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An Ancient and Dynamic History
Current and future approaches to Aboriginal archaeology
This event, co-presented with the Department of Archaeology, brings together two archaeologists to discuss the status of Aboriginal archaeology, as well as where we should go from here into the future.
It is an exciting time in the archaeology of Aboriginal Australia. From the possibility of initial settlement 65,000 years ago, to the discovery of the earliest polished stone axe, rock art as old or older than the cave paintings in Europe, and the potential evidence for Aboriginal agriculture, the field is a dynamic one, with new discoveries appearing regularly. At the same time, for Aboriginal people, archaeology is tied up deeply with questions of respect, identity, and recognition.
For this Sydney Ideas lecture, we bring together two professional archaeologists who come to the field from different perspectives to talk about the “state of the art” in Aboriginal archaeology, from both scientific and Indigenous perspectives, and to discuss how the field might develop in the future.
This event is part of National Archeology Week 2018. For more information please visit this website.
This event was held at the University of Sydney on Tuesday 22 May 2018.
Speakers
- David Johnston, Chair of the new Australian Indigenous Archaeologists Association. As one of the first Indigenous Australians to gain a degree in archaeology – he graduated with honours from ANU in 1989 and later completed a master's in London – Dave has worked across eastern Australia from Cape York to Point Nepean in Boonwurrung country, south of Melbourne.
- Peter Hiscock, Tom Austen Brown Chair of Australian Archaeology. Peter was appointed as the inaugural Tom Austen Brown Professor of Australian Archaeology at the University of Sydney in 2013. He was Professor of Archaeology at the Australian National University 2008-2013, Director of the Centre of Archaeological Research and Head of the School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the ANU.
Image (at top): the rock art panel at Yankee Hat, in Namadgi National Park, ACT