Aspects of the historiography of Australian archaeology

Abstract

This article is a historiography, or critical review of the history, of Australian archaeology. It commences with a discussion of the two major regional histories of Australian archaeology, and a survey of the literature on the removal and scientific use of human remains. This is followed by an examination of the two major approaches to the history of Australian archaeology—individual and collective biography, and the use of specific archaeological sites or broader geographical regions—then three complementary but less used historical approaches. Finally, I offer suggestions for further research in the history of Australian archaeology.