Direct Dating Indicates a Mid-Holocene Age for Archaic Rock Engravings in Arid Central Australia

Archaic rock engravings are found widely across the arid interior of Australia and are thought to represent an early pan-continental tradition. A late Pleistocene age is assumed because of extensive weathering, but attempts to test this by direct dating have been unsuccessful. We use AMS 14C dating of calcium oxalate skins covering archaic engravings at two rock shelter sites in Central Australia (Wanga East and Puritjarra), constrained by 14C dates of charcoal in sedimentary layers beneath the same engraved slabs, to show this rock art is mid-Holocene in age. Despite a limited range of simple geometric designs and uniformity across the arid interior, this corpus of rock art is not associated with the initial peopling of the Australian desert, but is a later development reflecting the dynamics of established desert societies

PXRF analysis of a yellow ochre quarry and rock art motifs in the Central Pilbara

The significance of ochre in Indigenous Australia is well documented. Several large, well-known quarries containing ochre that is highly sought after have been described in the archaeological literature, however less attention has been paid to smaller, regionally and locally significant quarries. In this paper a small yellow ochre quarry (VSTA_20140611_1) from the Central Pilbara, where evidence of paint preparation is preserved in the form of residues in two in situ grinding hollows, is described in order to address this oversight. Portable XRF (pXRF) analysis of the pigment in the quarry itself and the paint in the hollows was undertaken to understand the chemistry of the pigmentaceous minerals, to explore the taphonomy of the ochre seam, and to gauge variation within the source. Chemistry indicates that the VSTA_20140611_1 quarry is composed of an iron mineral (likely a hydroxide such as goethite), with Fe abundances consistently between 10.7 and 30%. Typical of the regional geology, the yellow pigment is consistently siliceous, with an Si abundance of between 5.8 and 20.4%. As there are no painted motifs in the rockshelter containing the VSTA_20140611_1 quarry, nor on the suitable BIF surfaces nearby, it is considered highly likely that the surviving paint produced on-site was used for either body decoration or the adornment of artefacts, rather than for rock art production. Nevertheless, the similarity in chemical composition between the VSTA_20140611_1 pigments and that of motifs painted in sites a few kilometres away suggests that, in addition to immediate processing and use at the site, ochre from this quarry may have been transported to rockshelters in the vicinity and used for rock art production

A solar disinfection water treatment system for remote communities

Abstract not availablePeter Kalt, Cristian Birzer, Harrison Evans, Anthony Liew, Mark Padovan, Michael Watchma

The Experiences of Staff Who Support People with Intellectual Disability on Issues About Death, Dying, and Bereavement:a metasynthesis

Background: Historically, people with intellectual disabilities have tended to be excluded from knowing about death, dying, and bereavement. Staff in intellectual disability services can play a valuable role in improving understanding of these issues in those they support. This qualitative metasynthesis aimed to understand the experiences of staff supporting adults with intellectual disabilities with issues of death, dying, and bereavement. Method: Thirteen papers were identified following a systematic review of six databases. Results: Three themes were developed following a lines-of-argument synthesis: (1) Talking about death is hard: Negotiating the uncertainty in death, dying, and bereavement; (2) The commitment to promoting a “good death”; and (3) The grief behind the professional mask. “A cautious silence: The taboo of death,” was an overarching theme. Conclusions: A more open culture around issues of death, dying, and bereavement in intellectual disability settings is essential and could be promoted through staff training and support

A person-centred approach to implementation of psychosocial interventions with people who have an intellectual disability and dementia-A participatory action study

Background Numbers of people with an intellectual disability and dementia are increasing with a need to reduce associated stress or agitation. This study aimed to identify effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in social care settings and, uniquely, explore use of photovoice methodology to develop dialogue about dementia. Methods This mixed-method participatory action study used goal-setting theory with 16 participants with intellectual disability and dementia, and 22 social care staff across 11 sites. Five co-researchers with intellectual disability were part of an inclusive research team collecting data using existing and bespoke tools including photovoice. Analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics and framework analysis. Results 74% of individual goals met or exceeded expectations with reduction in some ‘as required’ medication. Qualitative findings include themes of enabling care and interventions as tools for practice. Photovoice provided insight into previously unreported fears about dementia. Conclusions Individualised psychosocial interventions have potential to reduce distress or agitation

A. Watchman

"SX23028 Sig. A. Watchman HQ Coy Sigs 10/48 Battalion A.I.F. 1942-1945".SX23028 Signaller A. Watchman Headquarters Company Signals 10/48 Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces 1942-1945.Date:199

Relative and 'absolute' dating of land surfaces

The dating of land surfaces has long posed problems for geomorphologists. Relative methods (stratigraphic, geomorphic, topographic) are sound and convincing. Exhumed forms may complicate identification and relationships, for both epigene and etch forms have been buried, and exhumed, but in tectonically undisturbed areas, the higher surfaces are older than those preserved at lower levels. Also, surfaces have an age range. The relationship of surfaces with volcanic deposits, old shorelines, and genetically related sedimentary sequences provides sound ages, and correlation with dated duricrusts and faults is also useful. There are no temporal limits to relative dating, for the methods are equally applicable to the dating, say, of Proterozoic surfaces as of those of Pleistocene age. The disadvantage of such methods is that the necessary evidence is frequently either not preserved or not exposed. The so-called 'absolute' (physical, numerical) methods, and especially those based on exposure age dating with in situ cosmogenic radionuclides, are appealing because they produce direct numerical ages, and appear to be widely applicable, but there are severe temporal limitations, and sampling problems complicate, and may invalidate, interpretation. Absolute age determinations must be consistent with the stratigraphic and geomorphologic settings. The best results are obtained when physicists and earth scientists pool their knowledge and experience. A background in local and regional geology is especially important. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Direct Dating Indicates Mid-Holocene Age for Archaic Rock Engravings in Arid Central Australia

Archaic rock engravings are found widely across the arid interior of Australia and are thought to represent an early pan-continental tradition. A late Pleistocene age is assumed because of extensive weathering, but attempts to test this by direct dating have been unsuccessful. We use AMS ¹⁴C dating of calcium oxalate skins covering archaic engravings at two rock shelter sites in Central Australia (Wanga East and Puritjarra), constrained by ¹⁴C dates of charcoal in sedimentary layers beneath the same engraved slabs, to show this rock art is mid-Holocene in age. Despite a limited range of simple geometric designs and uniformity across the arid interior, this corpus of rock art is not associated with the initial peopling of the Australian desert, but is a later development reflecting the dynamics of established desert societies