Australian Archaeological Association Conference
📍Darwin Convention Centre
📅 December 2022
The Australian Archaeological Association Inc. (AAA) is the largest archaeological organisation in Australia, representing a diverse membership of professionals, researchers, students and others with an interest in archaeology.
My talk for this conference presented some of the results from the Found a Fossil survey, including how we can more effectivly connect with the public and encourage stewardship behaviours to protect heritage material in Australia.
Theme: Contact: Learning from entangled encounters:
Session: Voices from the Footnotes of Entangled Encounters: Stories of Often-Forgotten Participants in the History of Archaeology
Title: Forgotten Finders: Perspectives from non-archaeologists about heritage discoveries and protections
Abstract:
Natural and cultural heritage material, from fossils to Indigenous artefacts, are not always found by scientists or archaeologists. More often, they may be found fortuitously by farmers, bushwalkers, beachgoers, and other non-specialists. Yet, the perspectives of these groups have often been excluded from the heritage discourse, even when the protection or management of these sites and materials may directly affect them. In an effort to gauge the perspectives of these groups, an Australia-wide survey was available from January to June in 2022, and open to every member of the public above the age of 10. Here, I present the results from this survey and highlight the concerns and perceptions of farmers, Indigenous communities, and other demographics of the Australian public to the importance of heritage and its current protections. The exploration of the entangled encounters between people and heritage objects and sites, and the interactions between sometimes opposing groups and viewpoints have started open and transparent conversations about heritage, and has helped identify potential solutions for the sustainable and locally-driven management, protection, and celebration of heritage.
