UNE Palaeo-Group
A University of New England Research Group
PALAEO - SEA LEVELS
PALAEO - CLIMATES
PALAEO - CHRONOLOGIES
The geomorphic objective of our group is to investigate the links between sea level change and climate in the last 10 000 years (the Holocene) and their relative chronologies, concentrating on Australia and nearby regions (including South East Asia). We also focus on fluctuations in terrestrial lakes and wetlands over this same period and beyond, as a control on marine changes. Special attention is given to looking for evidence of sudden climate or environmental change.
The archaeological program looks at any identifiable human interaction with these changes.
Geomorphology and Archaeology are the main disciplines of interest, supported by palynology, marine and terrestrial biology and biogeography, and radio-isotopic dating. Activities include coring for representative sediment samples in freshwater and saline wetlands, and collection of fossil and other samples from marine environments for analysis, and analysis of artefacts for remains of food and industrial process, to build up a picture of the relative influence of natural and human impact on past processes.
The group is based in the School of Human and Environmental Studies at the University of New England (UNE), with members from other parts of the University and other institutions. UNE is located at Armidale, on the top of the northern tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, with related marine institutes and field laboratories located on the coast, two hours drive to the east.
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Research location at Lake Innes, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, where a transect of 20 cores the length of the lake have been examined to establish (i) extent of post settlement sedimentation (ii) pre-European marine incursions and environmental conditions. |
Similar distances to the west include inland wetland systems such as the Narran Lakes, remnant of a much larger Pleistocene water body.
Our research supports the national research priority of Sustainable Development by attempting to explore the background conditions and cycles against which modern environmental change can be measured and compared. The Centre adds to UNE’s identified research strengths in Environmental Science and Management, as well as Australian and Southeast Asian Archaeology, and thus builds upon present strengths and developing areas. The Centre is keen to cooperate with like-minded groups in Australia and overseas, and offer opportunities for higher degree research (HDR) students by applying skills and expertise to research problems. Four HDR students are listed. Research papers describing our work have been published (see publications), and more are being prepared.