
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
2005
Book Chapter
Measuring Artefact Reduction: An evaluation of Kuhn's Geometric Index of Unifacial Reduction
Hiscock, Peter and Clarkson, Chris (2005). Measuring Artefact Reduction: An evaluation of Kuhn's Geometric Index of Unifacial Reduction. Lithics 'Down Under': Australian Approaches to Lithic Reduction, Use and Classification. (pp. 7-20) edited by Clarkson, Chris and Lamb, Lara. Oxford: Archaeopress.
2005
Book Chapter
Tenuous Types - Scraper Reduction Continuums in the Eastern Victoria River Region, Northern Territory
Clarkson, Chris (2005). Tenuous Types - Scraper Reduction Continuums in the Eastern Victoria River Region, Northern Territory. Lithics "Down Under": Australian Approaches to Lithic Reduction, Use and Classification. (pp. 21-34) Oxford: Archaeopress.
2005
Book Chapter
Edge-ground hatchets on the Southern Curtis Coast, Central Queensland: A preliminary Assessment of Technology, Chronology and Provenance
Ulm, Sean, Cotter, Stephen, Cotter, Maria, Lilley, Ian, Clarkson, Chris and Reid, Jill (2005). Edge-ground hatchets on the Southern Curtis Coast, Central Queensland: A preliminary Assessment of Technology, Chronology and Provenance. Many Exchanges: Archaeology, History, Community and the Work of Isabel McBryde. (pp. 323-342) edited by Ingereth Macfarlane, Mary-Jane Mountain and Robert Paton. Canberra: Aboriginal History Inc..
2005
Book Chapter
Introduction: Casting new light on old stones
Clarkson, C. J. and Lamb, L. (2005). Introduction: Casting new light on old stones. Lithics 'Down Under': Australian Approaches to Lithic Reduction, Use and Classification. (pp. 1-6) edited by C. Clarkson and L. Lamb. Oxford: Archaeopress.
2005
Journal Article
Experimental evaluation of Kuhn's geometric index of reduction and the flat-flake problem
Hiscock, Peter and Clarkson, Chris (2005). Experimental evaluation of Kuhn's geometric index of reduction and the flat-flake problem. Journal of Archaeological Science, 32 (7), 1015-1022. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2005.02.002
2003
Conference Publication
The search for El Nino/Southern Oscillation in archaeological sites: Recent results for Jugali-ya Rockshelter, Wardaman Country
Clarkson, C. and Wallis, L. (2003). The search for El Nino/Southern Oscillation in archaeological sites: Recent results for Jugali-ya Rockshelter, Wardaman Country. The State-of-the-Art in Phytolith and Starch Research in the Australian-Pacific-Asian Regions, Canberra, Australia, 1-3 August 2001. Canberra, Australia: Pandanus Books.
2003
Book Chapter
The search for El Nino/Southern Oscillation in archaeological Sites: Recent results from Jugali-Ya Rockshelter, Wardaman Country, Australia
Clarkson, C. and Wallis, Lynley (2003). The search for El Nino/Southern Oscillation in archaeological Sites: Recent results from Jugali-Ya Rockshelter, Wardaman Country, Australia. Phytolith and starch research in the Australian-Pacific-Asian regions : the state of the art : papers from a conference held at the ANU, August 2001, Canberra, Australia. (pp. 137-152) edited by D.M. Hart and L. A. Wallis. Canberra: Pandanus Press: The Australian National University.
2002
Journal Article
An Index of Invasiveness for the Measurement of Unifacial and Bifacial Retouch: A Theoretical, Experimental and Archaeological Verification
Clarkson, Chris (2002). An Index of Invasiveness for the Measurement of Unifacial and Bifacial Retouch: A Theoretical, Experimental and Archaeological Verification. Journal of Archaeological Science, 29 (1), 65-75. doi: 10.1006/jasc.2001.0702
2002
Journal Article
Holocene scraper reduction, technological organization and landuse at Ingaladdi Rockshelter, northern Australia
Clarkson, Chris (2002). Holocene scraper reduction, technological organization and landuse at Ingaladdi Rockshelter, northern Australia. Archaeology in Oceania, 37 (2), 79-86. doi: 10.1002/j.1834-4453.2002.tb00508.x
2001
Journal Article
Technological Change in Wardaman Country: Report on the 1999 Season
Clarkson, Chris (2001). Technological Change in Wardaman Country: Report on the 1999 Season. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2001 (1), 63-68.
2000
Journal Article
Analysing Australian Stone Artefacts: an Agenda for the Twenty-First Century
Clarkson, Chris and Hiscock, Peter (2000). Analysing Australian Stone Artefacts: an Agenda for the Twenty-First Century. Australian Archaeology, 50, 98-108.
1999
Journal Article
Roof Fall Cave, Cania Gorge: Site report
Eales, Tony, Westcott, Catherine, Lilley, Ian, Ulm, Sean, Brian, Deborah and Clarkson, Chris (1999). Roof Fall Cave, Cania Gorge: Site report. Queensland Archaeological Research, 11, 29-42.
1999
Journal Article
Big Foot Art Site, Cania Gorge: Site report
Westcott, Catherine, Lilley, Ian, Ulm, Sean, Clarkson, Chris and Brian, Deborah (1999). Big Foot Art Site, Cania Gorge: Site report. Queensland Archaeological Research, 11, 43-58. doi: 10.25120/qar.11.1999.86
1998
Journal Article
Pleistocene Aboriginal occupation at Cania Gorge, Central Queensland: preliminary results of fieldwork
Lilley, Ian, Brian, Deborah, Clarkson, Chris and Ulm, Sean (1998). Pleistocene Aboriginal occupation at Cania Gorge, Central Queensland: preliminary results of fieldwork. Archaeology in Oceania, 33 (1), 28-31. doi: 10.1002/j.1834-4453.1998.tb00397.x
1994
Other Outputs
A technological investigation into the beginnings of systematic blade production at Garnawala 2, Northern Territory
Clarkson, C. M. V. (Christopher M. V.) (1994). A technological investigation into the beginnings of systematic blade production at Garnawala 2, Northern Territory. Honours Thesis, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2020.459
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
-
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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