Ethnoarchaeology in Australia

[BAJR]

No, its about respecting another peoples culture

absolutely. In the Uk we are of course we don't have these issues (unless you count the druids) OR do we? And why not discuss this on the Past Horizons Site as well? After all - the article is there to read... where here, we can only see the response.

Digger is able to explain somethihg that 'we' who are thousands of miles away can only guess at.

so why they bloody doing what ever it is that they think that it is in the first place.

Well... why not ask them? Or do you only post from the safety of BAJR? Do you understand? have you ever worked there or understand the issues... or do you gain your views from er... um.. er... where?

Fascinating. read the article, follow the links and listen. Its a thought :face-thinks:

[gwyl]

i would add that indigenous archaeology is more akin to community archaeology in the UK, whereas ethnoarchaeology is a more research-based, academic, top-down comparanda driven exercise; 'Ethnoarchaeology instils an awareness of the many possible techniques, and helps to counter the archaeologist's twentieth-century prejudices' (McCarthy & Brookes, Med Pot. in Britain: 31) as i came across in my reading last night; also one of the key works - Living Archaeology - on ethnoarchaeology is Gould, an American professor rather than someone who gets their hands dirty on a daily basis

[hunter.geophysics]

ever heard an experimental archaeologist say that the choice of stone he is knapping was because it was pregnant and ready to give birth?

Haven't heard that in quite a few years...!

[gwyl]

ever heard an experimental archaeologist say that the choice of stone he is knapping was because it was pregnant and ready to give birth?

which has echoes of Queen Maeve sleeping in that there mountain...:face-stir:

[Unitof1]

[SIZE=3]In the Uk we are of course we don't have these issues (unless you count the druids) OR do we?
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How about “Ecclesiastical” archaeology or is it “ecumenical archaeology” we have a whole heap of legal anomalies that affect archaeology in this civil service state, burial grounds, respect of the dead, faculties, Cathedral archaeologists.

Possibly where the uk academics archaeologists are missing a trick and might take a lead from their ozzie look a likes is that they should take their students off to do ethnology of bishops, nuns monks and vicars-there are I believe still a few of these indigenous communities left in obscure remote places like churches glebe land granges of britain and ireland and that other place. Not sure that we would then teach the bishops, nuns monks and vicars to do eclesicstyal archaeology but following diggers lead

[SIZE=3]In Australia you can actually watch people using traditions that have been passed down each generation for at least the last 40,000 years.
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I am not sure that we should take those traits like the body and blood of Christ and make claims that we were witnessing activities passed down through the generations from the earliest time that we had evidence of human habitation in Britain…..although I am sure that it happened

[Digger]

You could always try Unit. I am also interested, ruling out aliens, your thoughts on external influences on processes that would factor on, lets keep it simple, knapping-prior to contact with European colonisation. Obviously excluding more (obvious) local contact with the Japanese and Chinese and their cultural impact.:face-approve:

[Unitof1]

so aliens japanese and chinese are ruled out but you want my thoughts on the external influences on processes that would factor on knapping-prior to contact with european colonisation with the twist that lets keep it simple suggests that there are a myriad of external influence situation processes to consider factoring on.
All I can think of at the moment is that I have never knapped -i presume that you refer to striking concoildial fracturing materials rather than snoozing- on an original principle of mine that if I was to have knapped this would bias my judgment on all matters knapping and almost then all matters stoneage -not sure whether is the same as your prior European colonisation contact. I possibly also noticed that this gave me a singular contrary view point with all those who have knapped. You cannot understand the acridity that I experienced as an archaeology student with my refusal to knap. It is a concern of mine that if you attempt to knap in the envelope of "experimental archaeology" for any passing fancy that this could imprint prejudices in the investigators brain- a potential form of biomachanical imprinting/brain washing- a form of colonisation. I believe that in ethoarchaeology there is some discussion as to whether you should "sleep" with the society understudy, I think that the same caution should be taken with all matters knapping. I might extend this caution to ethnarchaeology. For too long now our almost singular insight into the vast majority human experience is through so called stone tools I think has been blighted by investigators who have ?tried a bit of knapping? as if this was the singular path to enlightenment. Heres a current example
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0013718
Seems to me that they measured the brain waves of the same ?a specialist craftsman? who happened to be a specialist in producing flakes as well as hand axes! and found that they sorry I cant go on, feel free to rip it to bits -you could direct any questions to this expert a
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/a.faisal
Do you knap?

[BAJR]

Perhaps what Unit means is that no he can't. and has made a judgement that it is all biased and pointless anyway... nothing quite like making your mind up. And of course this does extend to archaeology in this country. May as well not understand the reasons why priests were buried west to east rather than east to west. best not understand the location and layout of ecclesiastical structures by actually talking to ministers and priests.. God forbid (pun intended) that we should use other methods of understanding within the cozy world of unit archaeology.

I have never built a ROman fort, but am prepared to understand the methods of construction, and if that means talking with people who now build turf structures similar to ramparts, then hell, I may just get an insight into things... we use pottery as a prime dataing and cultural indicator... the insights I got from Maggie (who is a real potter) on a bronze age burial urn, were fascinating, and I would never have come to these conclusions without direct contact in an ethno archaeology way, with a person who knew from living the activities that I was trying to interpret.

Does it ever figure that the Traditional Owners themselves may in some instances feel something about this? perhaps... read this then - the quote is from the article

http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/ar...-australia

“The land talks to us, through its language and cycles of seasons, plants, animals, gatherings, movement, trade, sharing and respect. By protecting and respecting the spiritual foundations and restoring the land, we are reconnecting to, and healing, our tribal kinship systems, our families and our Law.
Implementing this traditional system in a holistic, educational and management programme, embedded within this Foundation, is the only way to ensure a sustainable future for our culture, our children and our land.” ‘Doc’ Reynolds, Traditional Owner

[Unitof1]

[SIZE=3]One of the limitations of other grouts, whether they are based on mineral or organic binders, is that while they can be made to match the surroundings in the short term, they inevitably promote or retard plant growth at different rates to the surrounding rock. This also happens if they are more water repellent than the rock. To provide the perfect nutrient environment as well as good initial colour and texture match, I developed and applied a siliceous grout that achieves all of the desired properties.?

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[SIZE=3]Implementing this traditional system in a holistic, educational and management programme, embedded within this Foundation, is the only way to ensure a sustainable future for our culture, our children and our land.?

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Is the article saying that there were traditional grouts, or that grouting was traditional. Are the traditional leaders trying to maintain their roct arts for longer than was traditional. Is this a new tradition. Are they turning their rock arts into a museum by the grout preservation. Not more water repellent than rock? I thought that they were trying to stop the water

[SIZE=3]It was necessary to modify the fissures to prevent water entry, combined with water repellent spray bands inside the shelter to divert any water away from the painted areas. ?The fissures were then filled in using a compatible siliceous grout capable of supporting the same range of flora as the surrounding rock

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[SIZE=3]Everyone agreed that the best way to protect the site as a whole was to allow controlled access to visitors only under the supervision of the custodians themselves, who will also keep an eye on the condition of the rock art and report any change or damage. To this end, the Traditional Owners are developing a range of walk trails and will provide people with information about how stories were passed down through generations and the part rock art played within their communities. The active involvement of Traditional Owners in the planning, implementation and supervision of the Mount Ridley project was integral to its success and this approach will be adopted in the foundation?s next project, an Applied Heritage Management Field School.

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an Applied Heritage Management Field School??..would that involve grout?

[BAJR]

At least Unit is reading it, even if it seems to confuse him. :p