[ASC-list] BrisScience Reminder: Monday 18 May

[Lynelle Ross]

NEXT BRISSCIENCE TALK 18 May 2009
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Australia’s Rift Valley: the archaeology of the Willandra Lakes and  
investigations of its fossil trackway presented by Dr Michael  
Westaway, Curator (Archaeology),Queensland Museum.
  The Willandra Lakes has been described by some archaeologists as  
Australia’s Rift Valley. It contains some of the earliest evidence in  
the Australasian region of modern human occupation. The discovery of  
Mungo Lady forty years ago led to a significant revision of public  
appreciation of the age and complexity of Aboriginal occupation of  
Australia. In addition the landscape provides a comprehensive record  
of human adaptation to dramatic climate change over a 50,000 year  
period. The recently discovered fossil trackway site from the northern  
lakes in the system has emerged as one of the most exciting  
archaeological discoveries from within Australia this millennia. Many  
of the footprints are perfectly fossilised in a clay unit that is  
reliably dated to the peak of the Last Great Ice Age around 20,000  
years ago. But what else can they tell us about the Aboriginal people  
that lived in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area?
  In this paper I will discuss the importance of the Willandra for  
understanding the complexity of Aboriginal occupation and outline some  
of the main elements of the archaeological and palaeoenvironmental  
record. I will then discuss the results of further investigations at  
the Willandra Lakes fossil trackway including the outcome of a ground  
penetrating radar survey and redating of the fossil trackway, and a re- 
evaluation of the trackway speeds derived from data recorded by high  
resolution digital scanning.

     * Time: 6:30pm to 7:30pm (Doors open at 6pm)
     * Venue: Ithaca Auditorium, Brisbane City Hall
     * Refreshments: There will be complimentary drinks and nibblies  
following the talk, and Dr Westaway will be available to answer any  
questions.
     * Questions? Contact Lynelle (l.ross at smp.uq.edu.au)

This event is free and open to all. No RSVP necessary
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UPCOMING TALKS

22 June A/Prof Thomas Suddendorf
July TBC
17 August - INTECOL 09 International Ecology Panel Discussion.
September - Our Annual Brisbane Writers Festival talk
12 October - Dr Michael Murphy from Swinburne University - Topic to be  
confirmed (Astrophysics)
November - Dr Rod Rietze from Queensland Brain Institute at The  
University of Queensland

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 From your friendly BrisScience Co-ordinators, Joel and Lynelle
c/o School of Mathematics and Physics,
The University of Queensland,
Brisbane Australia, 4072
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