Australian Archaeological Association Inc.

Fieldwork opportunity: 2024 Harrietville Chinese Mining Village

Chris Urwin — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:41:40 +0000

Join the Uncovered Past Institute to discover more about the Chinese miners who once lived and worked in the 19th century Harrietville Chinese Mining Village. For around fifty years from the early 1860s Harrietville was home to many of the thousands of Victoria’s Chinese gold miners. This will be the fourth season of archaeological excavation at the Chinese Mining Village, following on from the previous three seasons in October 2017, October 2019 and October 2022. The largely undisturbed site includes mine workings, water races, building foundations, and gardens: a rare survivor of the heyday of Chinese gold mining in Victoria. The foundations of at least 19 buildings were discovered during a survey undertaken during Season One fieldwork in 2017. Huge quantities of food, liquor, medicines, utensils, ceramics and even coins were imported from China for the Chinese mining communities. Many fragments of these were discovered during the first two excavation seasons in 2017 and 2019, along with fragments of European tableware ceramics and glass bottles. Season Four research objectives will be to undertake more extensive excavations on a variety of building sites and gain a greater understanding of the lifestyle of the Chinese miners.

Location: Alpine National Park, in the Upper Ovens Valley, in northeast Victoria, Australia, near the town of Harrietville.

Dates: The excavations are taking place over four weeks from Monday 22 January to Friday 16 February 2024. Each week will be a 5-day program – starting Monday morning, finishing Friday evening:

• Week 1 – Monday 22 January to Friday 26 January 2024
• Week 2 – Monday 29 January to Friday 2 February 2024
• Week 3 – Monday 5 February to Friday 9 February 2024
• Week 4 – Monday 12 February to Friday 16 February 2024

For more information, see: Harrietville Chinese Mining Village, Season 4 – Dig with Us 2024 — The Uncovered Past Institute

Repeal of the WA Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021

Chris Urwin — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 02:14:48 +0000

It has been widely reported that the Western Australian Government plans to repeal the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 (ACHA 2021) which has been in operation for just over one month. A public outcry has extended beyond WA to Federal Parliament and has been unjustly confounded with the proposed Voice to Parliament and Government.

WA now faces the prospect of returning to the same Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AHA 1972) that enabled destruction of many important cultural heritage sites over the last 50 years, including Juukan Gorge in 2020. The ACHA 2021 addresses some deficiencies of the 1972 Act, by requiring developers to engage with Aboriginal people, and emphasising agreement-making. However, it is very complex legislation and provides no right of appeal for Ministerial decisions, much like the old Act. The lack of appeal rights under the AHA 1972 led to one-sided decision-making throughout its history.

Aboriginal representatives across WA have stated there is now an opportunity to fix these fundamental inequalities. It may be possible to amend the AHA 1972 to include rights of appeal for all parties and to require developers to work with Aboriginal people in identifying and managing Aboriginal cultural heritage. The WA Government can implement practical and effective measures in best practice cultural heritage management and call on existing but under-utilised powers in the AHA 1972. However, some aspects of the AHA 1972 may prove impossible to fix. Should that be the case, discussion of new legislation by the WA Government should be undertaken as soon as possible, in consultation with Aboriginal representatives and other stakeholders.

The Australian Archaeological Association, the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists (WA), and the Anthropological Society of Western Australia have a wide array of expertise in cultural heritage management in WA, anthropology, and archaeology, based on decades of working with First Peoples and landholders on the ground. Our members and Indigenous partners gave detailed feedback over the 5 years of development of the ACHA 2021, but our concerns were mostly not heeded. Whether the AHA 1972 is to be replaced or amended, wider and more active engagement of WA’s First Peoples and relevant bodies is needed to improve legislation to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Dr Joe Dortch, President, Australian Archaeological Association

Jo Thomson, Chair, Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc (WA Chapter)

Dirima Cuthbert, President, Anthropological Society of Western Australia

AAA Supports the Referendum on the Voice

Chris Urwin — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 02:01:01 +0000

To mark National Reconciliation Week 2023 (NRW), and this year’s theme – Be a Voice for Generations – AAA has announced its support of the referendum on the Voice.

The Australian Archaeological Association Inc. (AAA) supports the Referendum in which Australians will decide to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia and to establish a Voice to government to represent them. As an organisation the AAA is proud of the roles that members have played in raising awareness among all Australians of the ancient and enduring connections of Australia’s First Peoples to this continent, in supporting First Peoples to protect cultural heritage, and in moving our discipline away from antiquated colonial practices. The AAA hopes that the Voice will inspire all Australians to, celebrate and actively protect Indigenous heritage, a distinguished part of Australia’s heritage. The AAA stands behind the recognition of First Nations people in the Constitution as an important first step towards realisation of the calls for Voice, Treaty, and Truth as articulated in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

For more information about the Voice, please go to: https://voice.gov.au/