DOCSLIB.ORG

Gulf Regional Development Plan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gulf Regional Development Plan GULF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Gulf Regional Planning Advisory Committee November 2000 Copyright Disclaimer Gulf Regional Development Plan The Gulf Regional Development Plan sets Prepared By: out a regional policy framework to be Gulf Regional Planning Advisory Committee adopted by the Gulf Regional Planning November 2000. Advisory Committee for future management and development in the Gulf of Carpentaria State of Queensland (Queensland region. Department of Communication and Information, Local Government, Planning and It does not represent and may not Sport) necessarily conform to the policies and views of Governments, Government agencies or Copyright protects this publication. Except particular community organisations. for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any No responsibility is taken for the results of means without the prior written permission of any action that may occur due to its use the Department of Communication and outside of the context of assisting in the Information, Local Government, Planning and development of the Gulf regional planning Sport. project. Requests and inquiries concerning All plans and maps are intended to represent reproduction and nights should be addressed general concepts for the purposes of broad to: scale regional planning. Plans and maps are not intended to identify or give attributes or Department of Communication and rights to specific land parcels. Information, Local Government, Planning and Sport North Queensland Planning Division PO Box 5194 Cairns Qld 4870 Acknowledgments The Gulf Regional Planning Advisory Committee wishes to acknowledge those who, by their contribution to the regional planning process for the Gulf, have demonstrated their commitment to the future of the region. Particular thanks go to Caroline Tanner, for her commitment, enthusiasm and endeavour. Cover: Images supplied courtesy of Tourism Queensland. Executive Summary Background Strategies The Southern Gulf of Carpentaria region (Gulf Region) is located in Queensland’s far The Gulf Regional Development Plan North-West, extending East from the provides strategies, recommendations and Northern Territory/Queensland border to priority actions to address the key issues include the Local Government and confronting the Gulf region. These Community Council areas of Burke, strategies are intended to provide guidance Mornington, Doomadgee, Carpentaria, as to new directions in policy development Croydon, Etheridge and Kowanyama. and implementation, as well as making use of existing organisational and administrative The Gulf region has a land area of (approx.) structures. 186,000 square kilometres, with a total resident population of (approx.) 7,000 (from The following provides an overview of 1996 census). Gulf residents experience a strategies addressing the key regional unique lifestyle associated with the region’s planning issues confronting the Gulf. remote and predominantly rural nature. This remoteness and relative isolation has Native Title Strategy both positive and negative effects in regard to quality of life for the region’s residents. Aims • to integrate the regional planning The communities of the Gulf region process with ongoing native title recognise that they have significant processes; common issues - economic, social, and • to facilitate an agreements-based environmental - that may be addressed at a approach to the reconciliation of native broad, strategic level. In addition, the Gulf title and community rights and interests region continues to experience increasing on a regional scale; and, pressures associated with growth in • to facilitate an agreements-based industries such as eco-tourism and mining, approach for future developments, as well as seeing restructuring in using compulsory acquisition powers established industries such as pastoralism only if all reasonable negotiation and commercial fishing. processes fail. The Gulf Regional Development Plan Strategies/Actions (GRDP) project is a joint Government and • incorporate appropriate mechanisms community initiative to develop a for acknowledging native title issues in comprehensive Regional Plan to encourage planning and decision-making and guide sustainable growth and processes; development of the Gulf region over the • encourage an agreements-based next 20 years. The GRDP aims to provide approach to resolve native title issues a broad-level planning framework within in respect of existing and future which future decisions can be made with development; and greater confidence, certainty and • investigate the negotiation of a community support. The GRDP also aims Regional Framework Agreement which to ensure that growth and development can will provide a broad structure for the be managed in a manner that is consistent resolution of key regional issues. with the economic, environmental and social values of the Gulf region. Environment and Natural Resources Strategy The GRDP is a cooperative planning process between the Gulf communities, key Aims regional stakeholders, and all levels of • develop a comprehensive and Government. These parties are representative protected area estate. represented on the Gulf Regional Planning • ensure that protected areas are Advisory Committee (Gulf RPAC), which is sustainably managed to preserve their responsible for developing the GRDP. ecological integrity and cultural and I recreational values in accordance with • establish a regional and coordinated provisions of the Nature Conservation approach to the development of the Act. tourism industry which is ecologically • ensure that natural resources are and socially and culturally appropriate utilised and managed in a coordinated, whilst supporting the economic consultative and ecologically development of the region. sustainable manner. • maintain and expand sustainable • protect and manage places and natural resource based industries landscapes of cultural heritage consistent with ecological and significance commensurate with their traditional values. significance, and the aspirations of the • sustainable development of small community. businesses and industries to meet • ensure that all development is community, tourist and other industry ecologically sustainable and that demands. environmental impacts are identified, • establishment of viable and sustainable minimised and contained. horticulture and cropping industries for export and to meet local community Strategies/Actions needs for fresh produce. • Incorporate existing management and • the establishment of viable and planning processes (including sustainable Indigenous-managed Government and non-Government industries. mechanisms) into a coordinated approach to accumulating knowledge Strategies/Actions and working towards establishing a • Coordinate a regional approach to comprehensive regional reserve economic development by regional system. economic development officers, and • Initiate a program of information the Indigenous development gathering on sites and places of corporations. cultural significance so that appropriate • Develop and implement strategies that management and protection strategies will improve the competitive advantage can be developed and subsequently of industries and economic activities in incorporated into Local Government the region. Planning Schemes, Community • Develop a regional tourism strategy Development Plans, etc., whilst that is representative of all interests, ensuring that cultural sensitivities are including Indigenous groups and the observed. wider community. A priority should be • Initiate a program of information given to utilising existing organisational gathering on natural resources in order structures such as the Gulf Savannah to establish the requirement for Tourism Organisation. management/remedial action (eg. pest • Promote the timely delivery of land, control, water quality). buildings, infrastructure and services • Support the ongoing cooperative for economic development in each of development of land management the Gulf towns. strategies (involving Local • Encourage representation of all Governments/Community Councils, interests in the development of the and key stakeholder groups such as regional economy. ICM/Landcare and industry groups) that can be incorporated into Local Employment, Education and Training Government Planning Schemes, Strategy Community Development Plans, etc. Aims Economic Development Strategy • maximise opportunities for employment generation. Aims • provide equitable access to a wider • promote sustainable economic range of appropriate schooling developments which have a strong opportunities within the region. competitive advantage. II • provide equitable access to regionally • provide a range of sporting and coordinated training programmes recreational facilities and programs in a which are targeted at providing skills manner which meets community levels appropriate to regional needs. employment opportunities as well as improving access to higher education Strategies/Actions opportunities external to the region. • Host forums in each of the Gulf communities of all the Government Strategies/Actions community services and social welfare • Encourage schools to become more providers in order to coordinate service active in adult education classes, delivery, identify gaps and avoid especially with literacy and numeracy duplication. skills. • Initiate investigations aimed at • Explore options to integrate community improving access to: sports and recreation activities with − mental health; community
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Gulf Coast Assessment
    Prepared by: NRM Planning @ Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd Lead author: Jim Tait, Econcern Consulting Contributors: Sarah Rizvi, Prof Alan Dale, Riki Gunn & Sarah Connor Reviewers & advisors: Riki Gunn, Natalie Waller and Anissa Lawrence Design work: Clare Powell & Federico Vanni Editing: Nina Bailey Photography: Federico Vanni This project is supported by the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd through funding from the Australian Government TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.1 Income .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 3.2 Employment ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 Health .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 8.1 3.4 Education .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 8.2 3.5 Housing ................................................................................................................................................................. 9 8.3 3.6 Social Services ................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • North West Region
    North West Region New concrete sleepers on the Mount Isa rail line 22km south of Mount Isa, June 2009 North West North West Regional profile Overview • Improving quality of life for remote and rural communities Commenced upgrade works on a key section of the Kennedy through projects that improve travelling conditions, access Developmental Road between Hughenden and Winton to North West Region covers an area of approximately 308,044km2, and Indigenous training, employment and development. reconstruct the existing road to a two-lane standard. This project or around 17.8% of Queensland. It extends from the Gulf of was fast-tracked from a 10-year project to a five-year project to Carpenteria in the north to Kynuna in the south, and from Torrens • Continuing to work in partnership with local government to achieve a more efficient and cost effective delivery. It involves Creek in the east to the Northern Territory border in the west. develop and deliver the Transport Infrastructure Development reconstructing a 40km section of road between Hughenden Scheme. and Winton, 20km either side of Stamford. The Kennedy North West Region has a resident population of approximately Developmental Road is a major regional link used by freight and 35,135 people and is home to approximately 0.8% of • Targeting the reduction of accident-prone areas through Safer mining industries to access the Flinders, Herbert and Burdekin Queensland’s total population. Roads Sooner. districts. This project is being delivered through an alliance between TMR and RoadTek with involvement from Flinders Shire The state-controlled road network in the region is 3,574km in Council and Winton Shire Council.
    [Show full text]
  • Soil and Land Suitability Assessment for Irrigated Agriculture in the Wildman River Area, Northern Territory February 2016
    Agricultural Land Suitability Series – Report 2 DLRM Technical Report 2/2016D Soil and Land Suitability Assessment for Irrigated Agriculture in the Wildman River area, Northern Territory February 2016 Rangelands Division Department of Land Resource Management PO Box 496 Palmerston NT 0831 Easey D, Brocklehurst P, and Carnavas M © Northern Territory of Australia, 2016 ISBN 9781743500941 www.lrm.nt.gov.au Department of Land Resource Management Land Assessment Branch PO Box 496 Palmerston NT 0831 © Northern Territory of Australia, 2016 ISBN 9781743500859 To reference this report: Easey D, Brocklehurst P & Carnavas M (2016) Agricultural Land Suitability Series, Report 2. Soil and Land Suitability Assessment for Irrigated Agriculture in the Wildman River area, Northern Territory. Technical Report 2/2016D Department of Land Resource Management, Darwin, NT. The map series accompanying this report can be downloaded from the NR Maps website. http://nrmaps.nt.gov.au/ Disclaimer: All care and diligence has been exercised in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data and recommendations presented in this report. The works undertaken have been completed in a skilled, professional manner, according to recommended and accepted Australian practices and standards. Specific circumstances and research findings after the date of publication may influence the accuracy of the data and recommendations within this report. While the findings presented in this report are based on information that the Department of Land Resource Management, NTG considers reliable unless stated otherwise, the accuracy and completeness of source information cannot be guaranteed. The information compiled in this report addresses specifically identified objectives of the project stake- holders, and as such may not address the needs of third parties using the report for their own purposes.
    [Show full text]
  • DI2003 Nomenclature
    Australian Capital Territory Public Place Names (Crace) Determination 2009 (No 2) Disallowable instrument DI2009 - 163 made under the Public Place Names Act 1989— section 3 (Minister to determine names) I DETERMINE the names of the public places that are Territory land as specified in the attached schedule and as indicated on the associated plan. Neil Savery Delegate of the Minister 14 July 2009 Page 1 of 3 Public Place Names (Crace) Determination 2009 (No 2) Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au SCHEDULE Public Place Names (Crace) Determination 2009 (No 2) Division of Crace: Australian parishes and land divisions NAME ORIGIN Narden Street Parish of Narden, County of Dowling, New South Wales. Parilla Street Hundred of Parilla, County of Chandos, South Australia. Quain Street Parish of Quain, Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland. Rylstone Crescent Parish of Rylstone, County of Roxburgh, New South Wales. Stowport Avenue Land division of Stowport, Tasmania. Taplow Street Parish of Taplow, Shire of Cloncurry, Queensland. Ultimo Street Parish of Ultimo, Rockhampton Regional Area, Queensland. Vandyke Street Parish of Vandyke, Tablelands Regional Area, Queensland. Wadeye Street Land division of Wadeye, Victoria-Daly Shire Council, Northern Territory. Yinnar Street Parish of Yinnar, Municipality of Latrobe City, Victoria. Zanci Street Parish of Zanci, County of Taila, New South Wales. Arcadia Street Parish of Arcadia, Central Highlands Regional Area, Queensland. Benalla Street Parish of Benalla, Shire of Delatite, Victoria. Carrawa Street Parish of Carrawa, County of Georgiana, New South Wales. Digby Circuit Parish of Digby, Shire of Glenelg, Victoria. Page 2 of 3 Public Place Names (Crace) Determination 2009 (No 2) Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Page 3 of 3 Public Place Names (Crace) Determination 2009 (No 2) Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au .
    [Show full text]
  • Revisiting Inscriptions on the Investigator Tree on Sweers Island, Gulf of Carpentaria
    REVISITING INSCRIPTIONS ON THE INVESTIGATOR TREE ON SWEERS ISLAND, GULF OF CARPENTARIA COLLINS, S. J.1, MATE, G.2,1 & ULM, S.1,3 The Investigator Tree, so named after Matthew Flinders’ ship HMS Investigator, is an inscribed tree currently on display in the Queensland Museum. Before being accessioned into the Queensland Museum’s collection in 1889, the Investigator Tree grew on the western shore of Sweers Island in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. The tree’s “Investigator” inscription, attributed to Flinders (1802), provided the catalyst for future and varied forms of European inscription making on Sweers Island, including a contentious additional “Investigator” inscription on the Investigator Tree carved by Thomas Baines in 1856. Previous researchers have speculated that Baines’ second “Investigator” inscription has caused the faded original “Investigator” inscription to be misinterpreted as either a Chinese or Dutch inscription predating Flinders’ visit to Sweers Island. For the first time, this study undertakes a physical examination of all markings on the Investigator Tree, including a second portion of the tree located at the Queensland Museum since 2009. In com­ bination with a review of the archival and historical record, findings provide alternative interpretations regarding the (28) inscriptions to address outstanding questions. Archival documents demonstrate that there were at least three inscribed trees on Sweers Island. This paper also revisits the possibility of there once being pre­Flinders inscriptions on the Investigator
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Reptiles Arne R
    Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Study of Biological Complexity Publications Center for the Study of Biological Complexity 2011 Marine Reptiles Arne R. Rasmessen The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts John D. Murphy Field Museum of Natural History Medy Ompi Sam Ratulangi University J. Whitfield iG bbons University of Georgia Peter Uetz Virginia Commonwealth University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/csbc_pubs Part of the Life Sciences Commons Copyright: © 2011 Rasmussen et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Downloaded from http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/csbc_pubs/20 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Study of Biological Complexity Publications by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Review Marine Reptiles Arne Redsted Rasmussen1, John C. Murphy2, Medy Ompi3, J. Whitfield Gibbons4, Peter Uetz5* 1 School of Conservation, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2 Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, 3 Marine Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, 4 Savannah River Ecology Lab, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America, 5 Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America Of the more than 12,000 species and subspecies of extant Caribbean, although some species occasionally travel as far north reptiles, about 100 have re-entered the ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Gulf, Queensland
    Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions Species List What is the summary for and where does it come from? This list has been produced by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPC) for the Natural Resource Management Spatial Information System. The list was produced using the AustralianAustralian Natural Natural Heritage Heritage Assessment Assessment Tool Tool (ANHAT), which analyses data from a range of plant and animal surveys and collections from across Australia to automatically generate a report for each NRM region. Data sources (Appendix 2) include national and state herbaria, museums, state governments, CSIRO, Birds Australia and a range of surveys conducted by or for DEWHA. For each family of plant and animal covered by ANHAT (Appendix 1), this document gives the number of species in the country and how many of them are found in the region. It also identifies species listed as Vulnerable, Critically Endangered, Endangered or Conservation Dependent under the EPBC Act. A biodiversity summary for this region is also available. For more information please see: www.environment.gov.au/heritage/anhat/index.html Limitations • ANHAT currently contains information on the distribution of over 30,000 Australian taxa. This includes all mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and fish, 137 families of vascular plants (over 15,000 species) and a range of invertebrate groups. Groups notnot yet yet covered covered in inANHAT ANHAT are notnot included included in in the the list. list. • The data used come from authoritative sources, but they are not perfect. All species names have been confirmed as valid species names, but it is not possible to confirm all species locations.
    [Show full text]
  • Surveys of the Sea Snakes and Sea Turtles on Reefs of the Sahul Shelf
    Surveys of the Sea Snakes and Sea Turtles on Reefs of the Sahul Shelf Monitoring Program for the Montara Well Release Timor Sea MONITORING STUDY S6 SEA SNAKES / TURTLES Dr Michael L Guinea School of Environment Faculty of Engineering, Health, Science and the Environment Charles Darwin University Darwin 0909 Northern Territory Draft Final Report 2012-2013 Acknowledgements: Two survey by teams of ten and eleven people respectively housed on one boat and operating out of three tenders for most of the daylight hours for 20 days and covering over 2500 km of ocean can only succeed with enthusiastic members, competent and obliging crew and good organisation. I am indebted to my team members whose names appear in the personnel list. I thank Drs Arne Rasmussen and Kate Sanders who gave their time and shared their knowledge and experiences. I thank the staff at Pearl Sea Coastal Cruises for their organisation and forethought. In particular I thank Alice Ralston who kept us on track and informed. The captains Ben and Jeff and Engineer Josh and the coxswains Riley, Cam, Blade and Brad; the Chef Stephen and hostesses Sunny and Ellen made the trips productive, safe and enjoyable. I thank the Department of Environment and Conservation WA for scientific permits to enter the reserves of Sandy Islet, Scott Reef and Browse Island. I am grateful to the staff at DSEWPaC, for facilitating and providing the permits to survey sea snakes and marine turtles at Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island. Activities were conducted under Animal Ethics Approval A11028 from Charles Darwin University. Olive Seasnake, Aipysurus laevis, on Seringapatam Reef.
    [Show full text]
  • Gas Supply 3.31 Australia’S North Has Enormous Gas Reserves Which Could Provide a Cost Effective Domestic Energy Supply.183
    3 Development Proposals Overview 3.1 The Committee has received many proposals for major capital infrastructure developments which would require direct government funding for facilitation. 3.2 This chapter lists these proposals and briefly identifies preconditions needed for them to proceed. The proposals are listed by category, then alphabetically. The projects described in this chapter are priority-listed in Chapter 5. Road Infrastructure Proposals 3.3 Roads are the vital connection for service delivery and the transport of produce between regional towns and centres across the nation. The condition of roads in the North is variable, with many being unsealed, or partially sealed, and subject to seasonal flooding.1 National Highways and Major Arterial Roads Bruce Highway—upgrading for flood mitigation, safety and capacity improvement north and south of Mackay and the provision of a dual carriageway between Edmonton and Gordonvale would sustain major developments north of Cairns and secure access to southern ports during severe weather events.2 Federal funding of $6.7 billion has been allocated 1 Australian Government, Green Paper on Developing Northern Australia, Canberra 2014, p. 33. 2 Mr Andre Wessells, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Mackay–Isaac–Whitsunday, Committee Hansard, Mackay, 31 March 2014, pp. 1–2; Mr Tim Miles, Chair, Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce, Committee Hansard, Mackay, 31 March 72 PIVOT NORTH for upgrades over 10 years which include $3 billion for north Queensland.3 Central Arnhem Highway—Katherine to Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory—upgrading, with further upgrades of the Stuart Highway, would support community and industry development after the closure of Rio Tinto Alcan’s bauxite refinery in late 2014.4 Great Northern Highway—Pilbara and Kimberley region to Port Hedland, Western Australia—upgrading would improve the Pilbara– Kimberley road network.
    [Show full text]
  • Eragrostis Curvula, a Model Species for Diplosporous Apomixis
    plants Review Eragrostis curvula, a Model Species for Diplosporous Apomixis Jose Carballo 1 , Diego Zappacosta 1,2,*, Juan Pablo Selva 1,3, Mario Caccamo 4 and Viviana Echenique 1,2 1 Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; [email protected] (J.C.); [email protected] (J.P.S.); [email protected] (V.E.) 2 Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina 3 Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Juan 670, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina 4 NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +54-291-486-1124 Abstract: Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Ness is a grass with a particular apomictic embryo sac develop- ment called Eragrostis type. Apomixis is a type of asexual reproduction that produces seeds without fertilization in which the resulting progeny is genetically identical to the mother plant and with the potential to fix the hybrid vigour from more than one generation, among other advantages. The absence of meiosis and the occurrence of only two rounds of mitosis instead of three during embryo sac development make this model unique and suitable to be transferred to economically important crops. Throughout this review, we highlight the advances in the knowledge of apomixis in E. curvula using different techniques such as cytoembryology, DNA methylation analyses, small-RNA-seq, RNA-seq, genome assembly, and genotyping by sequencing.
    [Show full text]
  • Local-Disaster-Management-Plan.Pdf
    FOREWORD Mornington Shire Council works to serve their community, their land and their traditions. As the governing body, Mornington Shire Council strives to improve the life of all its residents whilst maintaining the core values of respect and culture. As a result, the Council work toward building local capacity, enhancing the quality of life and maintaining culture within the region. In preparation of this plan, we acknowledge the Lardil, Yangkaal, Kaiadilt and Gangalidda people, the Traditional Owners of the Wellesley Islands archipelago and recognise their connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Despite their somewhat idyllic location and beautiful surrounds, the Wellesley Islands are subject to regular to natural disaster events. In one of the most cyclone prone locations in Australia, the islands and their inhabitants are challenged by annual events that test their resilience, preparedness and ability to recover. When disaster threatens or occurs, Mornington Shire Council has the primary responsibility for the coordination and management of the event. Adequate preparation and planning must occur to ensure that we have the resources, systems and process capable of meeting the challenges and addressing the responses and recovery of any event. Preparation of the Mornington Shire Council Disaster Management Plan is an integral component Council’s role in disaster management. This plan has been developed through a collaborative process and sets out, not only the legislative requirements under the Queensland Disaster Management Act 2003, but also the roles, responsibilities and joint coordination efforts by allied government and non- government organisations. This plan incorporates the following sub plans: Community Profile Recovery Plan Council appoints the Local Disaster Management Group which is responsible for the development and implementation of Council’s Disaster Management Plan.
    [Show full text]
  • 82 3.3.4.4.3 Ecogeographic Studies of the Cranial Shape The
    82 3.3.4.4.3 Ecogeographic studies of the cranial shape The measurement of the human head of both the living and dead has long been a matter of interest to a variety of professions from artists to physicians and latterly to anthropologists (for a review see Spencer 1997c). The shape of the cranium, in particular, became an important factor in schemes of racial typology from the late 18th Century (Blumenbach 1795; Deniker 1898; Dixon 1923; Haddon 1925; Huxley 1870). Following the formulation of the cranial index by Retzius in 1843 (see also Sjovold 1997), the classification of humans by skull shape became a positive fashion. Of course such classifications were predicated on the assumption that cranial shape was an immutable racial trait. However, it had long been known that cranial shape could be altered quite substantially during growth, whether due to congenital defect or morbidity or through cultural practices such as cradling and artificial cranial deformation (for reviews see (Dingwall 1931; Lindsell 1995). Thus the use of cranial index of racial identity was suspect. Another nail in the coffin of the Cranial Index's use as a classificatory trait was presented in Coon (1955), where he suggested that head form was subject to long term climatic selection. In particular he thought that rounder, or more brachycephalic, heads were an adaptation to cold. Although it was plausible that the head, being a major source of heat loss in humans (Porter 1993), could be subject to climatic selection, the situation became somewhat clouded when Beilicki and Welon demonstrated in 1964 that the trend towards brachycepahlisation was continuous between the 12th and 20th centuries in East- Central Europe and thus could not have been due to climatic selection (Bielicki & Welon 1964).
    [Show full text]