This research project provides a geomorphological and geological analysis of ephemeral and relict river valley systems in the north part of the Iraqi Western Desert. The area surveyed covers approximately 30 000 km2 and is one of the remotest and least studied parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Part of the reason for the lack of research in this area in recent years has been the ongoing security problems and all fieldwork undertaken for this thesis was carried out with the support of armed guards and police. In addition much of the work on the geology and geomorphology of the region is in confidential files commissioned by oil companies, and in MSc and PhD theses held in Iraqi Universities. A significant part of this work and indeed many scientific papers, are only available in Arabic. Therefore a major element of the work for this thesis has been to translate this material and make the results available in English for the first time. The study demonstrates that the present surface of the Iraqi Western Desert overall forms an incised plateau developed during two phases of continental erosion and deposition during the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. The first phase started after Oligocene uplift formed an older plateau within the Oligocene Tayarat formation. This plateau is characterized by denudation processes associated with a semiarid climate, including the formation of subsurface hollows and caves. The second phase, which began after the last Alpine Orogenic movement, and includes the Pliocene and Quaternary periods, formed a younger plateau developed on the Zahra formation. This younger plateau is characterized by processes indicative of climatic fluctuations from wet to arid and semiarid, which induced denudation in places and deposition in others. However, in terms of the geomorphological landforms present in the Western Desert they can be broadly divided into: i) Structural and erosion-denudation forms ii) Accumulation forms Lithology landform in these two categories has resulted in the production of a new geomorphological map of the Iraqi Western Desert. A key component of this map uses the drainage networks. Four distinct drainage systems were identified: 1. The valleys which descend from west to east. These valley systems are located to the south and south east town of Rutba 2. The valleys which descend from south to north. These lie to the west and southwest of Rutba and are controlled by the north to south strike of exposed Palaeogene strata. 3. The valleys which descend from east south to north west, located north of the Garaa area like Ratga and Akash. 4. The valleys which descend from east to west. These valley systems are located to the south and south west town of Rutba, like Swab and Wallaj valleys. Investigation of these four networks established that they were relict systems that still carried ephemerally active misfit rivers and stream. The overall control on their form was the alternating sequences of variable strength rocks that were exposed and eroded as part of the uplift of an anticlinorium (Houran) and anticline (Garaa), associated with the Alpine Orogeny .However, the unclearing Structures were much older and can be traced back to Permian tectonic processes. The drainage of the Western Desert, therefore, is antecedent and controlled by Tertiary and Quaternary tectonics. The rivers appear to have active throughout the Pleistocene incising into the Western Desert plateaux. Highest incision rates probably occurred during more pluvial periods in the Pleistocene which may have been coincident with glacial marine in the Northern Hemisphere. The contemporary rivers are misfit within larger valleys although still subject to flash floods under the right metrological condition.

Cette étude examine la place que les peuples situés à l’ouest de la Vallée du Nil occupent dans la culture pharaonique depuis les premières sources dynastiques jusqu’à la fin du Moyen Empire (3150-1800 av. J.-C.). Le sujet est abordé de manière thématique, d’un point de vue archéologique, historique et linguistique. Après avoir délimité l’espace dans lequel ces peuples évoluent et déterminé leurs différentes représentations dans les sources égyptiennes, il s’agit de mettre en évidence la nature des relations qu’ils entretiennent avec les habitants de la vallée. L’enjeu est de saisir la manière dont ces « Libyens » sont perçus et reconnus dans la société égyptienne. / The present study concentrates on the position of the people living west to the Nile Valley in the Pharaonic culture since the first dynastic sources until the end of the Middle Kingdom. The subject has been thematically organized, from an archaeological, historical and linguistic point of view. After having outlined their geographical area where they have lived and having determined their various representations in the Egyptian sources, the aim if this research is to highlight the nature of the relations they maintained with the inhabitants of the Nile Valley. The goal is to understand how these “Libyans” are perceived and recognized in the Egyptian society.

The northeast African continental margin of the Western Desert of Egypt is host to a complexly deformed series of Phanerozoic basins. Substantial sedimentary deposition (~5 km) and basin formation resulted from regional deformation due to continental collision and repeated rifting and inversion cycles. Limited sedimentary exposure and exploration has prevented elucidation of Phanerozoic basin evolution, particularly in the Paleozoic. Previous studies of the region have largely relied upon sedimentary analysis, gravity, and 2D/3D seismic data. This study, in contrast, has employed extensive use of detrital zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronology (n=1004) from 17 wells in conjunction with 3D seismic, well log correlation, and heat flow data to elucidate a spatiotemporally comprehensive tectonic and stratigraphic model. The detrital zircon thermochronometric data provides new evidence that the lower Paleozoic, Carboniferous, and Mesozoic stratigraphic sequences of the Western Desert represent thermally distinct, tectonically controlled sequences with independent thermal evolutions. The lower Paleozoic sequence has been partially thermally reset, reaching temperatures of ~140-170 ̊C. Partial resetting is noted throughout the region and reached its thermal maximum in the Permo-Triassic, synchronous with onset of Neotethyan rifting. The Carboniferous sequence has not been thermally reset, with exposure to temperatures no greater than ~140 ̊C and reaching thermal maximum presently. Carboniferous (U-Th)/He ages have dominant input from short-lag-time zircons (exhumation to deposition) and indicate the stratigraphic sequence was proximally sourced. The proximal sourcing is likely from transmitted stress and fault reactivation in Egypt during the Hercynian Orogeny that caused fault block exhumation and erosional unroofing. Sediment was shed from uplifted fault blocks that formed the eastern boundary of the Carboniferous sequence. The Mesozoic sequence has not been thermally reset, reaching temperatures no greater than ~120 ̊C and presently reaching thermal maximum. Localized areas with stacking of lower Paleozoic, Carboniferous, and Mesozoic sequences likely bury the lower Paleozoic to abnormally deep depths (~7 km) and elevated temperatures of ~200 ̊C. Evidence from faulting relationships, basin controlling structures, and heat flow data indicate that N-S trending basement structures may define a region of crustal transition between the Archean-Paleoproterozoic Saharan Metacraton and the juvenile Arabian-Nubian Shield. / text

Thesis (Ph.D)--Murdoch University, 2007. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 341-369).

In this research, I explore my belief that one the reasons for the continuing poor outcomes for Indigenous people was that State-wide and national programs ignored unique local Indigenous culture and did not actively involve local Indigenous people in the development of programs for their area. I chose to examine this perception through investigation of the tension between Indigenous culture and worldview and the dominant White values of the child welfare system (broadly defined), through description of Martu child rearing practices and beliefs in the remote Western Australian town of Wiluna. The Martu live in a remote environment of material poverty, high levels of unemployment, low levels of educational achievement and poor health outcomes. The research sponsored by the Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Service and located in its Early Childhood Centre, uses an Indigenous research approach based on Brayboy's (2005) TribalCrit to explore Martu child rearing practices, beliefs and values. It uses the stories told by the Martu in Wiluna about the way they and their families were brought up and observations of Martu families to answer research questions around Martu definitions of children and families, their concerns for their children, ways of ensuring the well being of their children, and whether there is a Martu child welfare approach. The research then considers the implications of these Martu practices for the broadly defined child welfare system. The stories told by the Martu show that they have a unique way of bringing up their children that is different to those in the dominant White culture. This uniqueness is derived from a combination of the recent colonisation of the Martu, their culture and their post colonisation experiences. The implications of Martu child rearing for the child welfare system are based on the assumption that Martu are wholly dependent on poorly designed and targeted government provided or funded services, and the current ways of delivering these services is failing the Martu. The research concludes that the key to improving outcomes for Martu children and their families is for the agencies delivering these services to form close working relationships with the Martu; operate within, understand, appreciate, and respect Martu Law and culture; understand their (personal and agency) and Martu post colonisation histories; and allow for Martu control, definition of priorities and development of strategies to address the problems.

The work will focus mainly on the collection of available written and archaeological data on Roman fortifications and other fortification elements in the Western Desert in Egypt. The data will be organized with the help of a database program, in which will be recorded all available information about the desert fortifications dating from the end of the 3rd century to the beginning of the 5th century AD. Thanks to the creation of this database, it will be possible to compare individual fortifications in terms of construction technology, layout, position and orientation. The potential of the work itself is therefore in the collection, comparison, and evaluation of available information. At the same time, the database will be connected to a geographic information system (GIS), which will first record the exact location of individual fortifications and other elements in the Western Desert and secondly a map of caravan routes passing through the area. As part of the evaluation of the mutual positions of fortifications and other fortification elements and caravan routes, it will also be possible to interpret localities in the context of the main roads passing through the area of the Western Desert. Key words: Roman fortifications, Roman army, Egypt, Western desert, oases, caravan routes

The work presents the Egyptian Western Desert, in its oases and caravan roads during Roman rule (1st -5th century AD). It focuses mainly on the collection of available written and archaeological data on Roman fortifications and puts it into context with other general information about the Western Desert. The interest is focused on the period 3rd -5th century AD, when the oases were fortified. The individual fortifications and fortification elements are described and set in the context of the whole oasis and events during Roman rule. Furthermore, the issue concerning the designation of these elements as fortification elements is clarified and they are compared not only among themselves, but also with other similar structures in Egyptian territory. At the same time, the work describes caravan roads connecting oases with each other to the Nile valley and the Mediterranean coast; outlines the relationship of fortification elements to these roads. The work thus creates a comprehensive picture of the Western Desert during Roman rule. Key words: Roman fortifications, Roman army, Egypt, Western desert, oases, caravan routes.

[Truncated abstract] This ethnoecological study examines land uses by modern Martu Aboriginal people on their country. They occupy very remote settlements—Parnngurr, Punmu and Kunawarritji—in the Great and Little Sandy Deserts. In 1990, their country included Crown Lands and Rudall River National Park. The study investigated the proposition that the knowledge and practices of Martu were of direct relevance to ecosystem processes and national park management. This research commenced in the wider Australian research context of the late 1980s – early 90s when prevailing questions were about the role of customary harvest within contemporary Aboriginal society (Altman 1987; Devitt 1988) and the sustainability of species-specific harvests by Australian indigenous people (Bomford & Caughley 1996). Separately, there was a national line of enquiry into Aboriginal roles in natural resource and protected area management (Williams & Hunn 1986; Birckhead et al. 1992). The field work underpinning this study was done in 1986–1988 and quantitative data collected in 1990 whilst the researcher lived on Martu settlements. Ethnographic information was gathered from informal discussions, semi-structured interviews and participant observation on trips undertaken by Martu. A variety of parameters was recorded for each trip in 1990. On trips accompanied by the researcher, details on the plant and animal species collected were quantified. Martu knowledge and observations of Martu behaviour are interpreted in terms of the variety of land uses conducted and transport strategies including vehicle use; the significance of different species collected; socio-economic features of bush food collection; spatio-temporal patterns of foraging; and, the 'management' of species and lands by Martu. The research found that in 1990, hunting and gathering were major activities within the suite of land uses practiced by Martu. At least 40% of trips from the settlements were principally to hunt. More than 43 animal species and 37 plant food species were reported to be collected during the study; additionally, species were gathered for firewood, medicines and timber artefacts. Customary harvesting persisted because of the need for sustenance, particularly when there were low store supplies, as well as other reasons. The weight of bush meats hunted at least equalled and, occasionally, was three times greater than the weights of store meats available to Parnngurr residents. ... Paradoxically, hunting was a subject of significant difference despite it being the principal activity driving Martu expertise and practice. There is potential for comanagement in the National Park but it remains contingent on many factors between both Martu and DEC as well as external to them. The dissertation suggests practical strategies to enhance co-management.

MAREK DOSPĚL Bīr Shawīsh, Small Oasis: Ostraka and Other Inscribed Material ABSTRACT The present dissertation is primarily a publication of a group of primary sources. These sources come from the recent archaeological exploration by Charles University in Prague of the site of Bīr Shawīsh in the Baḥrīya Oasis ("Small Oasis" in Classical Antiquity) in Egypt's Western Desert and consist of inscribed material written in Hellenistic Greek or koinē. Their majority belongs in the family of documentary texts, while a smaller group consists of informal inscriptions. Both texts and inscriptions are written or incised on fired potter's clay supports and can be dated to around 400 CE. The core of this dissertation consists of an annotated edition of these texts and inscriptions (Chapter 3), immediately followed by a synthetic and interpretative Chapter 4 in which the cardinal issues inherent to the published material are treated in detail. An important part of the edition are the analytical indices and appendices. Chapter 1 serves as a general introduction to the work; Chapter 2 presents the historical and archaeological context of the edited inscribed material. The dissertation ends with Reference Bibliography and Plates of individual text-bearing artifacts. This work is the first comprehensive treatment of a group of...

Dans le désert Libyque (Égypte), l'un des plus arides du monde, l'action du vent trouvant peu de limites, l'ablation et le transport éoliens sont des éléments prégnants de la morphogenèse. Au cœur de ce désert, les oasis de la dépression de Kharga, nées de l'artésianisme et des activités humaines, constituent au contraire, par la profusion de l'eau et de la végétation, des secteurs où les processus de dépôt sont renforcés. L'imbrication entre une région désertique (zone-source de sédiments) et des sites oasiens (zones de dépôt), où s'appliquent des processus opposés, maximise les dynamiques éoliennes et leur impact morphogénétique. Il en découle la formation des paysages du vent, que cette thèse vise à décrire, comprendre et expliquer. Mobilisant des méthodes de géomorphologie, de géoarchéologie, de géohistoire et de sédimentologie, ce travail rend compte de l'impact paysager des interactions entre activités humaines et dynamiques éoliennes depuis la création des oasis il y a 2 500 ans. Il présente un bilan des processus naturels et anthropiques, et aborde la question des conditions de vie des oasiens depuis l'Antiquité.Trois apports principaux résultent de cette recherche :- une typologie des formations constitutives des paysages du vent- une modélisation descriptive du système à leur origine, reposant sur des cycles asynchrones de colonisation et de déprises- un bilan des grandes tendances de l'évolution environnementale et morphogénétique sur le temps long, depuis l'implantation des oasis : les paysages du vent sont nés de la distorsion entre la dégradation environnementale régionale et l'amélioration locale et temporaire des conditions édaphiques résultant des activités humaines. / The limiting features of the wind dynamics are scarce in the Western desert of Egypt, one of the most arid areas in the world: eolian ablation and transport are the prevailing factors of the morphogenesis. Born from artesian waters and human activities, the oases of Kharga basin form an area where the deposition processes are stronger thanks to the large amount of water and vegetation. Eolian dynamics, and their morphogenetic impacts, are strengthened by the nesting of oasis sites (deposition areas) in a desert region (sediment source-zone). The landscapes of the wind are thus formed by the juxtaposition of these areas where opposed processes occur. This thesis aims to describe, understand and explain their development.This work based on geomorphology, geoarchaeology, « géohistoire » and sedimentology gives an account on the impacts on the landscapes of the interactions between eolian dynamics and human activities since the creation of the oases 2 500 years ago. It consists in an overview of the natural and anthropogenic processes and an assessment of the living conditions in the oasis since the Antiquity.The three main results of this research are:- a typology of the elements forming the landscapes of the wind;- a descriptive modelisation of the system at stake in their formations, which is based on an asynchronous cycle of colonisation and abandonment of the sites;- an overview of the main patterns of the long-term environmental and morphogenetic evolution since the creation of the oases.This triple contribution shows that the landscapes of the wind are born from the distortion between the regional environmental trend towards degraded conditions and the local and temporary improvements of the edaphic conditions due to human activities.