Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia

Kelsey M Lowe; Lynley A. Wallis; Colin Pardoe; Benjamin Marwick; Christopher J Clarkson; Tiina Manne; M A Smith; Richard Fullagar

doi:10.1002/arco.5039

Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia

Kelsey M Lowe, Lynley A. Wallis, Colin Pardoe, Benjamin Marwick, Christopher J Clarkson, Tiina Manne, M A Smith, Richard Fullagar

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

A GPR survey was carried out in advance of archaeological excavations at Madjedbebe (formerly known as Malakunanja II), a sandstone rock shelter in western Arnhem Land (Australia) containing numerous Aboriginal burials. GPR revealed subsurface patterning of rocks in the shelter deposits and archaeological excavation demonstrated that these were related to burials. Post-excavation, GIS and statistical analysis further elucidated the relationship between the rocks and human burials. This integration of detailed mapping, GPR and excavation afforded the opportunity to test a way to identify unmarked burials using GPR in sandstone rock shelters and to document a marker for burial identification in this region. Application of the methodology developed through this case study provides a useful management tool for Indigenous communities and other heritage practitioners.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	148-157
Journal	Archaeology in Oceania
Volume	49
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5039
Publication status	Published - 2014

Access to Document

10.1002/arco.5039

http://hdl.handle.net/1885/68993

Cite this

@article{d7e0dd9a6cf242748f1c12cea3afdd42,

title = "Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia",

abstract = "A GPR survey was carried out in advance of archaeological excavations at Madjedbebe (formerly known as Malakunanja II), a sandstone rock shelter in western Arnhem Land (Australia) containing numerous Aboriginal burials. GPR revealed subsurface patterning of rocks in the shelter deposits and archaeological excavation demonstrated that these were related to burials. Post-excavation, GIS and statistical analysis further elucidated the relationship between the rocks and human burials. This integration of detailed mapping, GPR and excavation afforded the opportunity to test a way to identify unmarked burials using GPR in sandstone rock shelters and to document a marker for burial identification in this region. Application of the methodology developed through this case study provides a useful management tool for Indigenous communities and other heritage practitioners.",

author = "Lowe, {Kelsey M} and Wallis, {Lynley A.} and Colin Pardoe and Benjamin Marwick and Clarkson, {Christopher J} and Tiina Manne and Smith, {M A} and Richard Fullagar",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1002/arco.5039",

language = "English",

volume = "49",

pages = "148--157",

journal = "Archaeology in Oceania",

issn = "0003-8121",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia

AU - Lowe, Kelsey M

AU - Wallis, Lynley A.

AU - Pardoe, Colin

AU - Marwick, Benjamin

AU - Clarkson, Christopher J

AU - Manne, Tiina

AU - Smith, M A

AU - Fullagar, Richard

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - A GPR survey was carried out in advance of archaeological excavations at Madjedbebe (formerly known as Malakunanja II), a sandstone rock shelter in western Arnhem Land (Australia) containing numerous Aboriginal burials. GPR revealed subsurface patterning of rocks in the shelter deposits and archaeological excavation demonstrated that these were related to burials. Post-excavation, GIS and statistical analysis further elucidated the relationship between the rocks and human burials. This integration of detailed mapping, GPR and excavation afforded the opportunity to test a way to identify unmarked burials using GPR in sandstone rock shelters and to document a marker for burial identification in this region. Application of the methodology developed through this case study provides a useful management tool for Indigenous communities and other heritage practitioners.

AB - A GPR survey was carried out in advance of archaeological excavations at Madjedbebe (formerly known as Malakunanja II), a sandstone rock shelter in western Arnhem Land (Australia) containing numerous Aboriginal burials. GPR revealed subsurface patterning of rocks in the shelter deposits and archaeological excavation demonstrated that these were related to burials. Post-excavation, GIS and statistical analysis further elucidated the relationship between the rocks and human burials. This integration of detailed mapping, GPR and excavation afforded the opportunity to test a way to identify unmarked burials using GPR in sandstone rock shelters and to document a marker for burial identification in this region. Application of the methodology developed through this case study provides a useful management tool for Indigenous communities and other heritage practitioners.

U2 - 10.1002/arco.5039

DO - 10.1002/arco.5039

M3 - Article

SN - 0003-8121

VL - 49

SP - 148

EP - 157

JO - Archaeology in Oceania

JF - Archaeology in Oceania

IS - 3

ER -

Ground-penetrating radar and burial practices in western Arnhem Land, Australia

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this