Heritage issues in Midwest

[Nigel Tonkin]

All,

 

An interesting comment regarding the perceived view of archaeologists and their limited interests.

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/wilgie-mia-mine-site-will-test-chinas-iron-will/story-fn59niix-1225981309283

 

 

Nigel Tonkin

Heritage Superintendent - Land Access Management

 

 

API Management Pty Ltd

Level 2, 1 Preston Street, Como WA 6152

(P) +61-8-9423 0222 | (F) +61-8-9423 0233 | (M) +61 (0)437 416 877 | (E) nto...@apijv.com.au

 

[vicky winton]

I tried to post a comment on the page under this article last week but no joy. I’ve been managing the Weld Range project for Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting, UWA since October 2009.  For accuracy, we have been contracted by Wadjarri Consulting Services, not Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Ltd.

 

In December 2009, Wajarri Traditional Owners, Colin and Carl Hamlett, accompanied Eureka to AAA where we presented a paper about the rich archaeology of the Weld Range.  A version of this was published as a poster at http://antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/winton325/

 

In May 2010, fieldwork for a UWA Honours student project which encompassed recording rock art and investigating the techniques of its manufacture was undertaken in the Range.  Wajarri Traditional Owners both selected the sites recorded during this study and provided testable hypotheses about hand stencil production that were used in the student’s experimental replications of the rock-art. A poster about this work was presented at AAA in December 2010.

 

Building on this research and focussing in on the really key issue of ochre exploitation in the Range, a research team from UWA are currently in receipt of a section 16 permit under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AHA) to conduct sampling for an ochre provenance project.  This includes characterisation of ochre from Wilgie Mia, Little Wilgie and a host of other, smaller sources across the Range.  Working with Wajarri Traditional Owners, minute samples of ochre, barely visible to the naked eye, can also be taken from rock-art sites, or artefact scatters which include ochre fragments, in an area of Wajarri Country around the Range.  The aim of this work is to better understand the pattern of ochre exploitation and use in and around the Weld Range.  It is anticipated that we will be able to expand this work to check for ochre provenance matches across the state, or indeed Australia-wide.  It is likely that the research findings will support the traditional knowledge of close links between Aboriginal groups within the Range and out into the Western Desert and in so doing further demonstrate the State and Nation-wide significance of the Weld Range Aboriginal ochre mines. 

 

At the request of the Wajarri Traditional Owners, we also sought and gained permission under section 16 of the AHA to excavate two painted rockshelter sites in the Range.  The Traditional Owners are keen to obtain dating evidence for the use of ochre and the antiquity of Aboriginal occupation in the Weld Range.  A funding application for this work has been submitted and we are in the process of gaining the other necessary permissions to undertake these excavations. 

 

I’ve just spoken to Colin Hamlett about The Australian article and he says he was pretty pleased with it, despite a minor inaccuracy: he said he didn’t engage Terra Rosa Cultural Resource Management in negotiations.  

 

I think it is inevitable that non-Indigenous archaeologists will have a different perspective on archaeological sites and landscapes to Indigenous Traditional Owners.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing so long as we understand where each other are coming from and use the different perspectives to maximum effect in assessing, protecting and researching both culturally and archaeologically significant sites and tracts of landscape.  This need not preclude development and as archaeologists we shouldn’t forget the key role Industry plays in the development of archaeological research all over the world.  Hopefully this article, on the front page of The Australian, has made a positive impact on the general public.  Perhaps a by-product of the ‘them and us-ness’ of Chinese versus domestic mining interests in the national psyche will be a heightened awareness and a growing sense of pride of Indigenous archaeological heritage? 

Vicky Winton
Senior Archaeologist
Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting, UWA
(currently on holidays and emailing from home)

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Subject: {OzArch} Heritage issues in Midwest
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:08:39 +0800
From: nto...@apijv.com.au
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CC: ga...@gjpl.com.au

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[Steve Corsini]

After 19 years in this field (including a visit to the wilgie mia sites with senior men in 1994),

I'm quite cynical about the State's ability and willingness to protect Heritage when dazzled with a few expedient dollars

 

The Wilgie Mia complex is supposed to be a declared protected area under section 19 of the AHA1972.

(Not that that means much. Fortescue Metals Group were given consent to run a railway through the Woodstock-Abydos protected area).

 

Archaeological Heritage Assessment and Protection in WA is constrained by the narrow definitions of what constitutes a site of importance and significance under Section 39. Although the act appears to apply to a huge range of places and objects under section 5 and 6, in reality, protection under the act only applies to places of importance and significance (terms ill defined) under section 39 - as determined by the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee, a government appointed board, of which three members are senior public servants -  Coupled with an act which pays compensation to a land user whose project is denied heritage approval but gives no compensation to the Aboriginal people whose culture and sites are being destroyed because - the STATE owns ALL Places and Objects of Heritage Significance  (making archaeology, as practiced under the AHA1972, an arm of neo-colonial oppression!  ;-)   

 

Steve Corsini

Pickering Brook

[Scott Chisholm]

The perils of been misquoted immediately post the festive season… not the time for phone interviews.

It’s a shame that the journo was unable to get hold of yourself Vicky prior to the article been published for some further background on the consulting and research history.

Its definitely going to be interesting to see the research and community engagement outcomes that are generated by this and the other projects within the Mid West and Murchison in the next few years.

 

 

 

 

Scott Chisholm

Director

 

[vicky winton]

Yes, it might be good to organise some kind of workshop about archaeology and consultancy in the Mid-west region.  The recording of archaeological material in the plough-zone through the wheat belt is an interesting / pressing topic.  If anyone would be interested in attending a meeting like this or has ideas for it then please get in touch.  Sam Bolton raised the idea of having something like a weekly or monthly archaeology get together in a pub in perth a while ago - I haven't heard any more about that but it sounded like a good idea.
Meanwhile, I will put my AACAI application in...

 
Vicky Winton
Senior Archaeologist
Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting, UWA

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From: scottrc...@gmail.com
To: oza...@googlegroups.com
CC: ga...@gjpl.com.au

Subject: RE: {OzArch} Heritage issues in Midwest

Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:13:49 +0800

[Samantha Bolton]

Hey Vicky,

You can count me in.

I thought your original reply was excellent - well balanced and measured, well done.

As for the social get together, why do i feel ike I 've been dobbed in :)?. Nah, only kidding, that has given me a reminder that I shoudl do something about it. Oh, and my boss is on Ozarch, so it shows him I'm being vaguely proactive over here (if he read your post, that is).

Talk to you later,

Sam.

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From: vicky winton <vicky_...@hotmail.com>
To: oza...@googlegroups.com
Cc: ga...@gjpl.com.au
Sent: Fri, 14 January, 2011 9:28:43 AM
Subject: RE: {OzArch} Heritage issues in Midwest - 2011 meeting/workshop?

[Samantha Bolton]

Sorry everyone, serves me right for hitting reply.

Sam.

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From: Samantha Bolton <sam_b...@yahoo.com>
To: oza...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Mon, 17 January, 2011 9:22:26 AM
Subject: Re: {OzArch} Heritage issues in Midwest - 2011 meeting/workshop?