Iain G Johnston
Biographic Data
| ID | 3081069 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Iain G Johnston |
| GIVEN NAMES | Iain G |
| FAMILY NAME | Johnston |
| SIGNATURE | JOHNSTON I G |
| AFFILIATIONS | Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3722-2128 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 12 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 50 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 12 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Collection Ecologies for Repatriation Practice
From the 1850s to the 1970s, Australian collecting institutions supplied international organisations with thousands of Australian Indigenous objects, often through exchanges, other times through do
Moluccan Fighting Craft on Australian Shores
Two similar watercraft depicted in rock art at Awunbarna, Arnhem Land, Australia, are unlike the Macassan prahus and Western craft shown at other contact sites in northern Australia, but are sufficiently detailed to offer evidence for identification. Both craft appear to display triangular flags, pennants, and prow adornments indicating martial status. By comparing these two depictions with historically recorded watercraft from Island Southeast A…
Repatriation of aboriginal sacred objects
This paper explores the challenges of repatriating poorly documented Aboriginal sacred religious objects from Central Australia. The authors present an overview of historical endeavours to repatriate these objects from Australian domestic museums and the progress of recent returns from international collections. Detailed documentation, including reference to an object’s specific relationship to places, people or ancestral stories is critical to e…
Interdisciplinary and Transferable Concepts in Bioinformatics Education
Bioinformatics is a highly interdisciplinary subject, with substantial and growing influence in health, environmental science and society, and is utilised by scientists from many diverse academic backgrounds. Education in bioinformatics therefore necessitates effective development of skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, communication, ethics, and critical analysis of research, in addition to practical and technical skills. Insights from bio…
The Aiatsis Return of Cultural Heritage Project
This paper explores the first research phase of the AIATSIS Return of Cultural Heritage Project (2018–2020); where AIATSIS scoped, researched and repatriated significant cultural heritage material from overseas collecting institutions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. In the initial research phase, the authors undertook a survey of international collecting institutions to scope their holdings of Aboriginal and Tor…
Maliwawa figures—a previously undescribed Arnhem Land rock art style
In this paper, a previously undescribed rock art style consisting of large human figures and animals with stroke-line infill is introduced. These depictions have been named Maliwawa Figures. They are primarily found in northwest Arnhem Land and to date have been recorded at 87 sites from Awunbarna (Mount Borradaile area) to the Namunidjbuk clan state of the Wellington Range. There are solitary figures and others arranged in compositions or scenes…
New Insights into the Rock Art of Anbangbang Gallery, Kakadu National Park
This paper presents findings from a recent study of the Anbangbang Gallery in the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) site complex of Kakadu National Park, Australia. Using new technologies alongside established methods for rock art documentation, we discuss the complexity and uniqueness of Anbangbang Gallery as an icon of Australian rock art. We have taken a comprehensive approach to our investigations, deliberately linking new technologies and scientific a…
Rethinking the age and unity of large naturalistic animal forms in early Western Arnhem Land Rock Art, Australia
The analysis of style is a widespread method for describing classes of rock art and plays a significant role in forming a chronology for Arnhem Land rock art assemblages. A longstanding issue identified in Arnhem Land rock art has been the ill-defined nature of the ‘Large Naturalistic Style’ (LNS) as originally proposed by rock art researcher George Chaloupka. We have re-examined the distribution, frequency and the stylistic design attributes of …
Memorialization and the Stencilled Rock Art of Mirarr Country, Northern Australia
This paper addresses the motivations for producing the rare object stencils found in the rock art of western Arnhem Land. We present evidence for 84 stencils recorded as part of the Mirarr Gunwarddebim project in western Arnhem Land, northern Australia. Ranging from boomerangs to dilly bags, armlets and spearthrowers, this assemblage suggests something other than a common or ongoing culture practice of stencilling objects used in everyday life. I…
Early Australian Anthropomorphs
Early depictions of anthropomorphs in rock art provide unique insights into life during the deep past. This includes human engagements with the environment, socio-cultural practices, gender and uses of material culture. In Australia, the Dynamic Figure rock paintings of Arnhem Land are recognized as the earliest style in the region where humans are explicitly depicted. Important questions, such as the nature and significance of body adornment in …
The State of Vaccine Confidence 2016
BACKGROUND: Public trust in immunization is an increasingly important global health issue. Losses in confidence in vaccines and immunization programmes can lead to vaccine reluctance and refusal, risking disease outbreaks and challenging immunization goals in high- and low-income settings. National and international immunization stakeholders have called for better monitoring of vaccine confidence to identify emerging concerns before they evolve i…
Painted shark vertebrae beads from the Djawumbu–Madjawarrnja complex, western Arnhem Land
In Europe and Africa, fine grained use wear and residue analyses of various organic bead \ntechnologies have provided remarkable information about specialist artisans and their affiliate communities. Ethnographic research suggests that personal ornaments represent one of the best ways to explore past human interactions and ethno-linguistic diversity. The study of material culture featured in rock art is now well established in Australia, but few …
Maliwawa figures—a previously undescribed Arnhem Land rock art style
In this paper, a previously undescribed rock art style consisting of large human figures and animals with stroke-line infill is introduced. These depictions have been named Maliwawa Figures. They are primarily found in northwest Arnhem Land and to date have been recorded at 87 sites from Awunbarna (Mount Borradaile area) to the Namunidjbuk clan state of the Wellington Range. There are solitary figures and others arranged in compositions or scenes…
Early Australian Anthropomorphs
Early depictions of anthropomorphs in rock art provide unique insights into life during the deep past. This includes human engagements with the environment, socio-cultural practices, gender and uses of material culture. In Australia, the Dynamic Figure rock paintings of Arnhem Land are recognized as the earliest style in the region where humans are explicitly depicted. Important questions, such as the nature and significance of body adornment in …
Painted shark vertebrae beads from the Djawumbu–Madjawarrnja complex, western Arnhem Land
In Europe and Africa, fine grained use wear and residue analyses of various organic bead \ntechnologies have provided remarkable information about specialist artisans and their affiliate communities. Ethnographic research suggests that personal ornaments represent one of the best ways to explore past human interactions and ethno-linguistic diversity. The study of material culture featured in rock art is now well established in Australia, but few …
Rethinking the age and unity of large naturalistic animal forms in early Western Arnhem Land Rock Art, Australia
The analysis of style is a widespread method for describing classes of rock art and plays a significant role in forming a chronology for Arnhem Land rock art assemblages. A longstanding issue identified in Arnhem Land rock art has been the ill-defined nature of the ‘Large Naturalistic Style’ (LNS) as originally proposed by rock art researcher George Chaloupka. We have re-examined the distribution, frequency and the stylistic design attributes of …
Memorialization and the Stencilled Rock Art of Mirarr Country, Northern Australia
This paper addresses the motivations for producing the rare object stencils found in the rock art of western Arnhem Land. We present evidence for 84 stencils recorded as part of the Mirarr Gunwarddebim project in western Arnhem Land, northern Australia. Ranging from boomerangs to dilly bags, armlets and spearthrowers, this assemblage suggests something other than a common or ongoing culture practice of stencilling objects used in everyday life. I…
New Insights into the Rock Art of Anbangbang Gallery, Kakadu National Park
This paper presents findings from a recent study of the Anbangbang Gallery in the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) site complex of Kakadu National Park, Australia. Using new technologies alongside established methods for rock art documentation, we discuss the complexity and uniqueness of Anbangbang Gallery as an icon of Australian rock art. We have taken a comprehensive approach to our investigations, deliberately linking new technologies and scientific a…
Moluccan Fighting Craft on Australian Shores
Two similar watercraft depicted in rock art at Awunbarna, Arnhem Land, Australia, are unlike the Macassan prahus and Western craft shown at other contact sites in northern Australia, but are sufficiently detailed to offer evidence for identification. Both craft appear to display triangular flags, pennants, and prow adornments indicating martial status. By comparing these two depictions with historically recorded watercraft from Island Southeast A…
The State of Vaccine Confidence 2016
BACKGROUND: Public trust in immunization is an increasingly important global health issue. Losses in confidence in vaccines and immunization programmes can lead to vaccine reluctance and refusal, risking disease outbreaks and challenging immunization goals in high- and low-income settings. National and international immunization stakeholders have called for better monitoring of vaccine confidence to identify emerging concerns before they evolve i…
Painted shark vertebrae beads from the Djawumbu–Madjawarrnja complex, western Arnhem Land
In Europe and Africa, fine grained use wear and residue analyses of various organic bead \ntechnologies have provided remarkable information about specialist artisans and their affiliate communities. Ethnographic research suggests that personal ornaments represent one of the best ways to explore past human interactions and ethno-linguistic diversity. The study of material culture featured in rock art is now well established in Australia, but few …
Memorialization and the Stencilled Rock Art of Mirarr Country, Northern Australia
This paper addresses the motivations for producing the rare object stencils found in the rock art of western Arnhem Land. We present evidence for 84 stencils recorded as part of the Mirarr Gunwarddebim project in western Arnhem Land, northern Australia. Ranging from boomerangs to dilly bags, armlets and spearthrowers, this assemblage suggests something other than a common or ongoing culture practice of stencilling objects used in everyday life. I…
Early Australian Anthropomorphs
Early depictions of anthropomorphs in rock art provide unique insights into life during the deep past. This includes human engagements with the environment, socio-cultural practices, gender and uses of material culture. In Australia, the Dynamic Figure rock paintings of Arnhem Land are recognized as the earliest style in the region where humans are explicitly depicted. Important questions, such as the nature and significance of body adornment in …
Maliwawa figures—a previously undescribed Arnhem Land rock art style
In this paper, a previously undescribed rock art style consisting of large human figures and animals with stroke-line infill is introduced. These depictions have been named Maliwawa Figures. They are primarily found in northwest Arnhem Land and to date have been recorded at 87 sites from Awunbarna (Mount Borradaile area) to the Namunidjbuk clan state of the Wellington Range. There are solitary figures and others arranged in compositions or scenes…
New Insights into the Rock Art of Anbangbang Gallery, Kakadu National Park
This paper presents findings from a recent study of the Anbangbang Gallery in the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) site complex of Kakadu National Park, Australia. Using new technologies alongside established methods for rock art documentation, we discuss the complexity and uniqueness of Anbangbang Gallery as an icon of Australian rock art. We have taken a comprehensive approach to our investigations, deliberately linking new technologies and scientific a…
Rethinking the age and unity of large naturalistic animal forms in early Western Arnhem Land Rock Art, Australia
The analysis of style is a widespread method for describing classes of rock art and plays a significant role in forming a chronology for Arnhem Land rock art assemblages. A longstanding issue identified in Arnhem Land rock art has been the ill-defined nature of the ‘Large Naturalistic Style’ (LNS) as originally proposed by rock art researcher George Chaloupka. We have re-examined the distribution, frequency and the stylistic design attributes of …
The Aiatsis Return of Cultural Heritage Project
This paper explores the first research phase of the AIATSIS Return of Cultural Heritage Project (2018–2020); where AIATSIS scoped, researched and repatriated significant cultural heritage material from overseas collecting institutions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. In the initial research phase, the authors undertook a survey of international collecting institutions to scope their holdings of Aboriginal and Tor…
Interdisciplinary and Transferable Concepts in Bioinformatics Education
Bioinformatics is a highly interdisciplinary subject, with substantial and growing influence in health, environmental science and society, and is utilised by scientists from many diverse academic backgrounds. Education in bioinformatics therefore necessitates effective development of skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, communication, ethics, and critical analysis of research, in addition to practical and technical skills. Insights from bio…
Moluccan Fighting Craft on Australian Shores
Two similar watercraft depicted in rock art at Awunbarna, Arnhem Land, Australia, are unlike the Macassan prahus and Western craft shown at other contact sites in northern Australia, but are sufficiently detailed to offer evidence for identification. Both craft appear to display triangular flags, pennants, and prow adornments indicating martial status. By comparing these two depictions with historically recorded watercraft from Island Southeast A…
Repatriation of aboriginal sacred objects
This paper explores the challenges of repatriating poorly documented Aboriginal sacred religious objects from Central Australia. The authors present an overview of historical endeavours to repatriate these objects from Australian domestic museums and the progress of recent returns from international collections. Detailed documentation, including reference to an object’s specific relationship to places, people or ancestral stories is critical to e…
Collection Ecologies for Repatriation Practice
From the 1850s to the 1970s, Australian collecting institutions supplied international organisations with thousands of Australian Indigenous objects, often through exchanges, other times through do
Archaeology (9 works) · History (8 works) · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies (7 works) · Geography (6 works) · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology (6 works) · Rock art (6 works) · History (5 works) · Indigenous (4 works) · Sociology (4 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (3 works)