Join us for the final seminar presentations by Anthropocene Exhibition project contributors Kelsey M. Lowe & Benjamin Schoville.

This is a catered event please rsvp to reserve a spot.

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Water security represents a key challenge of the Anthropocene. However, our species evolutionary history involves arid and semi-arid environments. This talk focuses on Pleistocene adaptations at Witberg 1, a previously unknown palaeolake on the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in the semi-arid Northern Cape, South Africa. Site provisioning with stone tools and large unmodified cobbles indicates significant exploitation of the region, possibly including construction of hunting blinds. Developing strategies for living in dry regions may have been a key prerequisite for humans expanding beyond Africa.

Dr Ben Schoville is a UQ Honorary Senior Fellow in the School of Social Science and a Senior Archaeologist at the Everick Foundation. His field research focuses on the technology and behaviours of early modern humans from Pleistocene archaeological sites in South Africa. He recently received an ARC Discovery Project grant titled, “The Impact of Water Stress on Early Humans in the Kalahari Desert”.

About National Archaeology Week

Held in the third week of May, National Archaeology Week aims to increase public awareness of Australian archaeology and the work of Australian archaeologists both at home and abroad, and to promote the importance of protecting Australia's unique archaeological heritage.

Click here to discover more about National Archaeology Week, 21 - 27 May 2023.

Venue

Anthropology Museum,
Level 1, Michie Building (#9),
The University of Queensland St Lucia campus.