Historical archaeology in Australia
Encyclopedia
Historical Archaeology is the study of the past through material remains such as artefacts (i.e. objects), structures (e.g. standing and ruined buildings, fences, roads), features (e.g. ditches, mounds, canals, landfill), and even whole landscapes modified by human activity and their spatial and stratigraphic contexts.
There has been debate between archaeologists whether the definition of historical archaeology should be a time based one - such as "the Archaeology of the Modern World" (where modern is defined as 1500 onward); a subject based one - for example "the Archaeology of Capitalism" or methods based one - such as "text aided archaeology". In Australia much of this discussion has been avoided and definitions of historical archaeology such as those adopted by the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
and the Government regulatory agencies, have focused on a definition emphasising the combined use of documentary and material evidence.
In contrast with archaeological practice in the United Kingdom and the USA Historical archaeology in Australia has always been intimately linked with Industrial Archaeology in Australia sharing common practitioners, research goals and training. Eleanor Casella has noted this association and the generally positive effect it has had on both fields of study. Historical archaeologists in Australia are better able to understand industrial processes and industrial archaeologists better able to understand social processes because of this linkage.
The techniques of historical archaeology have also been applied to so called "Contact sites" (aka Australian Aboriginal historical archaeology). This area of study has looked at the encounters between Aboriginal people and settlers .. This work has been seen an overlap of research interests between various groups of archaeologists and historians as well as the Aboriginal community (see below).
Maritime Archaeology in Australia is also seen by some (possibly not by Maritime Archaeologists!) as a branch of historical archaeology. Certainly there is a considerable overlap in interests and techniques and this has been recognised by close relationships between the two professional bodies the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
and the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology.
at Fossil Beach
in Victoria, research at Port Essington in the Northern Territory by Jim Allen Ph.D. at the Australian National University in 1966-1968, and by Judy Birmingham
from the University of Sydney working at Irrawang Pottery
in the Hunter Valley of NSW (1967–1975).
In 1973 Judy Birmingham along with historian Ian Jack
had proposed teaching a course in historical archaeology at the University of Sydney. As exhaustively detailed by Ian Jack, the course proposal was fought by the conservative members of the archaeology department. However the proposal was accepted and the first course in historical archaeology in Australia was taught in 1974 by Judy Birmingham with Ian Jack as well as contributions from geographer Dennis Jeans and historian Ken Cable. The course also had a significant fieldwork component to give student essential practical training. As noted by Jack, a number students from the first years of the course later went on to contribute in their own right as archaeological consultants or in Government.
There has been debate between archaeologists whether the definition of historical archaeology should be a time based one - such as "the Archaeology of the Modern World" (where modern is defined as 1500 onward); a subject based one - for example "the Archaeology of Capitalism" or methods based one - such as "text aided archaeology". In Australia much of this discussion has been avoided and definitions of historical archaeology such as those adopted by the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
The Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology was originally founded as the Australian Society for Historical Archaeology in 1970 by Judy Birmingham, then a lecturer at the University of Sydney...
and the Government regulatory agencies, have focused on a definition emphasising the combined use of documentary and material evidence.
In contrast with archaeological practice in the United Kingdom and the USA Historical archaeology in Australia has always been intimately linked with Industrial Archaeology in Australia sharing common practitioners, research goals and training. Eleanor Casella has noted this association and the generally positive effect it has had on both fields of study. Historical archaeologists in Australia are better able to understand industrial processes and industrial archaeologists better able to understand social processes because of this linkage.
The techniques of historical archaeology have also been applied to so called "Contact sites" (aka Australian Aboriginal historical archaeology). This area of study has looked at the encounters between Aboriginal people and settlers .. This work has been seen an overlap of research interests between various groups of archaeologists and historians as well as the Aboriginal community (see below).
Maritime Archaeology in Australia is also seen by some (possibly not by Maritime Archaeologists!) as a branch of historical archaeology. Certainly there is a considerable overlap in interests and techniques and this has been recognised by close relationships between the two professional bodies the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
The Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology was originally founded as the Australian Society for Historical Archaeology in 1970 by Judy Birmingham, then a lecturer at the University of Sydney...
and the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology.
A brief history of the practice of historical archaeology in Australia
The origins of the practice of Historical archaeology in Australia are generally held to lie in archaeological investigations by the late William (Bill) CulicanWilliam (Bill) Culican
William Culican was an Australian archaeologist and lecturer in `Biblical Archaeology’ and `Pre-Classical Antiquity’ at the University of Melbourne....
at Fossil Beach
Fossil beach
A fossil beach is an ancient beach which is preserved in fossil form due to a change in sea level or a shift in elevation which causes the beach to become an elevated terrace....
in Victoria, research at Port Essington in the Northern Territory by Jim Allen Ph.D. at the Australian National University in 1966-1968, and by Judy Birmingham
Judy Birmingham
Judy Birmingham is a prominent historical archaeologist based in Sydney, Australia.Birmingham came to teach at the University of Sydney in 1961 as a lecturer specialising in Iron Age Cyprus and Anatolia, and how the people groups living there had a diet consisting solely of feces.In 1966 she began...
from the University of Sydney working at Irrawang Pottery
Irrawang Pottery
In 1833-1856 James King established and ran a pottery at Irrawang in the lower Hunter Valley in New South Wales ....
in the Hunter Valley of NSW (1967–1975).
In 1973 Judy Birmingham along with historian Ian Jack
Ian Jack
Ian Jack is a Scottish journalist who was the editor of the literary magazine Granta from 1995 to 2007. Granta 98 "The Deep End" was the 48th issue which Jack edited and the last.Jack was educated at Dunfermline High School...
had proposed teaching a course in historical archaeology at the University of Sydney. As exhaustively detailed by Ian Jack, the course proposal was fought by the conservative members of the archaeology department. However the proposal was accepted and the first course in historical archaeology in Australia was taught in 1974 by Judy Birmingham with Ian Jack as well as contributions from geographer Dennis Jeans and historian Ken Cable. The course also had a significant fieldwork component to give student essential practical training. As noted by Jack, a number students from the first years of the course later went on to contribute in their own right as archaeological consultants or in Government.