Foxy,

Well, investigate as well as merely prattling about it all.

For example, when will there ever be just one archaeological investigation of a suspected massacre site ?

When will just one person look up their archived file to see if, how and when they were 'stolen' ? Why aren't thousands taking their files to Slater & Gordon ? Surely they need the money.

Yes, perhaps we can only reconcile once the full truth is on the table.

Joe

Foxy,

I'm glad you said "...... we should debate the issues." because I have concerns that Reconciliation does not go far enough and that Aboriginals will not gain anything meaningful from it in the long run.

I think the politicians, bureaucrats and business people are really saying to them "Here, take the Reconciliation. But we're keeping the land."

I guess I'm still that 'boring and one-eyed" person who can see that there are other things at play that are hidden under the veil of some purported great Australian oneness and Kumbaya infused camaraderie.

I don't see anybody debating 'Reconciliation or Treaty' for instance.

Dear Joe,

Right back at you.

Why don't you as a former researcher with your own
blog - investigate - instead of consistently
being a nay sayer.

I'll give you just two references to start as to why
finding massacres in the Australian archaeological record
is so challenging:

http://www.archaeologyonthefrontier.com/2019/07/26/needles-in-haystacks-2/

And -

Journal article -

"Looking for the proverbial needle? The archaeology of
Australian colonial frontier massacres,"

Archaeology in Oceania. V. 46. No 3, October 2011
pp. 105 - 117.

The article is by M. Lister and Lynley Wallis.

Available at your State Library.

Off you go.

Dear Joe,

Here's more "prattling" for you:

http://abc.net.au/news/2018-09-25/archaeologists-discover-hundreds-of-native-mounted-police-camps/10183402

Read it if you really care.

Dearest Foxy,

I meant actual investigations, not excuses for why there aren't any. But i suppose, if archaeologists can't find any traces of fence-lines, villages, roads, storage pits, etc., we can't expect them to find conclusive massacre sites anywhere. So we'll all just have to believe without question.

I loved archaeology (or at least the idea of it) when I was in school, but put away childish dreams when I had to make a living. I'm a bit too old now.

But most universities have archaeology departments, and maybe they need someone to do some of the paperwork :)

Love,

Joe

Foxy & LOUDmouth,

The sorts of investigations you are discussing go well beyond archaeology. This is a big and sensitive area that requires all sorts of people with specialist credentials in oral history, forensic anthropology, environmental history and archaeology, just to name a few. This is a large scope that would have to be carried out over years. If you are interested in what is involved I would delve into the studies done elsewhere eg sites like Mesoamerica.

It's not the sort of thing one sits down at a computer and punches out over night. IT'S NOT JOURNALISM. Which is what I think you two are looking at.