What painting? Encountering and interpreting the archaeological record in western Arnhem Land, northern Australia

• Published in: Archaeology in Oceania Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 106 - 117
• Main Authors: BRADY, LIAM M., MAY, SALLY K., GOLDHAHN, JOAKIM, TAÇON, PAUL S.C., LAMILAMI, PATRICK
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Richmond Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Archaeology; Archives & records; Arkeologi; Arnhem Land; art rupestre; Case studies; Cultural heritage; Cultural resources; Grasping; Indigenous peoples; interpretation; Land; Lenses; Meaning; Microprocessors; Native peoples; Owners; Petroglyphs; reflexivity; rock art; Rocks; réflexivité; sens; Symbolism; Terre d'Arnhem
• ISSN: 0728-4896; 1834-4453; 1834-4453
• DOI: 10.1002/arco.5208

ABSTRACT Research into contemporary Indigenous relationships with the archaeological record has increasingly drawn upon frameworks emphasising relational, affectual and cultural understandings to learn about the complex ways that meaning and symbolism are negotiated and expressed. In this paper, we use a series of case studies from Arnhem Land to investigate the network of relationships Aboriginal Traditional Owners use in the process of interpreting the archaeological record. At the core of this process is Edward Casey's idea of “grasping‐together”, where people draw on their social and cultural knowledge as a means to make sense out of what is being encountered and how it fits into existing frameworks of knowledge and understanding. By approaching rock art through the lens of encounter and interaction, archaeologists are in a privileged position to add another layer to the, symbolism and significance people attach to their cultural heritage today. RÉSUMÉ La recherche sur les relations autochtones contemporaines avec les archives archéologiques s'appuie de plus en plus sur des cadres metre l'accent sur les comprehensions relationnelles, affectives et culturelles pour en savoir plus sur les façons complexes dont le sens et le symbolisme sont négociés et exprimé. Dans cet article, nous utilisons une série d’études de cas de la Terre d'Arnhem pour étudier le réseau de relations avec les Autochtones Les propriétaires traditionnels utilisent dans le processus d'interprétation des archives archéologiques. Au coeur de ce processus se trouve l'idée d'Edward Casey “saisir ensemble”, oú les gens utilisent leurs connaissances sociales et culturelles comme un moyen de donner un sens á ce qui est rencontré et comment il s'inscrit dans les cadres existants de connaissances et de comprehension. En abordant l'art rupestre à travers la lentille de la rencontre et interaction, les archéologues sont dans une position privilégiée pour ajouter une autre couche à l'histoire, le symbolisme et la signification que les gens attachent à leur patrimoine culturel aujourd'hui. ABBREVIATED ABSTRACT In this paper, we use a series of case studies from Arnhem Land to investigate the network of relationships Aboriginal Traditional Owners use in the process of interpreting the archaeological record. By approaching rock art through the lens of encounter and interaction, archaeologists are in a privileged position to add another layer to the, symbolism and the significance people attach to their cultural heritage today. Research into contemporary Indigenous relationships with the archaeological record has increasingly drawn upon frameworks emphasising relational, affectual and cultural understandings to learn about the complex ways that meaning and symbolism are negotiated and expressed. In this paper, we use a series of case studies from Arnhem Land to investigate the network of relationships Aboriginal Traditional Owners use in the process of interpreting the archaeological record. At the core of this process is Edward Casey's idea of “grasping‐together”, where people draw on their social and cultural knowledge as a means to make sense out of what is being encountered and how it fits into existing frameworks of knowledge and understanding. By approaching rock art through the lens of encounter and interaction, archaeologists are in a privileged position to add another layer to story, symbolism and significance people attach to their cultural heritage today.