{{short description|Professor of archaeology}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Jane Balme | image = JB_at_football_2.jpg | caption = Balme in 2005 | birth_date = c. 1960 (age c. 65) | occupation = Archaeologist | employer = University of Western Australia | education = University of Western Australia<br />Australian National University (PhD) | organization = | title = Professor }}

'''Jane Balme''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|FAHA}} (born {{Circa}} 1960)<ref name="Arthure 2014" /> is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Western Australia. She is an expert on early Indigenous groups and Australian archaeology.

== Biography == Balme studied for an undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of Western Australia, graduating in 1979.<ref name="Arthure 2014" /> Balme worked on cave sites in south west Australia for the Western Australian Museum and became interested in archaeology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/jane-balme|title=Jane Balme – the UWA Profiles and Research Repository|website=research-repository.uwa.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2018-08-17}}</ref>

Balme completed her PhD at the Australian National University in 1990.<ref name="Arthure 2014">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Balme, Jane|last=Arthure|first=Susan|publisher=Springer|year=2014|pages=740–741|encyclopedia =Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology}}</ref>

Her research focuses on early Indigenous groups in Australia, gendered social organisation, and the discipline of archaeology.<ref name="Arthure 2014" />

Balme has authored a wide range of journal articles, a textbook ''Archaeology in Practice: A Student Guide to Archaeological Analyses'' with Alistair Paterson, and the edited volumes ''Gendered Archaeology'' with Wendy Beck, and ''More Unconsidered Trifles : Papers to Celebrate the Career of Sandra Bowdler''.<ref name="Balme 2008">{{Cite book|last1=Balme|first1=Jane|last2=O'Connor|first2=S.|last3=Ulm|first3=S.|last4=Ross|first4=A.|date=2008|title=More Unconsidered Trifles: Papers to Celebrate the Career of Sandra Bowdler|publisher=Australian Archaeological Association |isbn=9780958922135 |url=https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/more-unconsidered-trifles-papers-to-celebrate-the-career-of-sandr|language=en}}</ref> A review of ''Archaeology in Practice'' states that "It is rare that a book is written as a text book but also provides an important contribution to the discipline and this volume deserves this dual recognition."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ross|first=A|date=2006|title=Review of 'Archaeology in Practice: A Student Guide to Archaeological Analyses' edited by Jane Balme and Alistair Paterson|url=http://www.australianarchaeology.com/journal/review-of-archaeology-in-practice-a-student-guide-to-archaeological-analyses-edited-by-jane-balme-and-alistair-paterson/|journal=Australian Archaeology|volume=62|pages=57–58|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Balme has been strongly involved with the Australian Archaeological Association, serving as secretary and chair of the Australian National Committee for Archaeology Teaching and Learning.<ref name="Arthure 2014" />

In November 2018. Balme was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcoming our 28 newly elected Fellows |url=https://www.humanities.org.au/2018/11/19/welcoming-28-newly-elected-fellows/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120101240/https://www.humanities.org.au/2018/11/19/welcoming-28-newly-elected-fellows/ |archive-date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Australian Academy of the Humanities |language=en-AU}}</ref>

As of 2020 Balme, working alongside Sue O'Connor, is researching Rock art in Australia with a particular focus on carvings (also called dendroglyphs) on Boab trees in the Kimberley Region and in the Tanami Desert.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Garstone |first1=Brenda |last2=Balme |first2=Jane |last3=O'Connor |first3=Sue |date=2022-10-11 |title=The boab trees of the remote Tanami desert are carved with centuries of Indigenous history – and they're under threat |url=http://theconversation.com/the-boab-trees-of-the-remote-tanami-desert-are-carved-with-centuries-of-indigenous-history-and-theyre-under-threat-191676 |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref> In this study the pair discuss the history of research into this trees as well as present a recent survey; in the Kimberley they worked closely with Nyigina and Mangala traditional owners.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=K. Frederick |first1=Ursula |last2=Balme |first2=Jane |last3=Jamieson |first3=Jeffrey |last4=Marshall |first4=Melissa |last5=O’Connor |first5=Sue |date=2023-09-01 |title=Embedded in the Bark: Kimberley Boab Trees as Sites of Historical Archaeology |journal=International Journal of Historical Archaeology |language=en |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=817–840 |doi=10.1007/s10761-022-00678-z |issn=1573-7748|doi-access=free }}</ref> Their results provide insight into the archaeological and anthropological significance of these carvings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Connor |first1=Sue |last2=Balme |first2=Jane |last3=Frederick |first3=Ursula |last4=Garstone |first4=Brenda |last5=Bedford |first5=Rhys |last6=Bedford |first6=Jodie |last7=Rivers |first7=Anne |last8=Bedford |first8=Angeline |last9=Lewis |first9=Darrell |date=December 2022 |title=Art in the bark: Indigenous carved boab trees (Adansonia gregorii) in north-west Australia |journal=Antiquity |language=en |volume=96 |issue=390 |pages=1574–1591 |doi=10.15184/aqy.2022.129 |issn=0003-598X|doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Selected publications == {{Scholia}} *K. Frederick, U., Balme, J., Jamieson, J. ''et al.'' Embedded in the Bark: Kimberley Boab Trees as Sites of Historical Archaeology. ''Int J Histor Archaeol'' '''27''', 817–840 (2023). <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-022-00678-z</nowiki> *O'Connor, S., Balme, J., Frederick, U., Garstone, B., Bedford, R., Bedford, J., . . . Lewis, D. (2022). Art in the bark: Indigenous carved boab trees (Adansonia gregorii) in north-west Australia. ''Antiquity,'' ''96'' (390), 1574-1591. {{doi|10.15184/aqy.2022.129}} *Balme, J., O’Connor, S. & Fallon, S. 2018. New dates on dingo bones from Madura Cave provide oldest firm evidence for arrival of the species in Australia. ''Scientific Reports''. 8, 1, 9933 *Balme, J. and O'Connor, S. 2016. Dingoes and Aboriginal social organisation in Holocene Australia. ''Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports'' 7: 775–781. *Balme, J. and O'Connor, S. 2015. A 'port scene', identity and rock art of the inland Southern Kimberley, Western Australia. ''Rock Art Research'' 32 (1): 75–83. *Balme, J. and Paterson, A. 2014. ''Archaeology in Practice''. *Balme, J. 2013. Of boats and string: the maritime colonisation of Australia. ''Quaternary International'' 285: 68–75. *Bowdler, S. and Balme, J. 2010. Gatherers and grannies: further thoughts on the origins of gender. ''Australian Feminist Studies'' 25: 391–405. *Balme, J., Davidson, I., Mcdonald, J., Stern, N., Veth, P. Symbolic behaviour and the peopling of the southern arc route to Australia. ''Quaternary International'' 202 (1/2): 59–68. *Balme, J. and Bulbeck, C. Engendering Origins : Theories of Gender in Sociology and Archaeology. ''Australian Archaeology'' 67: 3–11. *Balme, J., O'Connor, S., Ulm, S., Ross, A. 2008. ''More Unconsidered Trifles: Papers to Celebrate the Career of Sandra Bowdler.'' Australian Archaeological Association Inc.<ref name="Balme 2008" /> *Balme, J. & Beck, W. 2002. Starch and Charcoal: Useful Measures of Activity Areas in Archaeological Rockshelters. ''Journal of Archaeological Science'' 29 (2): 157–166. *Balme, J. & Toussaint, S. 1999. 'I reckon they should keep that hut': reflections on Aboriginal tracking in the Kimberley. ''Australian Aboriginal Studies'' 1: 26–32. *Balme, J. & Beck, W. 1996. Earth mounds in southeastern Australia. ''Australian Archaeology'' 42: 39–51.

== References == <references />

== Further reading == *[https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/jane-balme/publications/ ''Full Publication List'']

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Balme, Jane}} Category:Australian archaeologists Category:Australian women archaeologists Category:Living people Category:Academic staff of the University of Western Australia Category:University of Western Australia alumni Category:Australian National University alumni Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:20th-century births