
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
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
2009
Journal Article
Human occupation, adaptation, and behavioral change in the Pleistocene and Holocene of South India: Recent Investigations in the Kurnool District, India
Petraglia, Michael, Korisettar, Ravi, Bai, M. Kasturi, Boivin, Nicole, Clarkson, Christopher, Cunningham, Kevin, Ditchfield, Peter, Fuller, Dorian, Hampson, Jamie, Haslam, Michael, Jones, Sacha, Koshy, Jinu, Miracle, Preston, Oppenheimer, Clive and White, Kevin (2009). Human occupation, adaptation, and behavioral change in the Pleistocene and Holocene of South India: Recent Investigations in the Kurnool District, India. Eurasian Prehistory, 6 (1-2), 119-166.
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.
2008
Journal Article
Behavioural complexity in Eurasian Neanderthal populations: A chronological examination of the archaeological evidence
Langley, Michelle C., Clarkson, Christopher and Ulm, Sean (2008). Behavioural complexity in Eurasian Neanderthal populations: A chronological examination of the archaeological evidence. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 18 (3), 289-307. doi: 10.1017/S095977430S000371
2008
Book Chapter
The construction of morphological diversity: A study of Mousterian Implement retouching at Combe Grenal
Hiscock, P and Clarkson, Christopher J. (2008). The construction of morphological diversity: A study of Mousterian Implement retouching at Combe Grenal. Lithic Technology: Measures of Production, Use, and Curation.. (pp. 106-135) edited by Andrefsky, W.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511499661.006
2008
Journal Article
Tapping into the past: Exploring the extent of Palaeolithic retouching through experimentation
Clarkson, C. J. and Hiscock, P. (2008). Tapping into the past: Exploring the extent of Palaeolithic retouching through experimentation. Lithic Technology, 33 (1), 5-16. doi: 10.1080/01977261.2008.11721057
2008
Book Chapter
Changing Reduction Intensity, Settlement, and Subsistence in W ardaman Country, Northern Australia
Clarkson, C.J. (2008). Changing Reduction Intensity, Settlement, and Subsistence in W ardaman Country, Northern Australia. Lithic Technology: Measures of production, use, and curation. (pp. 286-316) edited by Andrefsky, W.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511499661.014
2008
Journal Article
SCRAPER AND NOTCH REDUCTION IN MIDDLE AND UPPER PALAEOLITHIC ASSEMBLAGES FROM CENTRAL EUROPE
Nejman, L. and Clarkson, C.J. (2008). SCRAPER AND NOTCH REDUCTION IN MIDDLE AND UPPER PALAEOLITHIC ASSEMBLAGES FROM CENTRAL EUROPE. Lithic Technology, 33 (1), 17-30. doi: 10.1080/01977261.2008.11721058
2008
Book Chapter
Lithics in the landscape
Clarkson, Christopher J. (2008). Lithics in the landscape. Handbook of landscape archaeology. (pp. 490-501) edited by Bruno David and Julian Thomas. Walnut Creek, CA, U.S.A.: Left Coast Press.
2008
Journal Article
Behavioural complexity in Eurasian Neanderthal populations: A chronological examination of the archaeological evidence
Langley, M., Clarkson, C.J. and Ulm, S. (2008). Behavioural complexity in Eurasian Neanderthal populations: A chronological examination of the archaeological evidence. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 18 (3), 289-307. doi: 10.1017/S0959774308000371
2007
Journal Article
Middle Paleolithic Assemblages from the Indian Subcontinent before and after the Toba Super-Eruption
Petraglia, Michael, Korisettar, Ravi, Boivin, Nicole, Clarkson, Christopher, Ditchfield, Peter, Jones, Sacha, Koshy, Jinu, Lahr, Marta Mirazón, Oppenheimer, Clive, Pyle, David, Roberts, Richard, Schwenninger, Jean-Luc, Arnold, Lee and White, Kevin (2007). Middle Paleolithic Assemblages from the Indian Subcontinent before and after the Toba Super-Eruption. Science, 317 (5834), 114-116. doi: 10.1126/science.1141564
2007
Book
Lithics in the Land of the Lightning Brothers: The Archaeology of Wardaman Country, Northern Territory (Terra Australis 25)
Clarkson, C. (2007). Lithics in the Land of the Lightning Brothers: The Archaeology of Wardaman Country, Northern Territory (Terra Australis 25). Canberra: ANU E Press.
2007
Journal Article
Retouched notches at Combe Grenal and the reduction hypothesis
Hiscock, Peter and Clarkson, Chris (2007). Retouched notches at Combe Grenal and the reduction hypothesis. American Antiquity, 72 (1), 176-190. doi: 10.2307/40035303
2006
Journal Article
Explaining point variability in the eastern Victoria river region, northern territory
Clarkson, C. J. (2006). Explaining point variability in the eastern Victoria river region, northern territory. Archaeology In Oceania, 41 (3), 97-106. doi: 10.1002/j.1834-4453.2006.tb00618.x
2006
Journal Article
Quantifying Flake Scar Patterning on Cores Using 3D Recording Techniques
Clarkson, Chris, Vinicius, Lucio and Lahr, Marta (2006). Quantifying Flake Scar Patterning on Cores Using 3D Recording Techniques. Journal of Archaeological Science, 33 (1), 132-142. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2005.07.007
2006
Book Chapter
An Introduction to Stone Artefact Analysis
Clarkson, C. J. and O'Connor, S. (2006). An Introduction to Stone Artefact Analysis. Archaeology in Practice: A Student Guide to Archaeological Analyses. (pp. 159-206) edited by J. Blame and A. Patterson. Malden: Blackwell Publishing.
2006
Conference Publication
Exploring Change in Neanderthal Behavioural Complexity: An Innovative Approach to the Study of Neanderthal Behaviour
Langley, Michelle C., Ulm, Sean and Clarkson, Chris (2006). Exploring Change in Neanderthal Behavioural Complexity: An Innovative Approach to the Study of Neanderthal Behaviour. Australian Archaeological Association Annual Conference, Beechworth, Victoria, 8-10 December 2006.
2006
Journal Article
Comment on "Reassessing Australia's linguistic prehistory" by Mark Clendon
Clarkson, Chris (2006). Comment on "Reassessing Australia's linguistic prehistory" by Mark Clendon. Current Anthropology, 47 (1), 52-53.
2006
Journal Article
Reassessing Australia's linguistic prehistory: Comments
Clarkson, C. J. (2006). Reassessing Australia's linguistic prehistory: Comments. Current Anthropology, 47 (1), 52-53. doi: 10.1086/497671
2006
Journal Article
Interpreting Surface Assemblage Variation in Wardaman Country, Northern Territory: An Ecological Approach
Clarkson, Chris (2006). Interpreting Surface Assemblage Variation in Wardaman Country, Northern Territory: An Ecological Approach., 7, 177-192.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Chris Clarkson is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Analysis of stone artefact assemblages or experimental archaeology
Supervision history
Current supervision
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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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Seed grinding in traditional Aboriginal 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
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
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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
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
-
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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