[Aqualist] Earth Science Seminar Series | Friday 19th August (3:10 pm ACST) | Dr Anna Florin (The University of Cambridge)

[Alexander Francke]

Dear AQUA community,

I believe the seminar below might be of interest:

Dear colleagues,

It is our pleasure to announce that the next seminar as part of the Earth Science Seminar Series<https://set.adelaide.edu.au/events/list/2022/02/earth-sciences-seminars-2022> will be presented by Dr Anna Florin<https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/staff/dr-anna-florin> (The University of Cambridge). Anna will be speaking this Friday 19th August (3:10 pm ACST). As usual, we will be gathering in the Mawson Lecture Theatre (The University of Adelaide) to attend Anna’s presentation, but you are also invited to attend on Zoom. Please use the below details to access via Zoom.

Title: “The role of plants in early human movements in Island Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia ”

Abstract: The movement of humans across the Wallacean Archipelago and the peopling of Sahul represents a critical threshold in human history, with human populations crossing a series of biogeographic boundaries impassable for all kinds of animals, including several of our hominin ancestors. Diet, and the ability to extract energy and nutrition from diverse resources and ecological niches, has long been seen as key to this process. However, research into Palaeolithic diets, both in this region and globally, has historically focused on the animal component: meat and its associated hunting and fishing behaviours and technologies. In this talk, I will review the current evidence for the role of plant foods in the evolution and dispersal of early humans and our closest ancestors, with a focus on new evidence for early diet from Island Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Guinea. I argue that the ability to extract nutrients from a range of plant foods is a key component of the adaptive capacity of our species, especially in the context of the marine-focused faunal subsistence strategy evidenced in the peopling of the Wallacean Archipelago.

Bio: Dr Anna Florin is a research fellow at St John's College, Cambridge and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, and an associate investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage. Her PhD, completed at the University of Queensland, focused on the use of food plants and long-term human-environment interaction at, Madjedbebe, Mirarr Country, northern Australia. Her current research focuses on the role of plant foods in early human migrations, and the complexity of long-term human-plant interactions in Australia, New Guinea and Island Southeast Asia.

Zoom: https://adelaide.zoom.us/j/86301148102?pwd=VndmRE5RMi8yVk1GTVQyT2E1OTBQQT09<https://adelaide.zoom.us/j/86301148102?pwd=VndmRE5RMi8yVk1GTVQyT2E1OTBQQT09>

Passcode: ThePenguin

We look forward to seeing you either in person or online this Friday 19th August (3:10 pm ACST).

Cheers

Jess and Alex

Dr. Alex Francke
Research Associate
Department of Earth Sciences | School of Physical Sciences | Faculty of Sciences
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Phone: +61 831 30894
alexander.francke at adelaide.edu.au<mailto:alexander.francke at adelaide.edu.au>
Dr. Alex Francke
Research Associate
Department of Earth Sciences | School of Physical Sciences | Faculty of Sciences
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Phone: +61 831 30894
alexander.francke at adelaide.edu.au<mailto:alexander.francke at adelaide.edu.au>