Investigating ' Dark Emu's' idea of Aboriginal agriculture and villages.

[bob10]

Bruce Pascoe's book Dark Emu is in the news with a book disputing Pascoe's arguments. Dark Emu builds on an earlier book by Rupert Gerritsen, who argued a number of regions across Australia should be considered regions of Aboriginal agriculture. Were first Australians farmers, or hunter gatherers? Or a bit of both? It is not as simple as that. Read about the extraordinary landscape of the Channel Country. A little more background to your next trip to the area, to make your trip more than just a long drive.



https://cdn.theconversation.com/avatars/118240/width170/RackMultipart20140228-14224-sqomww.jpgMichael Westaway (https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-westaway-118240)Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Archaeology, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland

https://cdn.theconversation.com/avatars/1237694/width170/file-20210601-21-ihf0xc.jpgJoshua Gorringe (https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-gorringe-1237694)General Manager Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation, Indigenous Knowledge


Disclosure statementMichael Westaway receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Joshua Gorringe works for Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) a registered native title body corporate. MAC has received funding from the QLD state government through the Looking after Country grant scheme to fund field research and conservation

Friday essay: how our new archaeological research investigates Dark Emu's idea of Aboriginal 'agriculture' and villages (theconversation.com) (https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-how-our-new-archaeological-research-investigates-dark-emus-idea-of-aboriginal-agriculture-and-villages-146754?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20 for%20June%2018%202021%20-%201977819402&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20f or%20June%2018%202021%20-%201977819402+CID_8392762aee376cbecc844d81296f4844&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Friday%20essay%20how%20our%20new%20archae ological%20research%20investigates%20Dark%20Emus%2 0idea%20of%20Aboriginal%20agriculture%20and%20vill ages)

[350RRC]

Pascoe was lampooned largely because he quoted Gerritson's somewhat embellished 'extracts' from some explorer's journals as if they were actual. Poor writing and very poor editing.

Someone should have checked. The real extracts are great (have a look at what Sturt came across on 5.2.1829 for example) and do generally support some, if not most, of Pascoe's points.

The world heritage recognition of Budj Bim in western Vic is worth a look.

The nomination request (signed by J. Frydenberg, Env. Minister in 2016 or 17) includes info on eel aquaculture systems going back at least 6,600 yrs and the 'remains of over 300 houses in the cultural landscape'. There is a definition of houses in the application.

That application and the proponent (Australian Gov) never gets a mention in the press.

The Challicum Sketchbook has excellent images and written words from a squatter about a piece of the western Vic landscape starting only 4 years after Mitchell went through (1840).

The visuals and text confirm that the park like landscape was as it was found, i.e. largely grassy plains.

George Robinson's journals from a year later, travelling through the same area, describe harvesting and re-planting of yams (the staple diet) (1841/2) and all manner of other things including large irrigation systems for eel culture at locations other than Budj Bim.

et, etc, DL

[bob10]

There was trade between Australia and SE Asia long before the white man came along.

Authors



https://cdn.theconversation.com/avatars/659849/width170/file-20190103-32154-1a9h50o.jpgSally K. May (https://theconversation.com/profiles/sally-k-may-659849)Senior Research Fellow, Griffith University
https://cdn.theconversation.com/avatars/1236003/width170/image-20210528-15-1hzx65j.jpgDaryl Wesley (https://theconversation.com/profiles/daryl-wesley-1236003)Senior research fellow, Flinders University
https://cdn.theconversation.com/avatars/1159834/width170/file-20200924-22-1h22zzs.jpgJoakim Goldhahn (https://theconversation.com/profiles/joakim-goldhahn-1159834)Rock Art Australia Ian Potter Kimberley Chair, The University of Western Australia
https://cdn.theconversation.com/avatars/140501/width170/RackMultipart20141008-29922-sa1hpu.jpgPaul S.C.Taçon (https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-s-c-tacon-140501)Chair in Rock Art Research and Director of the Place, Evolution and Rock Art Heritage Unit (PERAHU), Griffith University


Disclosure statement

Sally K. May receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Daryl Wesley receives funding from Australian Research Council
Joakim Goldhahn receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Rock Art Australia
Paul S.C.Taçon receives funding from the Australian Research Council.


Threat or trading partner? Sailing vessels in northwestern Arnhem Land rock art reveal different attitudes to visitors (theconversation.com) (https://theconversation.com/threat-or-trading-partner-sailing-vessels-in-northwestern-arnhem-land-rock-art-reveal-different-attitudes-to-visitors-161586?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20 for%20June%2029%202021%20-%201986819502&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20f or%20June%2029%202021%20-%201986819502+CID_45719c24936e1b30e778128e09d8e004&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Threat%20or%20trading%20partner%20Sailing %20vessels%20in%20northwestern%20Arnhem%20Land%20r ock%20art%20reveal%20different%20attitudes%20to%20 visitors)