Sean Ulm
@seanulm.bsky.social
Distinguished Professor of Archaeology at James Cook University & Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories & Futures #australianarchaeology
https://portfolio.jcu.edu.au/researchers/sean.ulm/
https://portfolio.jcu.edu.au/researchers/sean.ulm/
Pinned
Sean Ulm
@seanulm.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Aboriginal people made pottery and sailed to distant offshore islands thousands of years before Europeans arrived
Pottery made more than 1800 years ago by Aboriginal communities on Jiigurru in the Lizard Island group in the Great Barrier Reef is the oldest ever found in Australia.
theconversation.com
Aboriginal people made pottery and sailed to distant offshore islands thousands of years before Europeans arrived theconversation.com/aboriginal-p... via @theconvo-bot.bsky.social
Here are 10 Australian First Nations books from the past 25 years (in no particular order) @littleredwrites.bsky.social nominates for the books of the century. So many beautiful and poignant books on this list!
theconversation.com/the-abcs-top...
theconversation.com/the-abcs-top...
The ABC’s Top 100 books poll lacks diversity. Here are my 10 First Nations ‘books of the 21st century’
Just three Aboriginal writers appeared in Radio National’s poll. There was little sense of the breadth and creativity of our First Nations writing scene.
theconversation.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Here are 10 Australian First Nations books from the past 25 years (in no particular order) @littleredwrites.bsky.social nominates for the books of the century. So many beautiful and poignant books on this list!
theconversation.com/the-abcs-top...
theconversation.com/the-abcs-top...
Wonderful new work by @carolinedigs.bsky.social and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country on non-returning wangim (boomerangs)
theconversation.com/how-forensic...
And read the full article #openaccess in @austarchj.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1080/0312...
theconversation.com/how-forensic...
And read the full article #openaccess in @austarchj.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1080/0312...
How forensic analysis and traditional knowledge reveal the story of a unique boomerang
Grip marks, blood and fire damage hint at the fascinating history of a non-returning boomerang.
theconversation.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Wonderful new work by @carolinedigs.bsky.social and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country on non-returning wangim (boomerangs)
theconversation.com/how-forensic...
And read the full article #openaccess in @austarchj.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1080/0312...
theconversation.com/how-forensic...
And read the full article #openaccess in @austarchj.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1080/0312...
ABC Deep Time Australia Launched Today
Congratulations to everyone involved in working with the ABC News Story Lab to bring this project to fruition!
@ciehf.bsky.social is proud to have closely collaborated on this project.
www.abc.net.au/news/deeptime/
Congratulations to everyone involved in working with the ABC News Story Lab to bring this project to fruition!
@ciehf.bsky.social is proud to have closely collaborated on this project.
www.abc.net.au/news/deeptime/
Explore an epic story 65,000 years in the making
Dive into Deep Time, an immersive story of the knowledge, art and ingenuity of Australia’s First Nations peoples — told like never before.
www.abc.net.au
October 19, 2025 at 6:23 AM
ABC Deep Time Australia Launched Today
Congratulations to everyone involved in working with the ABC News Story Lab to bring this project to fruition!
@ciehf.bsky.social is proud to have closely collaborated on this project.
www.abc.net.au/news/deeptime/
Congratulations to everyone involved in working with the ABC News Story Lab to bring this project to fruition!
@ciehf.bsky.social is proud to have closely collaborated on this project.
www.abc.net.au/news/deeptime/
Stone artefacts on submerged land surfaces: A response to Larcombe et al.
Our team’s latest piece. Correcting the record. Again.
Rigorous field validation reaffirms the preservation and integrity of Murujuga’s underwater cultural heritage.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lxes,3sl4...
Our team’s latest piece. Correcting the record. Again.
Rigorous field validation reaffirms the preservation and integrity of Murujuga’s underwater cultural heritage.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lxes,3sl4...
authors.elsevier.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Stone artefacts on submerged land surfaces: A response to Larcombe et al.
Our team’s latest piece. Correcting the record. Again.
Rigorous field validation reaffirms the preservation and integrity of Murujuga’s underwater cultural heritage.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lxes,3sl4...
Our team’s latest piece. Correcting the record. Again.
Rigorous field validation reaffirms the preservation and integrity of Murujuga’s underwater cultural heritage.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lxes,3sl4...
Our team has a new research paper out revisiting what we really know about Mary Watson's Cottage on Jiigurru (Lizard Island Group).
Hint: The stone building is not Mary Watson's Cottage!
doi.org/10.25120/qar...
Hint: The stone building is not Mary Watson's Cottage!
doi.org/10.25120/qar...
Not Mary Watson’s cottage: A reassessment of the ruined stone building, Jiigurru (Lizard Island Group), northern Great Barrier Reef
The remains of a nineteenth century stone building at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island, Jiigurru (Lizard Island Group), are referred to today as ‘Mary Watson’s Cottage’. As such, the ruin provides a tangib...
doi.org
October 4, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Our team has a new research paper out revisiting what we really know about Mary Watson's Cottage on Jiigurru (Lizard Island Group).
Hint: The stone building is not Mary Watson's Cottage!
doi.org/10.25120/qar...
Hint: The stone building is not Mary Watson's Cottage!
doi.org/10.25120/qar...
Check-out The Land Bridge podcast series exploring the deep cultural history of the Bassian Plain!
Each episode features a minimally edited, long interview with an expert or a team, who help us explore the deep cultural landscape which is now submerged under Bass Strait.
thelandbridge.au/podcasts/
Each episode features a minimally edited, long interview with an expert or a team, who help us explore the deep cultural landscape which is now submerged under Bass Strait.
thelandbridge.au/podcasts/
The Land Bridge podcast
Listen to The Land Bridge podcast. Long-form interviews exploring the ice-age Bassian Plain beneath today’s Bass Strait with researchers and custodians.
thelandbridge.au
September 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Check-out The Land Bridge podcast series exploring the deep cultural history of the Bassian Plain!
Each episode features a minimally edited, long interview with an expert or a team, who help us explore the deep cultural landscape which is now submerged under Bass Strait.
thelandbridge.au/podcasts/
Each episode features a minimally edited, long interview with an expert or a team, who help us explore the deep cultural landscape which is now submerged under Bass Strait.
thelandbridge.au/podcasts/
"We found when generative AIs produce images of Australia and Australians, these outputs are riddled with bias. They reproduce sexist and racist caricatures more at home in the country’s imagined monocultural past."
theconversation.com/australiana-...
theconversation.com/australiana-...
‘Australiana’ images made by AI are racist and full of tired cliches, new study shows
What do Australians and Australia look like according to generative AI? The results are alarming.
theconversation.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
"We found when generative AIs produce images of Australia and Australians, these outputs are riddled with bias. They reproduce sexist and racist caricatures more at home in the country’s imagined monocultural past."
theconversation.com/australiana-...
theconversation.com/australiana-...
Decolonize scientific institutions, don’t just diversify them.
Indigenous scholars set out eight steps to stop marginalization in academia and to enable a shared Indigenous agenda in science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Indigenous scholars set out eight steps to stop marginalization in academia and to enable a shared Indigenous agenda in science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Decolonize scientific institutions, don’t just diversify them
Indigenous scholars set out eight steps to stop marginalization in academia and to enable a shared Indigenous agenda in science.
www.nature.com
August 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Decolonize scientific institutions, don’t just diversify them.
Indigenous scholars set out eight steps to stop marginalization in academia and to enable a shared Indigenous agenda in science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Indigenous scholars set out eight steps to stop marginalization in academia and to enable a shared Indigenous agenda in science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates
The critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills of Bachelor of Arts graduates are critical for navigating a future of challenges and careers that haven’t yet been imagined.
#RepealJRG
theconversation.com/top-australi...
The critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills of Bachelor of Arts graduates are critical for navigating a future of challenges and careers that haven’t yet been imagined.
#RepealJRG
theconversation.com/top-australi...
Top Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates, calling their humanities degrees life changing
Tim Winton, Helen Garner and Peter Garrett are just a few of the high-profile signatories to an open letter against Job-Ready Graduates – and for the humanities.
theconversation.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates
The critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills of Bachelor of Arts graduates are critical for navigating a future of challenges and careers that haven’t yet been imagined.
#RepealJRG
theconversation.com/top-australi...
The critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills of Bachelor of Arts graduates are critical for navigating a future of challenges and careers that haven’t yet been imagined.
#RepealJRG
theconversation.com/top-australi...
Precious finger traces from First Nations ancestors revealed in a glittering mountain cave in Australia
theconversation.com/precious-fin...
Amazing new research led by GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Madeleine Kelly, Bruno David et al.
theconversation.com/precious-fin...
Amazing new research led by GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Madeleine Kelly, Bruno David et al.
Precious finger traces from First Nations ancestors revealed in a glittering mountain cave in Australia
Thousands of years ago, adults and children left their marks on soft rock surfaces deep in this cave in GunaiKurnai Country.
theconversation.com
July 28, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Precious finger traces from First Nations ancestors revealed in a glittering mountain cave in Australia
theconversation.com/precious-fin...
Amazing new research led by GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Madeleine Kelly, Bruno David et al.
theconversation.com/precious-fin...
Amazing new research led by GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Madeleine Kelly, Bruno David et al.
It was an honour to participate in the official opening of the new Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation premises at Stratford this morning!
The event was a celebration of 15 years of commitment, hard work, and the vision of everyone working for and with Dawul Wuru.
@ciehf.bsky.social
The event was a celebration of 15 years of commitment, hard work, and the vision of everyone working for and with Dawul Wuru.
@ciehf.bsky.social
July 25, 2025 at 5:07 AM
It was an honour to participate in the official opening of the new Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation premises at Stratford this morning!
The event was a celebration of 15 years of commitment, hard work, and the vision of everyone working for and with Dawul Wuru.
@ciehf.bsky.social
The event was a celebration of 15 years of commitment, hard work, and the vision of everyone working for and with Dawul Wuru.
@ciehf.bsky.social
Their Old People sang of a place lost beneath the waves. Now it’s found.
Another fantastic achievement of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation collaborating with our Deep History of Sea Country project.
Congratulations @johnkmccarthy.bsky.social for leading this.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Another fantastic achievement of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation collaborating with our Deep History of Sea Country project.
Congratulations @johnkmccarthy.bsky.social for leading this.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Their old people sang of a place lost beneath the waves. Now it's found
For years, researchers have been trying to find ancient artefacts sitting on the ocean floor. Now they have brought in Indigenous rangers to help.
www.abc.net.au
July 20, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Their Old People sang of a place lost beneath the waves. Now it’s found.
Another fantastic achievement of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation collaborating with our Deep History of Sea Country project.
Congratulations @johnkmccarthy.bsky.social for leading this.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Another fantastic achievement of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation collaborating with our Deep History of Sea Country project.
Congratulations @johnkmccarthy.bsky.social for leading this.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
A great overview by @ciehf.bsky.social's @jojomcd.bsky.social and partners of the decades-long work of Ngarda-Ngarli to protect their Country with the inscription of the Murujuga Cultural landscape to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
theconversation.com/we-were-part...
theconversation.com/we-were-part...
We were part of the world heritage listing of Murujuga. Here’s why all Australians should be proud
Murujuga is Australia’s 21st world heritage property, but only the second property listed exclusively for its Indigenous cultural values.
theconversation.com
July 17, 2025 at 9:23 PM
A great overview by @ciehf.bsky.social's @jojomcd.bsky.social and partners of the decades-long work of Ngarda-Ngarli to protect their Country with the inscription of the Murujuga Cultural landscape to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
theconversation.com/we-were-part...
theconversation.com/we-were-part...
Check-out Jacinta Walsh’s insightful review of @drtracywesterman.bsky.social’s ‘Jilya: How One Indigenous Woman from the Remote Pilbara Transformed Psychology’
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
@ciehf.bsky.social
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
@ciehf.bsky.social
Jacinta Walsh reviews ‘Jilya: How one Indigenous woman from the remote Pilbara transformed psychology’ by Tracy Westerman
here’s a crisis happening in Australia – and each year it worsens,’ writes Tracy Westerman. Aboriginal children face devastating disparities: they die at four times the rate of non-Aboriginal children...
www.australianbookreview.com.au
July 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Check-out Jacinta Walsh’s insightful review of @drtracywesterman.bsky.social’s ‘Jilya: How One Indigenous Woman from the Remote Pilbara Transformed Psychology’
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
@ciehf.bsky.social
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
@ciehf.bsky.social
Congratulations to the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and the whole Ngarda-Ngarli community for all their years of tireless work to achieve UNESCO World Heritage Listing for their Country!
A unanimous UNESCO vote! And what a way to end #NAIDOC Week 2025!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
A unanimous UNESCO vote! And what a way to end #NAIDOC Week 2025!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
UNESCO approves World Heritage bid for rock art over emissions concerns
The UNESCO has approved World Heritage status for the 50,000-year-old rock art of Murujuga, in Western Australia in Paris.
www.abc.net.au
July 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Congratulations to the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and the whole Ngarda-Ngarli community for all their years of tireless work to achieve UNESCO World Heritage Listing for their Country!
A unanimous UNESCO vote! And what a way to end #NAIDOC Week 2025!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
A unanimous UNESCO vote! And what a way to end #NAIDOC Week 2025!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Reposted by Sean Ulm
Congrats to CIEHF AI Prof Kathryn Fitzsimmons on her ARC Future Fellowship! Her project will reveal how Australia's deserts formed—and what could reawaken them. Big data + climate models = resilience for dryland futures.
🔗 @MonashUni
#CIEHF #ARCFutureFellowship
Image taken on Bindal Country
🔗 @MonashUni
#CIEHF #ARCFutureFellowship
Image taken on Bindal Country
July 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Congrats to CIEHF AI Prof Kathryn Fitzsimmons on her ARC Future Fellowship! Her project will reveal how Australia's deserts formed—and what could reawaken them. Big data + climate models = resilience for dryland futures.
🔗 @MonashUni
#CIEHF #ARCFutureFellowship
Image taken on Bindal Country
🔗 @MonashUni
#CIEHF #ARCFutureFellowship
Image taken on Bindal Country
Reposted by Sean Ulm
Huge congrats to Centre Chief Investigator A/Prof Felecia Watkin Lui on her ARC Future Fellowship! Her project centres Torres Strait Islander voices in climate migration research—supporting resilience, health & Sea Country connection. 🌊
Image of retaining walls on Masig in Torres Strait
Image of retaining walls on Masig in Torres Strait
July 9, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Huge congrats to Centre Chief Investigator A/Prof Felecia Watkin Lui on her ARC Future Fellowship! Her project centres Torres Strait Islander voices in climate migration research—supporting resilience, health & Sea Country connection. 🌊
Image of retaining walls on Masig in Torres Strait
Image of retaining walls on Masig in Torres Strait
Reposted by Sean Ulm
Reposted by Sean Ulm
So many congratulations to my dear colleague @jojomcd.bsky.social and @ciehf.bsky.social Chief Investigator on receiving an ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship for her project Pilbara Dreaming: Rock Art, Water and Heritage Futures!
June 26, 2025 at 1:45 AM
So many congratulations to my dear colleague @jojomcd.bsky.social and @ciehf.bsky.social Chief Investigator on receiving an ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship for her project Pilbara Dreaming: Rock Art, Water and Heritage Futures!
Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago theconversation.com/ice-age-shel...
Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago
New research indicates Dargan Shelter was occupied as early as the last Ice Age and repeatedly visited during this cold period.
theconversation.com
June 16, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago theconversation.com/ice-age-shel...
An exciting end of the week for us here at @ciehf.bsky.social with boxes of our very first Annual Report for 2024 arriving for distribution!
A big shout out to @teresacarrette.bsky.social and all of our members and partners for contributing to a wonderful first year of operations!
A big shout out to @teresacarrette.bsky.social and all of our members and partners for contributing to a wonderful first year of operations!
June 13, 2025 at 3:50 AM
An exciting end of the week for us here at @ciehf.bsky.social with boxes of our very first Annual Report for 2024 arriving for distribution!
A big shout out to @teresacarrette.bsky.social and all of our members and partners for contributing to a wonderful first year of operations!
A big shout out to @teresacarrette.bsky.social and all of our members and partners for contributing to a wonderful first year of operations!
What a wonderful week on Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country this week for @ciehf.bsky.social's inaugural Working on Country Masterclass lead by @jcuofficial.bsky.social's Professor Martin Nakata.
In sunny Townsville on Wulgurukaba Country today with CIEHF archaeologists (and friends of!) marking #2025NAW 🧡
Yunbenun (Magnetic Island) in the background. Grateful to be guided by Ashley from @wulgurukabawalkabouts #OnCountry #CIEHF #IndigenousFutures #Archaeology #wulgurukabawalkabouts
Yunbenun (Magnetic Island) in the background. Grateful to be guided by Ashley from @wulgurukabawalkabouts #OnCountry #CIEHF #IndigenousFutures #Archaeology #wulgurukabawalkabouts
May 23, 2025 at 1:03 AM
What a wonderful week on Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country this week for @ciehf.bsky.social's inaugural Working on Country Masterclass lead by @jcuofficial.bsky.social's Professor Martin Nakata.
The approaching Australian Federal Election at the end of this week provides an opportunity to reflect on what the priorities of the nation should be over the next decade and beyond.
April 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
The approaching Australian Federal Election at the end of this week provides an opportunity to reflect on what the priorities of the nation should be over the next decade and beyond.
Add your signature to support the nomination of the Great Barrier Reef to become the first non-human recipient of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
alifetimeofgreatness.com
alifetimeofgreatness.com
The Lifetime of Greatness Project - The Great Barrier Reef
Learn why the Great Barrier Reef deserves to become the first non-human recipient of the UNEP’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
alifetimeofgreatness.com
April 29, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Add your signature to support the nomination of the Great Barrier Reef to become the first non-human recipient of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
alifetimeofgreatness.com
alifetimeofgreatness.com