Dear HISTARCH:

This post goes out specifically to the Australian members of the list. .
.

I'm getting ready to apply to postgraduate archaeology programs in
Australia and (MA by research), and am in the process of narrowing down
my research interests.  One of my ideas for a project is to look at the
historical archaeology of local party spots--those places where people
(generally the youth of the community) go to build bonfires, fool
around/fornicate, and get blitzed on liquor they're too young to have
legally.  Some of these sites, at least in NSW and Tas. could
potentially date as far back as the days of the currency lads (and
lasses).

My problem--which I'm posting to the list in search of some help--is
that I'm having trouble narrowing this down to a specific research
problem.  I doubt I'll get very far in my applications by explaining my
research interest as "yeah, I think that it would be kinda cool to look
at the archaeology of party spots."  I'm not necessarily asking people
on the list to hand me a platter full of formulated research questions,
I'm just looking for some thoughts that might point me in the right
direction.  What sorts of useful information do you think such a study
might yield?  Also, do any of our Australian list members know of any
professors (in Oz) who might be interested in taking on this sort of
project?

Thanks very much, folks!


Kris Farmen
Northern Land Use Research, Inc.
Fairbanks, Alaska