Abstract
Archaeology is not just a technique for writing history: a statement that is very evident when working in Indigenous landscapes on both sides of the Tasman Sea. Social contexts inform the process of archaeology, with its underlying issues of scientific experts versus oral historians, colonisers versus colonised, etc. Although over the last 30 years there have been improvements in these relationships, and these should be celebrated, there is still a “ditch” to be bridged. Our paper examines the current discipline of archaeology in Australia and New Zealand, and traces the developments in ethics, legislation practice and theory that have led to its current position. Examples from both countries are explored to demonstrate the ditch that is still present between those undertaking the studies—who generally have a Western academic background—and those being studied—who may have traditional knowledge and a desire to relate to the past in a way that enhances their present. We suggest several mechanisms to overcome some of the legislative handicaps to such aspirations and continue the path towards truly equal partnerships and an ethical approach of narrating the past in the present.
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Notes
- 1.
The Tasman Sea is affectionately known as “the ditch” by both Kiwis and Aussies, however this paper also uses “the ditch” to mean the gap between Indigenous heritage custodians and archaeologists in both countries.
- 2.
The English version of the Treaty used the term “sovereignty” to mean supreme or ultimate authority by the Crown. In the Maori translation, however, a word for “governorship” was used, which was understood by Maori to mean a more distant and limited power.
- 3.
Now Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 and administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, All other elements mentioned here remain the same.
- 4.
Maori words translated using the on-line Maori Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz.
- 5.
This officer prefers not to be identified.
- 6.
Rangiatea is the Maori version of the Tahitian name Raiatea.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank: Margaret Rika Heke, pouarahi (Maori heritage advisor), NZHPT for her thoughts on archaeology; Te Kenehi Teira, Kaihautu Maori (Senior Maori heritage advisor), NZHPT and Ngati Raukawa for permission to use Rangiatea as an example; Associate Professor Ian Smith and Professor Richard Walter, both at the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago and Associate Professor Melinda Allen, Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland for their insightful comments; Lynette Williams for proof-reading.
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Phillips, C., Ross, A. (2015). Both Sides of the Ditch: The Ethics of Narrating the Past in the Present. In: Gnecco, C., Lippert, D. (eds) Ethics and Archaeological Praxis. Ethical Archaeologies: The Politics of Social Justice, vol 1. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1646-7_3
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