Lecture Access

This lecture will be available to view until 1 June 2026

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OVERVIEW

Watch on Demand | Online Lecture


The vast landscapes, ancient gorges, and rugged mountain peaks that define the Flinders Ranges began forming around 500 million years ago. 

Their exposed rock strata record deep geological time, while fossil evidence—including some of the earliest complex life—has made the region significant enough to be considered for World Heritage listing. These landscapes are not only geologically distinctive but have long been shaped by human presence. The Flinders Ranges emerge as a place where deep time and lived history remain closely entangled. 

In this lecture, Dr Chris Carter examines how geography and geology have structured life in the Flinders Ranges, tracing human history from early Indigenous habitation and enduring cultural connections to the disruptions of colonial settlement. He also discusses the role of mineral exploration, pastoralism, and later tourism in reshaping the region, and reflects on how layers of human activity intersect with an ancient environment.

LECTURER

Biography

Dr Chris Carter is a historical archaeologist with over 25 years’ experience leading tours both nationally and overseas. He has a BA (Hons), MA and PhD from the Australian National University. His PhD research was based on excavations he carried out at coastal sites in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. As a teacher, Chris has always declared that archaeology cannot be learned in the classroom. Such statements resulted in him taking a group to South America in 1995. He has continued to lead several tours a year ever since. The areas visited have expanded to other regions that reflect the subjects he teaches.

Dr Christopher Carter

Historical Archaeologist