Projects

The outback in perspective

The primary objective in 2008 will be to continue our exploration of country surrounding William Creek, incorporating magnificent red sandhill country and the many drainage channels with their headwaters in the Davenport, Denison and Kingston Ranges and which drain into the impressively massive Lake Eyre to the east.

In 2008 we will continue to develop our interest in interpreting survival values of desert landscapes through an understanding of aboriginal stone chippings (lithics). This particular work is very exciting and we plan to map a large swathe of desert sanddune country over the next 4 years in the hope that intricate patterns of traditional movements and key resource locations (water and food), now lost, will be revealed.

We also need to continue with the cultural heritage mapping of the Denison Range, approximately 120 km north of William Creek and to expand our explorations into surrounding areas.

Our work in the Denison Range between 1997-2005 discovered a large number of significant heritage sites and has revealed a fascinating record of early Australian pioneering ingenuity and tenacity. Old copper mines, copper transport wagon roads, the Overland Telegraph Line (OTL), explorer routes, Afghan camel transport pads, the original north-south trans-Australia wagon trail known as the Bullocky Road, stone hut ruins, old metal-working forges and century-old lime-burning kilns are just some of the features of this historically significant and remote area.

The areas described above also contain many spectacular natural artesian springs which must be seen if you travel into this remote part of central Australia. We will certainly take you to examples of these unique springs where possible when they fall into the area-of-interest on each individual trek.

Additionally in 2008, we hope to continue with our exploration of the large dunefield west of William Creek and toward Coober Pedy. This region was new for us in 2007 and presents many exciting possibilities for cultural and natural discovery.