Indigenous Forum: Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup
Organisers:
Anita Painter, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Milliwonga Sandy, Rembarranga Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Mavis Jumbiri, Mielli Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Linda Gotjan, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
This forum is hosted by Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup. We will discuss the work that we do to keep culture strong and to look after our families. We support women, children, families and community by running culturally-led programs that incorporate traditional Indigenous healing and wellbeing practises. We use our cultural ways to help with health and wellbeing. This forum will include examples of basket-weaving, making bush medicine and water blessing by Traditional Owners. Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup is a place of healing.
Indigenous Forum: Traditional Fire Management by Mimal Rangers Land Management
Organisers:
Anita Painter, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Tracey Camfoo, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Linda Gotjan, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Mimal Rangers Land Management, Northern Territory, Australia
This discussion forum will focus on Aboriginal wisdom and how traditional land management methods can help prevent bushfires. Australia did not have catastrophic bushfires prior to colonisation by the British. Aboriginal cultural burning is low-intensity. Fires burn in a mosaic pattern (like a chessboard), allowing animals to move between areas. Afterwards, the burnt hollows of trees provide homes for selected animal species and some plants regenerate. Mimal Rangers Land Management are working collaboratively with Elders, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land to ensure the land is cared for properly. This includes looking after the vegetation, waterways, and access back to country. Indigenous people are especially invited to attend this forum and share their knowledge with us.
Let’s Talk Traceology! Cross-Cultural and -Contextual Perspectives on Use-Wear Analysis of Specialised Copper-Based Artefacts
Organisers:
Stefan Gridling, Department of Archaeologies, University of Innsbruck, Austria, gridling.stefan@gmx.at
Katarína Petriščáková, Department of Archaeology, City of Prague Museum, Czech Republic, petriscakova.katarina@centrum.cz
Over the last three decades use-wear analysis of metal artefacts – or Metalwork Wear Analysis (Dolfini and Crellin 2016) – has become a well-established method in archaeology. By detecting and interpreting the distinctive marks left on the surface of artefacts, this technique has significantly deepened our understanding of their use. It not only offers insights into the functional aspects of tools and weapons, but also sheds light on the life cycle of objects. Furthermore, when combined with other techniques, use-wear analysis allows us to explore objects’ biographies and offers a window into the lives and practices of the people who made, used, and discarded them.
This session invites researchers from across the globe to present and discuss use-wear analyses on copper-based artefacts, including copper alloys such as bronze. We invite a wide variety of contributions but particularly encourage submissions focused on tools and weapons — such as swords, spears, daggers, and axes — from different archaeological contexts, allowing for cross-cultural comparisons of wear patterns and interpretations, identifying both similarities and regional variations in the use of these objects, as well as exploring how context influences wear traces.
We also welcome contributions that examine region-specific artefact types and compare their use to similar objects from other areas, thereby broadening our interpretive framework. Participants are encouraged to present their observations through both oral presentations and visual formats. Also, pictures and photos regarding use-wear traces on posters in panel discussions are welcome.
T16/Workshop 01: Decolonising Disaster Heritage Research from Indigenous Land-based Knowledge and Art Activities from Canada and Bangladesh
Organisers:
Dr Ranjan Datta, Department of Humanities, Mount Royal University, Canada, rdatta@mtroyal.ca
Colleen J. Charles, Woodland Cree First Nation from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, ccharles@firstnationsuniversity.ca
Dr C. Emdad Haque, Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, cemdad.haque@umanitoba.ca
Dr Jebunnessa Chapola, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina, Canada, jchapola@mtroyal.ca
This workshop explores decolonising disaster heritage research through Indigenous community-led land-based knowledge and art activities from Canada and Bangladesh. Centring on Indigenous land-based approaches, the workshop highlights cross-cultural and intergenerational learning to address colonial legacies in disaster resilience. Participant-relatives will engage in land-based practices, such as learning decolonial tools and storytelling from Cree communities in Canada and land-based scholars from Bangladesh. Art activities, including reconciliation in canvas, will connect residential school impacts, and traditional knowledge with community-driven narratives of reconciliation. The workshop emphasises reciprocal learning, self-determination, and the transformative tools of decolonial methodologies in disaster research. Activities will showcase how integrating spiritual, cultural, and environmental practices can strengthen adaptive capacities and create healing within disaster-affected communities. Participant-relatives will leave with actionable insights for applying decolonial and community-led approaches in their work, fostering meaningful partnerships and deepening respect for Indigenous knowledge systems in disaster heritage and environmental sustainability research.
How to Calibrate pXRF Data for Archaeological Research: A Workshop Hosted by the Global pXRF Network
Organisers:
Dr Michelle J. Richards, The University of Melbourne, Australia, michelle.richards@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Andrew McAlister, The University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, andrew.mcalister@auckland.ac.nz
Dr Bruce Kaiser, Chief Scientist Veracio, USA
Dr Lee Drake, University of New Mexico, USA, b.lee.drake@gmail.com
Dr Michaela Schauer, University of Vienna, Austria, michaela.schauer@univie.ac.at
This workshop builds upon the basics of pXRF analyses in archaeometric research to advance participants’ knowledge to the next level. We will demonstrate how and why custom calibrations are necessary for research quality pXRF data and participants will get an introduction to CloudCal to achieve this. CloudCal is open source software that allows researchers to custom calibrate data from different pXRF instruments (e.g. Niton, Olympus, Bruker).
While this workshop is targeted at advanced users of pXRF, we wish to be inclusive of anyone wanting to use pXRF in their research to learn how to optimise this technique. We will offer plain language explanations alongside the technical details. We also invite participants to bring existing pXRF data to the workshop for assessment. Please bring your laptop.
T16/Workshop 02: Grass-root Responders in Changing Island Landscapes: Recording Heritage Sites Impacted by Natural Disasters in the Pacific
Organisers:
Christophe Sand, Head ICOMOS Pasifika; christophe.sand64@gmail.com
Mere Ratu, Blue Shield, vanuamere@yahoo.com
Annette Kuehlem, German Archaeological Institute, annette.kuehlem@dainst.de
Christian Reepmeyer, German Archaeological Institute, Christian.Reepmeyer@dainst.de
Ania Kotarba, Archaeology and Curatorial and Museum Studies and Environment Institute, the University of Adelaide, Australia, ania.kotarba@adelaide.edu.au
Loretta Hasu, University of Otago, haslo228@student.otago.ac.nz
Michelle J. Richards, The University of Melbourne, Australia, michelle.richards@unimelb.edu.au
Robin Wright, Digital Preservation Coalition – Australasia and Asia Pacific, Australia, robin.wright@dpconline.org
Processes associated with climate change and rising sea level have started to have multiple consequences for Pacific Islanders. The coastal erosion witnessed on every Island is dramatically threatening the future of coastal settlements and especially the sustainability of atolls. Confronted by the rapid disappearance of the landscapes that have been home for tens of generations of their forefathers, some Island communities have teamed with researchers to record their vanishing tangible heritage, as well as the intangible heritage that is associated with the islands, though different media, and especially using digital recording.
Unfortunately, there is no hope to see this form of collaborative work fulfilled on every Island experiencing heritage loss in the Pacific. This workshop though, proposes to discuss alternative ways to empower local communities in the recording of their tangible and intangible heritage. While digital recording must be favoured when possible, the members of ICOMOS Pasifika consider that less technically constraining methods should be made accessible for grass-root communities with little access to powerful wires and high-tech tools. This workshop plans to: 1) discuss these issues, 2) to present a Heritage Tool-Kit easily operated by Indigenous communities and, 3) to consider ways to disseminate it as widely as possible.
In addition to interested colleagues working in the Asia-Pacific region, we invite participants from around the globe who are facing these issues to share their experiences.