Abstract

ABSTRACTIn 2010, Elders from Mapoon watched “Time Team” and saw ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and other non‐invasive scientific methods being used to identify cultural features on archaeological sites. This led Elders to express their desire for such techniques, particularly GPR, to be brought on country to assist with documenting and protecting cultural heritage sites. This paper explores how Mapoon families have employed these techniques in archaeological settings to reconnect and reimagine specific features in their cultural landscape, as well as to explore, create and renew narratives from their interpretations of the results from the project. We also investigate the nature of Traditional Owner interactions with these technologies in archaeological settings to understand their impact on how cultural identity and value are recreated and renewed, on “caring for country” programmes, and on modernising culturally appropriate forms of engagement with ancestors’ remains. We apply these findings to a discussion of how Mapoon people think about their cultural history, identity and connections to country, particularly in relation to mortuary practices and settlement patterns from pre‐contact to the “mission time”.

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