Australian Research Centre of Human Evolution (ARCHE)

Griffith University

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ARCHE aims to reshape how humanity understands its relationships with the Earth and prepares for emerging futures. By examining human-environment interactions across deep time, ARCHE reveals how societies have responded to environmental change, how those responses have influenced Earth systems, and what this means for navigating accelerating global challenges.

Bringing together internationally leading scholars and partners, ARCHE integrates archaeological, environmental, biological, and social evidence to trace long-term patterns in human behaviour, culture, and technology. Based in Brisbane and globally connected, ARCHE works in close partnership with Indigenous communities, grounding its research in place-based knowledge while addressing challenges of worldwide significance. ARCHE's research themes include human-earth dynamics; biological diversity evolution and health; and culture, adaptation and human futures.

Website
https://www.griffith.edu.au/research-centre-human-evolution
Organisation type
  • University Research Centre
Number of research staff
Up to 20 research staff
Address
Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan QLD 4111

Strengths and capabilities

  • Archaeology and Zooarchaeology
  • Palaeogenomics
  • Palaeoanthropology
  • Palaeoecology and biodiversity conservation
  • Food securities
  • Soil science
  • Climate adaptation
  • Human well-being in the natural environment

Facilities and major equipment

  • Palaeontology and Zooarchaeology Laboratory
  • Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) Laboratory
  • Ancient DNA Facility
  • Histological Preparation and Analysis
  • Griffith Experimental Archaeology Research

Lead researchers

  • Professor Julien Louys - ARCHE Director & palaeontologist and ancient ecosystems, focusing on human-environment interactions over deep time.
  • Professor Michael Petraglia - Leading expert in human origins and prehistoric migration across Africa, Asia and Arabia.
  • Professor Chris Clarkson - Leading expert on early human migration and the archaeology of Australia's first people.
  • Professor Adam Brumm - Leading expert on early human evolution and prehistoric art in Southeast Asia.
  • A/Professor Michelle Langley - Leading expert in human behavioural evolution and the study of early bone, shell, and ornament technologies.
  • A/Professor Ali Chauvenet - Leading expert in conservation ecology and biodiversity protection under global environmental change.
  • A/Professor Johanna Nalau - Leading expert in climate change adaptation, policy, and decision-making under environmental risk.

Achievements of the centre

  • Discovering the earliest rock art in the world
  • Using genetic analysis for repatriation of Indigenous remains
  • Defining transformational adaptation to clime change

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

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