Abstract

The Calga Women's Site was re-identified by Aboriginal Women from Darkinjung, Guringai and Mingaletta communities in 2011.  Since then, evidence for a complex ceremonial cultural landscape has come to light, based on an amalgam of archaeological evidence, ethnohistorical research, and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge.  The Calga Aboriginal Cultural landscape reifies the four main characteristics of cultural landscapes: storyscapes, taskscapes, journeyscapes and resource areas.  In this seminar I outline the recent history of the resurrection of knowledge about this cultural landscape and demonstrate how the significance of the Calga cultural landscape provides the basis for the call to strengthen cultural heritage legislation to ensure the protection of such places into the future.

Annie Ross has worked in the Aboriginal cultural heritage management area for nearly 40 years.  She has championed the concept of cultural landscapes and has provided advice to legislators on heritage protection since the 1980s.  Annie began to work with Darkinjung, Guringai and Mingaletta Traditional Custodians of the Calga Aboriginal Cultural Landscape in 2011 and continues her collaboration with these communities today.

About the Presenter

Dr Annie Ross is an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Social Science at The University of Queensland.

 

About Archaeology Working Papers

The Working Papers in Archaeology seminar series provides a forum for dissemination of archaeological research and ideas amongst UQ archaeology students and staff. All students are invited to attend the series and postgraduate students, from honours upwards, are invited to present their research. The aim is to provide opportunities for students, staff and those from outside UQ, to present and discuss their work in an informal environment. It is hoped that anyone interested in current archaeological directions, both within and outside the School and University, will be able to attend and contribute to the series.