Archaeology of Torres Strait
The Western Torres Strait Archaeology Project is a partnership project between Western Torres Strait Islander communities (in particular Mabuyag, Badu and Mua) and Monash University (co-ordinators: Bruno David and Ian McNiven). Our aims are to investigate island and inter-island histories through archaeological, anthropological and documentary evidence in a context of landscape dynamics (i.e. incorporating palaeoenvironmental research). Of particular focus is the way that archaeological evidence and oral traditions articulate in the formulation of an archaeological history that is meaningful to both the community and to scientific research. We are especially interested in investigating the historical emergence of cultural practices of a kind documented during relatively recent, ethnographic times.
2006 by B. DAVID, B. Barker & I. McNiven (eds). The Social Archaeology of Australian Indigenous Societies. Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra.
2006 by I.J. McNiven, W.R. Dickinson, B. DAVID, M. Weisler, F. von Gnielinski, M. Carter & U. Zoppi. Mask Cave: red-slipped pottery and the Australian-Papuan settlement of Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait). Archaeology in Oceania 41: 49-81.
2005 by B. DAVID and I. McNiven. The sea, the spirits and the ancestors. In S. Wright (ed.), Sesserae: the works of Dennis Nona, pp. 7-10. Queensland College of Art, Brisbane.
2005 by B. DAVID, J. Crouch & U. Zoppi. Historicizing the spiritual: bu shell arrangements on the island of Badu, Torres Strait. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 15(1): 71-91.
2005 by B. DAVID & I.J. McNiven. The spirits in the art. In Fremantle Arts Centre, Print Matters, pp. 32-33. Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle.
2005 by B. DAVID. Rock art and oral traditions in Torres Strait. The Courier Mail 3 May, p. Headst@rt 3.
2004 by B. DAVID, I. McNiven, W. Bowie, M. Nomoa, P. Ahmat, J. Crouch, L. Brady, M. Quinnell & A. Herle. Archaeology of Torres Strait turtle-shell masks: the Badu cache. Australian Aboriginal Studies 2004 (1): 18-25.
2004 by B. DAVID, I. McNiven, R. Mitchell, M. Orr, S. Haberle, L. Brady & J. Crouch. Badu 15 and the Papuan-Austronesian settlement of Torres Strait. Archaeology in Oceania 39: 65-78.
2004 by B. DAVID, I. McNiven, Mura Badulgal (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation Committee, J. Crouch & L. Brady. The Argan stone arrangement complex, Badu Island: initial results from Torres Strait. Australian Archaeology 58: 1-6.
2004 by B. DAVID. Bruno David’s tips to see the invisible. In H. Burke and C. Smith, The Archaeologist’s Field Handbook, pp. 224-225. Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest.
2004 by B. DAVID & I. McNiven. Western Torres Strait Cultural History Project: research design and initial results. In I. McNiven & M. Quinnell (eds), Torres Strait: archaeology and material culture. Special Issue of Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Cultural Heritage Series 3(1): 199-208.
2004 by I. McNiven, B. DAVID, L. Brady & J. Brayer. Kabadul Kula rock-art site, Dauan Island, Torres Strait. In I. McNiven & M. Quinnell (eds), Torres Strait: archaeology and material culture. Special Issue of Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Cultural Heritage Series 3(1): 227-255.
2004 by I. McNiven & B. DAVID. Torres Strait rock-art and ochre sources: an overview. In I. McNiven & M. Quinnell (eds), Torres Strait: archaeology and material culture. Special Issue of Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Cultural Heritage Series 3(1): 209-225.
2004 by L. Brady, B. DAVID, L. Manas, Mualgal (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation, I. McNiven. Rock paintings of Mua Island: initial results from western Torres Strait. Rock Art Research 21(1): 27-46.
2004 by B. DAVID, I. McNiven, L. Manas, J. Manas, S. Savage, J. Crouch, G. Neliman & L. Brady. Goba of Mua: archaeology working with oral tradition. Antiquity 78: 158-172.
2003 by L.M. Brady, B. DAVID, L. Manas & the Mualgal (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation. Community archaeology and oral tradition: commemorating and teaching cultural awareness on Mua Island, Torres Strait. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 31: 41-49.
2003 by B. DAVID, I. McNiven & J. Brayer. Colourful past. British Archaeology 73: 14-15.
2002 by I. McNiven, B. DAVID & L. Brady. Torres Strait rock-art: an enhanced perspective. Australian Aboriginal Studies 2002 (2): 69-74.
2001 by B. DAVID, J. Brayer, I. McNiven & Alan Watchman. Why digital enhancement of rock paintings works: rescaling and saturating colours. Antiquity 75: 781-792.
2001 by B. DAVID. Lino-print exhibition tours Canada and England. Torres News 455 (20-26 July), pp. 1, 3.
2000 by I. McNiven, B. DAVID & J. Brayer. Digital enhancement of Torres Strait rock-art. Antiquity 74: 759-760.