The archaeology of ancient Australia

This book is an introduction to the archaeology of Australia from prehistoric times to the eighteenth century AD. It is the only up-to-date textbook on the subject and is designed for undergraduate courses, based on the author's considerable experience of teaching at the Australian National University. Lucidly written, it shows the diversity and colourfulness of the history of humanity in the southern continent. __The Archaeology of Ancient Australia__ demonstrates with an array of illustrations and clear descriptions of key archaeological evidence from Australia a thorough evaluation of Australian prehistory. Readers are shown how this human past can be reconstructed from archaeological evidence, supplemented by information from genetics, environmental sciences, anthropology, and history. The result is a challenging view about how varied human life in the ancient past has been. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Figures......Page 8 Preface......Page 14 Note about the case studies......Page 16 Note on terminology......Page 17 Acknowledgements......Page 18 1 The veil of Antipodean pre-history......Page 20 2 The colonization of Australia......Page 39 3 Early settlement across Australia......Page 64 4 Extinction of Pleistocene fauna......Page 82 5 Who were the first Australians?......Page 101 6 Life in Pleistocene Australia......Page 121 7 Tasmania isolated......Page 148 8 Technology in the Holocene......Page 164 9 Coastal economies in the Holocene......Page 181 10 Inland economies in the Holocene......Page 201 11 Arid zone economies in the Holocene......Page 218 12 Population growth and mobility......Page 238 13 Social identity and interaction during the Holocene......Page 264 14 The ethnographic challenge: Change in the last millennium......Page 287 Appendix: Radiocarbon dating......Page 305 References......Page 309 Index......Page 349

This book is an introduction to the archaeology of Australia from prehistoric times to the eighteenth century AD. It is the only up-to-date textbook on the subject and is designed for undergraduate courses, based on the author's considerable experience of teaching at the Australian National University. Lucidly written, it shows the diversity and colourfulness of the history of humanity in the southern continent.

The Archaeology of Ancient Australia demonstrates with an array of illustrations and clear descriptions of key archaeological evidence from Australia a thorough evaluation of Australian prehistory. Readers are shown how this human past can be reconstructed from archaeological evidence, supplemented by information from genetics, environmental sciences, anthropology, and history. The result is a challenging view about how varied human life in the ancient past has been.

Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Figures 8 Preface 14 Note about the case studies 16 Note on terminology 17 Acknowledgements 18 1 The veil of Antipodean pre-history 20 2 The colonization of Australia 39 3 Early settlement across Australia 64 4 Extinction of Pleistocene fauna 82 5 Who were the first Australians? 101 6 Life in Pleistocene Australia 121 7 Tasmania isolated 148 8 Technology in the Holocene 164 9 Coastal economies in the Holocene 181 10 Inland economies in the Holocene 201 11 Arid zone economies in the Holocene 218 12 Population growth and mobility 238 13 Social identity and interaction during the Holocene 264 14 The ethnographic challenge: Change in the last millennium 287 Appendix: Radiocarbon dating 305 References 309 Index 349 Peter Hiscock Presents An Introduction To The Archaeology Of Australia From Prehistoric Times To The 18th Century Ad. The Veil Of Antipodean Pre-history -- The Colonization Of Australia -- Early Settlement Across Australia -- Extinction Of Pleistocene Fauna -- Who Were The First Australians? -- Life In Pleistocene Australia -- Tasmania Isolated -- Technology In The Holocene -- Coastal Economies In The Holocene -- Inland Economies In The Holocene -- Arid Zone Economies In The Holocene -- Population Growth And Mobility -- Social Identity And Interaction During The Holocene -- The Ethnographic Challenge : Change In The Last Millennium. Peter Hiscock. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [290]-329) And Index.