Category Archives: mnemonics
Monuments for memory – the Ten Indicators
My theory about the purpose of many ancient monuments argues that they were built primarily as memory spaces. Their design was specifically to enable elders to practice their memorisation, to teach it and to perform the knowledge for the community according … Continue reading
The Memory Code
2016 is to be a big year. My next book, The Memory Code, is the culmination of eight years of intense work. To feel that I had the authority to make the claim that I have a new theory for the … Continue reading
Stonehenge – they moved their memory palace from Wales!
Thank you to the many people who sent me links to the various reports of this discovery and commented on how wonderfully it suited my theory on the purpose of Stonehenge. “Stonehenge was a Welsh monument from its very beginning. … Continue reading
My 130 Ancestors
I received this comment on the My Books page today: I’ve seen you over at the mnemotechnics forum. I wonder if there is a place where you’ve listed your 52 ‘ancestors’ for playing cards? I love the idea of my 52 characters … Continue reading
Speaking about orality – it’s all about memory
I have now finished all the speaking engagements for the year. I am delighted with all the new friends and the wonderful feedback. The video of my talk in Brisbane last weekend should be on YouTube soon. Although people were … Continue reading
The advance copies arrive
The wonderful moment when I first hold the book which represents years of obsessive pleasure. Thank you to LaTrobe University, my PhD supervisor Professor Sue Martin, Cambridge University Press, family, friends and most of all, my husband, Damian. All that … Continue reading
Primary orality and portable objects
I am presenting a paper, Primary orality and portable objects, at the Archaeology of Portable Art conference at the Australian National University in Canberra, 23rd – 24th May 2015. The program looks fantastic – Click on the above image or here. I’ll … Continue reading
Orality – why it is so important for prehistoric archaeologists
Primary orality is what you have when you don’t have literacy. It is often commented that prehistoric cultures didn’t leave a written record. What is almost never mentioned is that cultures which had no contact with writing did have an alternative. They had … Continue reading
Singing the knowledge – Yanyuwa kujika
A wonderful collaboration between the Yanyuwa people and Monash University is online and enables us to glimpse the singing tracks of their culture. The Yanyuwa live 0n the Gulf Carpentaria in Northern Australia. Animations of the songs can be seen at the … Continue reading