Books
Prehistory of Australia
Publisher's Summary
Australia's human prehistory through more than 40,000 years is the challenging theme of this masterly survey. John Mulvaney and Johan Kamminga bring together the discoveries and often controversial interpretations of six decades of archaeological research to reveal that across this island continent, in the face of contrasting environments and changing climates, human responses produced many cultures, languages and lifestyles.
The Old World is usually credited with the origins of
art and spirituality. Recent discoveries, however, prove that symbolic
rock art and complex burial rites also existed in Australia at challengingly
early times. The authors evaluate the dating evidence upon which Australia's
human story before 1788 is reconstructed. They review diverse topics,
such as the controversy about the time people first arrived on the continent's
northern coast, the extinction of marsupial megafauna and the diversity
of Aboriginal rock art.
Prehistory of Australia explains why Aboriginal Australia is recognised
today for its significance in global prehistory and why so many of its
archaeological places have merited World Heritage listing.
During the past thirty years, the richness and complexity of Australia's remote human past has come into sharper focus. The arrival of the first Aborigines stands as the earliest evidence of sea voyaging by modem humans. Australian rock art is among the world's oldest, and the continent's ethnographic records provide some of the most illuminating accounts of how prehistoric societies were organised.
Prehistory of Australia is a compelling account of 40,000 years of Aboriginal cultures, languages and practices. Using recent discoveries to shed new light on controversial archaeological issues, Mulvaney and Kamminga discuss topics such as the timing of the first colonisation, the mysterious extinction of many of the largest marsupials after the arrival of humans, and the interpretation of prehistoric rock art. The authors also address contemporary concerns, including the repatriation of human remains. Prehistory of Australia is a comprehensive review of the extraordinarily diverse human story of Australia.
Finalist for the Australian Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing and the Australian Cultural Studies Centre Award.
Prehistory of Australia - Reviewers' Comments
'A masterly, profound, challenging and disturbing account
of an intensely controversial subject. As we seek to redefine Australia
and reinterpret its history, this is an essential tool.'
BARRY O. JONES AO
'One of the most astonishing human stories in the world,
told by the acknowledged masters.'
ROBIN WILLIAMS, PRESENTER, ABC SCIENCE SHOW
'A taut intellectual adventure story and a guide to the twists and turns
of scientific politics.'
NICHOLAS ROTHWELL, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'A special book ... a crisp, well-paced, highly readable
overview of the continent's Aboriginal history.'
MIKE SMITH, AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW
'Remarkably up to date ... [an] outstanding and invaluable
survey of a continent at the cutting edge of prehistoric research.'
PAUL BAHN, NEW SCIENTIST
'A first-rate synthesis ... comprehensive, fair and always
informed by an understanding of the history of ideas and research.'
CHRISTOPHER CHIPPINDALE, ANTIQUITY
John Mulvaney and Johan Kamminga
Mechanics of Pre-Industrial Technology
Combining the skills of an archaeologist and engineer, Johan Kamminga and Brian Cotterell explore the mechanics of ancient structures and artefacts.
They show how mechanics reveals new insights into their performance and the achievements of pre-industrial era technology, from the earliest stone tools the origin of modern machinery.
They suggest how the statues on Easter Island were transported and set upright, and why statues could no longer be built in late prehistoric times.
Cotterell and Kamminga present a wide range of topics, such as the evolution of horse harness, the comparative work performance of animal and humans, the speed of a triremes and Norse long boats, the range and performance of ancient musical instruments and hunting weapons, and the secrets of making stone tools through the ages.
