Nuclear archaeology and Australian aborigines

Abstract

Nuclear archaeologists are now working in Australia. They are sifting through the hundreds of thousands of metallic fragments left from the British nuclear tests in South Australia and assessing how to clear up the sites so the land is fit once again for Aboriginal habitation. Twelve British nuclear tests were held in Australia between 1952 and 1957, with the (non‐explosive) testing of nuclear components carried through to 1963. The Australian government welcomed the tests and assured its citizens they were not a health hazard. The controversy in the past decade between the British and Australian Governments has arisen from a new awareness in the Australian population. Australians now better understand the health consequences of nuclear testing. They are far more sympathetic to Aboriginal land and health rights. Finally, the UK and Australia agreed in 1993 to clean up the test site. Australia was selected as a nuclear test site because the UK needed a place to test its weapons. The UK had worked closely w...