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Professor Chris Clarkson
Professor

Chris Clarkson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53235

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

  • Long-term cultural and technological change in western Arnhem Land

    In collaboration with Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, Njanmja Aboriginal Corporation and Kakadu National Park

  • The technological signature of Homo sapiens Out of Africa migration

  • Long-term cultural change on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

    In collaboration with Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation and Everick Heritage PTY LTD

  • Global origins of stone projectile point technology

Works

Search Professor Chris Clarkson’s works on UQ eSpace

113 works between 1994 and 2024

61 - 80 of 113 works

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

A southern Indian Middle Palaeolithic occupation surface sealed by the 74 ka Toba eruption: Further evidence from Jwalapuram Locality 22

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

Continuity and change in the lithic industries of the Jurreru Valley, India, before and after the Toba eruption

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

Nawarla Gabarnmang, a 45,180±910 cal BP Site in Jawoyn country, southwest Arnhem Land Plateau

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

Pelagic fishing at 42,000 years before the present and the maritime skills of modern humans

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

From small holes to grand narratives: The impact of taphonomy and sample size on the modernity debate in Australia and New Guinea

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

Estimating original flake mass from 3D scans of platform area

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

Big debates over little tools: Ongoing disputes over microliths on three continents

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

The 74 ka Toba super-eruption and southern Indian hominins: Archaeology, lithic technology and environments at Jwalapuram Locality 3

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

Earliest evidence for ground-edge axes: 35,400±410 cal BP from Jawoyn Country, Arnhem Land

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

Historicising the present: Late Holocene emergence of a rainforest hunting camp, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea

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

Out of Africa: New hypotheses and evidence for the dispersal of Homo sapiens along the Indian Ocean rim

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

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

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

Regional diversity within the core technology of the Howiesons Poort techno-complex

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.

Indian lithic technology prior to the 74,000 BP Toba super-eruption: Searching for an early modern human signature

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.

Dynamic approaches to teaching lithic technology: Using YouTube in the classroom

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.

AUSTRALIA'S EASTERN REGIONAL SEQUENCE REVISITED: TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGE AT CAPERTEE 3

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

The reality of reduction experiments and the GIUR: Reply to Eren and Sampson

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

Population increase and environmental deterioration correspond with microlithic innovations in South Asia ca. 35,000 years ago

2009

Journal Article

The oldest and longest enduring microlithic sequence in India: 35 000 years of modern human occupation and change at the Jwalapuram Locality 9 rockshelter

Clarkson, Chris, Petraglia, Michael, Korisettar, Ravi, Haslam, Michael, Boivin, Nicole, Crowther, Alison, Ditchfield, Peter, Fuller, Dorian, Miracle, Preston, Harris, Clair, Connell, Kate, James, Hannah and Koshy, Jinu (2009). The oldest and longest enduring microlithic sequence in India: 35 000 years of modern human occupation and change at the Jwalapuram Locality 9 rockshelter. Antiquity, 83 (320), 326-348. doi: 10.1017/S0003598X0009846X

The oldest and longest enduring microlithic sequence in India: 35 000 years of modern human occupation and change at the Jwalapuram Locality 9 rockshelter

2009

Book Chapter

Stone artefact manufacture at the Natunuku, Votua, Kulu and Ugaga sites, Fiji

Clarkson, Chris and Schmidt, Lyn (2009). Stone artefact manufacture at the Natunuku, Votua, Kulu and Ugaga sites, Fiji. The early prehistory of Fiji. (pp. 345-372) edited by Geoffrey Clark and Atholl Anderson. Canberra, A.C.T., Australia: ANU E Press.

Stone artefact manufacture at the Natunuku, Votua, Kulu and Ugaga sites, Fiji

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    The impact of sea level rise on humans in Indonesia and the origins of new rock art styles, technological change and seafaring. Stage 1: Partner Meetings and Workshops in Jakarta
    Rock Art Australia Strategic Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    High-speed impact fractures and the global origins of projectile technology
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Rock art, archaeology and climate change in the Meikinj Valley, Western Arnhem Land
    Rock Art Australia Strategic Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    When did modern humans first reach Australia? New Excavations at Malangangerr, Kakadu National Park
    National Geographic Society
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Establishing the antiquity and quantity of pigment processing at Madjedbebe
    Rock Art Australia Strategic Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Zooming In, Zooming Out: High-Definition Multi-Scalar Technologies in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Environment
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS) and ancillary preparation systems for carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope microanalysis for archaeology, biology, earth and environmental scie
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    New Archaeological Investigations at Ancient Sites in Kakadu National Park
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Ochre Origins: analysing early evidence of the human colonisation of Sahul
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Operationalising research collections in archaeological science and museum studies
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013
    AMS Radiocarbon dating of ancient hearths associated with burials, early occupation, grindstones and ground edge axes at Malakunanja II
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Building Capacity in Experimental and Scientific Archaeology at UQ
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Archaeology of rock art in Jawoyn country, western Arnhem Land (ARC Linkage Project administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2012
    A social science e-research hub for data management, analysis and dissemination in material and visual culture
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Analysis of the Lithic Assemblage from Mt Gellibrand
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Archaeological survey of 75 km of easement - Calvale
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Archaeological survey of 45 km of easement - Bouldercombe
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    Modern Human Origins and Early Behavioural Complexity in Australia and South East Asia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    New directions and capacity building in archaeological and palaeoenvironmental research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    ResTeach 2011 0.1 FTE School of Social Science
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Enhanced field and laboratory microscopy and spectroscopy facilities for understanding past and current environmental changes in Geographical and Archaeological Sciences
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Characterisation of chert quarries and the archaeology of the Hiri Trade System, Gulf Province Lowlands, PNG
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Assessing lithic evidence for the impact of the Toba super-eruption (74,000 years ago) on long-term cultural, biological and ecological histories on the Indian subcontinent
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Creating new research opportunities in archaeological & anthropological science
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    The African origins of Asian and Australian lithic technologies: Exploring modern human origins and dispersals using new techniques of core analysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Modelling Early Human Diversity and Dispersal Routes Using Quantitative Analysis of Palaeolithic Core Technologies
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Chris Clarkson is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Analysis of stone artefact assemblages or experimental archaeology

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    High-speed impact fractures and the global origins of projectile technology

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Seed grinding in traditional Aboriginal Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther

  • 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

  • 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

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Chris Clarkson directly for media enquiries about:

  • Archaeology
  • Human Evolution
  • Indigenous Archaeology
  • Stone Tools

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au