This PhD project aims to characterise Australian archaeological ochres and identify the origins and movements of these around the arid zone by developing novel minimally destructive and non-destructive techniques. These approaches will help answer significant questions about past human behaviour, ochre transport and movement, and the use of pigment for different cultural applications. These methods also have potential to connect material culture with cultural landscapes and rock art on Country. In partnership with three partner Indigenous organisations and the Western Australian Museum, the candidate will focus on material culture based in Museum collections with opportunities for fieldwork during the project. Desert to the Sea: Managing Rock Art, Country and Culture Project will expand our understanding of Aboriginal settlement and land-use in north-west Australia by investigating how the mythological narratives of Australia’s deserts enable the transmission of knowledge in water-limited environments. The Project, led by CI Professor Jo McDonald (UWA), will address several objectives that bring together both Indigenous knowledge and western scientific approaches to develop improved management outcomes for Indigenous ranger groups managing vast cultural estates with significant rock art. To achieve this Project’s ambitious goals, our researchers and collaborators are organised into four interrelated Research Nodes: Rock art and Jukurrpa, Fire and Plants, Collections, and Managing Cultural Landscapes.
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