Cambridge in the bush? Archaeology in Australia and New Guinea

Abstract

The history of prehistoric archaeology in Australia is ordered into three stages. The third, 1960–80, is marked by a dominance of Cambridge‐trained people, and a focus at first on acquiring stratigraphie sequences and later on human‐environment relationships. The organisation of archaeology in Australia is described, and the political relationship between archaeologists and Aborigines discussed. Archaeology in New Guinea has concentrated on sequence, as well as problems of agricultural origins and trade, but local participation is beginning only now. We conclude that there is no clearly defined regional tradition in Australian archaeology. © 1981 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.