Aboriginal hostility to archaeological work in Australia seem to be due mainly to lack of public understanding of what archaeology is all about. For this archaeologists themselves are chiefly to blame, because of their general disinclination or inability to communicate in a popular wa

Moore, David R

Australian Archaeology

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Australian Archaeology    Archived at Flinders University: dspace.flinders.edu.au  Full Citation Details: Moore, D.R 1975. Archaeologists and Aborigines. 'Australian Archaeology', no.2, 8-9. to an appreciation of a long lasting way of life different from his own, which was successfully practised even in the harshest parts of the continent, was broken only by force and still maintains an identity in the modern world.  For both groups, CO-citizens  as they are, it can help to foster a joint pride in the unique past of the particular part of the world where both now live. This is a large aim and will not have been achieved until Aboriginal scholars are working on the archaeology of Australia and of other parts of the world as well.  The first steps must be modest, since we have to overcome not only lack of knowledge of our aims, but suspicion of our activities. This seems to involve two things:  seizing every opportunity to explain our work to Aborigines, and undertaking the responsibility of discussing projects we wish to initiate with appropriate Aboriginal groups.  We may well find that because of the temper of the times some projects are not negotiable.  It will be a measure of our success when such areas of disagreement disappear. Jack Golson ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND ABORIGINES Some thoughts following the AAA  Symposium at ANZAAS 1975 The problems that have already arisen, and are likely to occur even more in future, regarding Aboriginal hostility to archaeological work in Australia seem to be due mainly to lack of public understanding of what archaeology is all about.  For this archaeologists themselves are chiefly to blame, because of their general disinclination or inability to communicate in a popular way.  In comparison with the Australian situation one might consider the enormous popularity of an interest in archaeology in Great Britain, which is considerably due to popular archaeological publications and TV series, leading to wide public support for the excavation and preservation of archaeological sites.  One reason for the avoidance of the popular media by archaeologists in Australia is probably fear of interference and vandalism and, latterly, of Aboriginal political exploitation. However, it was made clear at the AAA  Symposium that Aborigines, both country and urban, feel very strongly and genuinely opposed to desecration of burial sites of their ancestors, regardless of any specific local connotations.  This is not just a political ploy;  it is an emotive issue that can Archived at Flinders University: dspace.flinders.edu.auonly be  resolved by  dialogue,  leading to concessions  on  both sides.  The  present dilemma is, therefore,  also a result of the failure of Australian archaeologists to  achieve any empathy with Aboriginal motivations,  both  conscious  and  unconscious. There is no  doubt  that many  archaeologists frequently thank their lucky stars that,  unlike their fellow workers  in other fields, they do not have  to deal with  living people;  they can happily dig away  and  pose their theoretical problems,  without worrying  about  social or ethnic difficulties.  Obviously  this simplistic situation is now  at an  end. The  old dictum that attack is the best form of  defence should not be forgotten.  Archaeologists  in Australia have a very strong case in support of their work.  What  we  are doing is of world  importance,  but it is of  particular importance to Aborigines,  because it is establishing their long  antiquity in and  possession of the Australian continent.  It  reinforces their claim to land,  increases their stature and  identity as a people, and will ultimately establish their place in the brotherhood  of man.  The  point that must  be  strongly made  is that our  work  can only be  to the ultimate advantage of  the Aborigines  themselves. In the existing situation archaeology only gets into the news  when  ancient skeletal material is found,  or when  some outstanding new  art site is located.  Therefore it is not surprising that Aborigines see us  as endlessly hunting for burials of their ancestors and  for sacred sites.  They  cannot know  that,  in fact, most  archaeologists try to avoid  finding burials in their sites, since it usually means  a long and  worrying obstruction of their main project and  does not  often add  any significant informat  ion. It is obvious that archaeologists must  now  consider using every possible aspect  of  the media  to get their story over to Australians in general and  to  Aborigines in particular.  This wo~ld  involve consciously putting pressure on  TV,  newspapers, magazines,  radio,  and  particularly journals  expressly directed at Aborigines,  such as Identity, New  Dawn, AboriginaZ  News, etc. If we  do  mt  take popular communication  seriously, we  shall soon find our work  stringently inhibited.  I  feel it is of  the utmost importance that AAA  should produce  an  ltArchaeological Manifestot1, setting out in clear terms what  we  are aiming  for and  what  we  have to do to achieve our aims.  If this was  compelling enough  (and  we have  a  strong and  fascinating case to  present)  and  was  accompanied by  first-class illustrations, there can be  little  doubt  that the media would  jump  at it and we  would  be  overwhelmed with requests for TV  appearances,  feature articles, and  so on. If a key  point  in the manifesto was  the urgent need  for serious dialogue with Aborigines,  then this might  also eventuate, both privately and  publicly on  the media.  Archaeology  has an irrefutably strong case,  but it has to be  presented with  skill and integrity.  The  worst  thing we  can  do  is to retire fearfully into our ivory towers.  We  are now  at a most  crucial stage in archaeo- logical development  in Australia,  which  might  well  be  characterised as the ttPublicize or Pack  Up''  interstadial. David  R.  Moore, Curator of  Anthropology The  Australian Museum Archived at Flinders University: dspace.flinders.edu.au

Archaeologists and Aborigines

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Archaeologists and Aborigines

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