking biocultural GIS mapping study of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area (WLRWHA) reveals critical insights into the interplay between Indigenous land management and ecological dynamics. The research integrates traditional knowledge with modern geospatial analysis to challenge historical narratives, particularly the concept of 'Terra Nullius,' by demonstrating sustained human occupation and biocultural interactions over millennia. The study employs advanced GIS techniques to map land use patterns, biodiversity hotspots, and cultural landscapes, providing a holistic framework for understanding the region's ecological and social history. This approach offers a model for future heritage management, emphasizing the importance of integrating Indigenous perspectives with scientific data.
Biocultural mapping: unpacking the myth of an unsuitable Country in the arid zone, Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, Australia
Research reveals that the Willandra Lakes Region, previously considered unsuitable for habitation due to arid conditions and European biases, was actively inhabited by Aboriginal communities prior to colonization. Using Exploratory GIS methods, the study demonstrates the existence of diverse biocultural zones of land use and occupancy, challenging the myth of 'Terra Nullius' and highlighting the ecological and hydrological significance of these areas. The findings underscore the need for biocultural GIS mapping tools to better understand and protect habitable spaces in arid regions, which have been historically ignored or damaged by settlements.
Exploratory GIS: Modelling Past Land Use and Occupancy with Functional Connectivity, Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, NSW, Australia
GIS models reveal critical pathways of past land use and occupancy within the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, highlighting how 19th-century European settlement disrupted traditional functional connectivity. By mapping potential connections between ecologically significant patches and key hydrology, these models expose previously unrecognized impacts on Country, including exploitation through fence construction and groundwater appropriation. The iterative, exploratory nature of the approach allows for multiple interpretations of space, offering diverse perspectives on pre-European settlement patterns and their lasting consequences.
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