
Overview
Background
I studied archaeology at the University of Queensland, then completed my PhD at the Australian National University under the supervision of Prof Peter Hiscock and Distinguished Professor Sue O'Connor on Holocene technological and cultural change in Wardaman Country, Northern Territory. I then took up a postdoctoral Fellowship in the Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolution at the University of Cambridge, working closely with Professors Robert Foley, Marta Mirazon Lahr and Michael Petraglia. I returned to UQ as an ARC Fellow in 2004 and then took up a lectureship in the School of Social Science in 2005. My teaching is centred on stone tools, ancient technologies, Anustralian Indigenous heritage, Human Evolution and other topics. My research involves working closely with Aboriginal people documenting their cultural heritage, understanding the evolution of our species and the migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa and long-term change in many parts of the world, including East Timor, France, Africa, and India. I am currently working on Australia's oldest known site of Madjedbebe in close collaboration with the Mirarr and Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, and the site of Malangangerr with the Manilikarr, Njanmja Aboriginal Corporation and Kakadu National Park.
Availability
- Professor Chris Clarkson is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Research interests
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Long-term cultural and technological change in western Arnhem Land
In collaboration with Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, Njanmja Aboriginal Corporation and Kakadu National Park
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The technological signature of Homo sapiens Out of Africa migration
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Long-term cultural change on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
In collaboration with Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation and Everick Heritage PTY LTD
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Global origins of stone projectile point technology
Works
Search Professor Chris Clarkson’s works on UQ eSpace
2012
Journal Article
Hominin Dispersal into the Nefud Desert and Middle Palaeolithic Settlement along the Jubbah Palaeolake, Northern Arabia
Petraglia, Michael D., Alsharekh, Abdullah, Breeze, Paul, Clarkson, Chris, Crassard, Remy, Drake, Nick A., Groucutt, Huw S., Jennings, Richard, Parker, Adrian G., Parton, Ash, Roberts, Richard G., Shipton, Ceri, Matheson, Carney, al-Omari, Abdulaziz and Veall, Margaret-Ashley (2012). Hominin Dispersal into the Nefud Desert and Middle Palaeolithic Settlement along the Jubbah Palaeolake, Northern Arabia. Plos One, 7 (11) e49840, e49840-1-e49840-21. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049840
2012
Journal Article
A southern Indian Middle Palaeolithic occupation surface sealed by the 74 ka Toba eruption: Further evidence from Jwalapuram Locality 22
Haslam, Michael, Clarkson, Chris, Roberts, Richard G., Bora, Janardhana, Korisettar, Ravi, Ditchfield, Peter, Chivas, Allan R., Harris, Clair, Smith, Victoria, Oh, Anna, Eksambekar, Sanjay, Boivin, Nicole and Petraglia, Michael (2012). A southern Indian Middle Palaeolithic occupation surface sealed by the 74 ka Toba eruption: Further evidence from Jwalapuram Locality 22. Quaternary International, 258, 148-164. doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.08.040
2012
Journal Article
Continuity and change in the lithic industries of the Jurreru Valley, India, before and after the Toba eruption
Clarkson, Chris, Jones, Sacha and Harris, Clair (2012). Continuity and change in the lithic industries of the Jurreru Valley, India, before and after the Toba eruption. Quaternary International, 258, 165-179. doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.11.007
2012
Journal Article
Dhaba: An initial report on an Acheulean, Middle Palaeolithic and microlithic locality in the Middle Son Valley, north-central India
Haslam, Michael, Harris, Clair, Clarkson, Chris, Pal, J. N., Shipton, Ceri, Crowther, Alison, Koshy, Jinu, Bora, Janardhana, Ditchfield, Peter, Ram, Harindra Prasad, Price, Kathryn, Dubey, A. K. and Petraglia, Michael (2012). Dhaba: An initial report on an Acheulean, Middle Palaeolithic and microlithic locality in the Middle Son Valley, north-central India. Quaternary International, 258, 191-199. doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.09.007
2011
Journal Article
Nawarla Gabarnmang, a 45,180±910 cal BP Site in Jawoyn country, southwest Arnhem Land Plateau
David, Bruno, Geneste, Jean-Michel, Wear, Ray L., Delannoy, Jean-Jacques, Katherine, Margaret, Gunn, R. G., Clarkson, Christopher, Plisson, Hughes, Lee, Preston, Petchey, Fiona, Rowe, Cassandra, Barker, Bryce, Lamb, Lara, Miller, Wes, Hoerle, Stephane, James, Daniel, Boche, Elisa, Aplin, Ken, McNiven, Ian J., Richards, Thomas, Fairbairn, Andrew and Matthews, Jacqueline (2011). Nawarla Gabarnmang, a 45,180±910 cal BP Site in Jawoyn country, southwest Arnhem Land Plateau. Australian Archaeology, 73 (73), 73-77. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2011.11961928
2011
Journal Article
Pelagic fishing at 42,000 years before the present and the maritime skills of modern humans
O'Connor, Sue, Ono, Rintaro and Clarkson, Chris (2011). Pelagic fishing at 42,000 years before the present and the maritime skills of modern humans. Science, 334 (6059), 1117-1121. doi: 10.1126/science.1207703
2011
Journal Article
From small holes to grand narratives: The impact of taphonomy and sample size on the modernity debate in Australia and New Guinea
Langley, Michelle C., Clarkson, Christopher and Ulm, Sean (2011). From small holes to grand narratives: The impact of taphonomy and sample size on the modernity debate in Australia and New Guinea. Journal of Human Evolution, 61 (2), 197-208. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.03.002
2011
Journal Article
Estimating original flake mass from 3D scans of platform area
Clarkson, Chris and Hiscock, Peter (2011). Estimating original flake mass from 3D scans of platform area. Journal of Archaeological Science, 38 (5), 1062-1068. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2010.12.001
2011
Journal Article
Big debates over little tools: Ongoing disputes over microliths on three continents
Hiscock, Peter, Clarkson, Chris and Mackay, Alex (2011). Big debates over little tools: Ongoing disputes over microliths on three continents. World Archaeology, 43 (4), 653-664. doi: 10.1080/00438243.2011.624755
2010
Journal Article
The 74 ka Toba super-eruption and southern Indian hominins: Archaeology, lithic technology and environments at Jwalapuram Locality 3
Haslam, Michael, Clarkson, Chris, Petraglia, Michael, Korisettar, Ravi, Jones, Sacha, Shipton, Ceri, Ditchfield, Peter and Ambrose, Stanley H. (2010). The 74 ka Toba super-eruption and southern Indian hominins: Archaeology, lithic technology and environments at Jwalapuram Locality 3. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37 (12), 3370-3384. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2010.07.034
2010
Journal Article
Earliest evidence for ground-edge axes: 35,400±410 cal BP from Jawoyn Country, Arnhem Land
Geneste, Jean-Michel, David, Bruno, Plisson, Hugues, Clarkson, Chris, Delannoy, Jean-Jacques, Petchey, Fiona and Whear, Ray (2010). Earliest evidence for ground-edge axes: 35,400±410 cal BP from Jawoyn Country, Arnhem Land. Australian Archaeology, 71 (71), 66-69. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2010.11689385
2010
Journal Article
Historicising the present: Late Holocene emergence of a rainforest hunting camp, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea
McNiven, Ian J., David, Bruno, Aplin, Ken, Pivoru, Max, Pivoru, William, Sexton, Alex, Brown, Jonathan, Clarkson, Chris, Connell, Kate, Stanisic, John, Weisler, Marshall, Haberle, Simon, Fairbairn, Andrew and Kemp, Noel (2010). Historicising the present: Late Holocene emergence of a rainforest hunting camp, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea. Australian Archaeology, 71 (71), 41-56. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2010.11689383
2010
Journal Article
Out of Africa: New hypotheses and evidence for the dispersal of Homo sapiens along the Indian Ocean rim
Petraglia, Michael D., Haslam, Michael, Fuller, Dorian Q., Boivin, Nicole and Clarkson, Chris (2010). Out of Africa: New hypotheses and evidence for the dispersal of Homo sapiens along the Indian Ocean rim. Annals of Human Biology, 37 (3), 288-311. doi: 10.3109/03014461003639249
2010
Journal Article
The Emo site (OAC), Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea: Resolving long-standing questions of antiquity and implications for the history of the ancestral Hiri maritime trade
David, Bruno, Geneste, Jean-Michel, Aplin, Ken, Delannoy, Jean-Jacques, Araho, Nick, Clarkson, Chris, Connell, Kate, Haberle, Simon, Barker, Bryce, Lamb, Lara, Stanisic, John, Fairbairn, Andrew, Skelly, Robert and Rowe, Cassandra (2010). The Emo site (OAC), Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea: Resolving long-standing questions of antiquity and implications for the history of the ancestral Hiri maritime trade. Australian Archaeology, 70 (1), 39-54. doi: 10.1080/03122417.2010.11681910
2010
Journal Article
Dynamic approaches to teaching lithic technology: Using YouTube in the classroom
Eren, Metin I., Kollecker Mark A., Clarkson, Christopher J. and Bradley, Bruce A. (2010). Dynamic approaches to teaching lithic technology: Using YouTube in the classroom. Ethnoarchaeology, 2 (2), 223-233.
2010
Book Chapter
Regional diversity within the core technology of the Howiesons Poort techno-complex
Clarkson, Chris (2010). Regional diversity within the core technology of the Howiesons Poort techno-complex. New perspectives on old stones: Analytical approaches to palaeolithic technologies. (pp. 43-60) edited by Lycett, S. and Chauhan, P.. New York , U.S.A.: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419-6861-6_3
2010
Book Chapter
Indian lithic technology prior to the 74,000 BP Toba super-eruption: Searching for an early modern human signature
Haslam, Michael, Clarkson, Chris, Petraglia, Michael, Korisettar, Ravi, B., Janardhana, Boivin, Nicole, Ditchfield, Peter, Jones, Sacha and Mackay, Alex (2010). Indian lithic technology prior to the 74,000 BP Toba super-eruption: Searching for an early modern human signature. The upper Palaeolithic revolution in global perspective: Papers in honour of Sir Paul Mellars. (pp. 73-84) edited by Katherine V. Boyle, Clive Gamble, Ofer Bar-Yosef and James Barrett. Cambridge, U.K.: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge University.
2009
Journal Article
AUSTRALIA'S EASTERN REGIONAL SEQUENCE REVISITED: TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGE AT CAPERTEE 3
Clarkson, C (2009). AUSTRALIA'S EASTERN REGIONAL SEQUENCE REVISITED: TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGE AT CAPERTEE 3. AUSTRALIAN ARCHAEOLOGY (69), 76-77.
2009
Journal Article
The reality of reduction experiments and the GIUR: Reply to Eren and Sampson
Hiscock, Peter and Clarkson, Chris (2009). The reality of reduction experiments and the GIUR: Reply to Eren and Sampson. Journal of Archaeological Science, 36 (7), 1576-1581. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2009.03.019
2009
Journal Article
Population increase and environmental deterioration correspond with microlithic innovations in South Asia ca. 35,000 years ago
Petraglia, Michael, Clarkson, Christopher, Boivin, Nicole, Haslam, Michael, Korisettar, Ravi, Chaubey, Gyaneshwer, Ditchfield, Peter, Fuller, Dorian, James, Hannah, Jones, Sacha, Kivisild, Toomas, Koshy, Jinu, Lahr, Marta Mirazón, Metspalu, Mait, Roberts, Richard and Arnold, Lee (2009). Population increase and environmental deterioration correspond with microlithic innovations in South Asia ca. 35,000 years ago. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106 (30), 12261-12266. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0810842106
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Chris Clarkson is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Analysis of stone artefact assemblages or experimental archaeology
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
High-speed impact fractures and the global origins of projectile technology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther
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Doctor Philosophy
Hidden in the Haematite: patterns of continuity and change reflected in the selection, production and use of haematite at Madjedbebe, Arhmen Land, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther
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Doctor Philosophy
Seed grinding in traditional Aboriginal Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther
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Doctor Philosophy
Seed grinding in traditional Aboriginal Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther
-
Doctor Philosophy
Aboriginal and Environmental Interactions in Northern Australia: A faunal analysis of Malangangerr
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther, Associate Professor Tiina Manne
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterising damage to bone by Sarcophilus harrisii, Dasyurus maculatus and Dasyurus viverrinus in Australian archaeological assemblages
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tiina Manne
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterising damage to bone by Sarcophilus harrisii and Dasyurus maculatus in archaeological and palaeontological assemblages from Sahul
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tiina Manne
Completed supervision
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2020
Master Philosophy
Pieces of a ground stone puzzle: experimental studies of seed-grinding in traditional Aboriginal Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tiina Manne
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Regime change: An anthracological assessment of fuel wood selection and management at Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II), Mirarr country, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Fairbairn
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2017
Master Philosophy
The role of experimental knapping in empirically testing key themes in the evolution of lithic technology: reduction intensity, efficiency and behavioural complexity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Fairbairn
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Archaeological Expressions of Holocene Cultural and Environmental Change in Coastal Southeast Queensland
Principal Advisor
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2010
Master Philosophy
Material culture and behaviour in pleistocene sahul: examining the archaeological representation of pleistocene behavioural modernity in sahul
Principal Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
A Technological Analysis of a Neolithic Lithic Workshop at Bai Ben, Vietnam
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Ian Lilley
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Polynesian quarrying and adze production in southern New Zealand: Social organisation and manufacturing technology
Associate Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Archaeobotanical investigations into 65,000 years of plant food use at Madjedbebe, Mirarr country, northern Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Fairbairn
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Worn to the Bone: Use-wear of bone points from the Madjedbebe rockshelter, Arnhem Land
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther, Associate Professor Tiina Manne
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
A Peacock's Tale: Runaway agricultural evolution and the development of Pre-Pottery Neolithic communities in the southern Levant
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Fairbairn
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Chris Clarkson directly for media enquiries about:
- Archaeology
- Human Evolution
- Indigenous Archaeology
- Stone Tools
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