The Lost Legions: Culture Contact in Colonial Australia

by Alistair G. Paterson

Overview

The Lost Legions explores the cultural interactions between Indigenous peoples and European settlers. Paterson draws especially on archaeological evidence from central Australia where European pastoralists found themselves in the heart of the territory of the Aborigine Arabana people. Paterson also considers other sources of information such as oral histories onomastics and evidence of culture contact in the Americas and southern Africa to develop a broad understanding of what happens when such different civilizations encounter one another.

About the Author:
Alistair G. Paterson is an archaeology lecturer at the University of Western Australia and past president of the Australian Archaeological Association

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759106833
Publisher:	AltaMira Press
Publication date:	01/17/2008

About the Author

Alistair G. Paterson is an archaeology lecturer at Western Australia University and past president of the Australian Archaeological Association.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations     xi
Preface and Acknowledgments     xv
List of Abbreviations     xix
Note from the Author     xx
Prologue: Central Australia from a Cessna     1
The Lost Legions: Historical Pastoral Industries, Culture Contact, and Colonialism     3
The Ends of the Earth Were Our Portion     17
Pangki Warruna/Strangways Springs Sheep Station (Central Australia)     59
A Documentary History of Strangways Springs Station     129
The Texture of Agency     163
Further Down the Wallaby Track     185
Listing the Legions     217
Epilogue: Central Australia from a Cessna     227
Glossary     229
References     233
Index     259
About the Author     267

Editorial Reviews

In this deeply contextualized study of culture contact in central Australia, Paterson touches on, and expands, all of the topics of central concern to historical archaeologists of contact. The Lost Legions is a must-read for all historical archaeologists, even those who believe they do not work with issues of post-Columbian colonialism.

Charles E. Orser

A work that is a valuable addition to the historical archaeology of the Australian frontier.

Australian Historical Studies

This new book makes a valuable contribution to the archaeological study of culture contact in general, but in Australia more particularly, where monograph-length studies which demonstrate the potential for a nuanced and in-depth analysis of the historical archaeology of Indigenous people remain rare. Paterson's book is a welcome addition, not only in drawing together the results of his research and publication in Australian contact archaeology over the course of almost a decade, but also in pointing to the potential for Australian historical archaeology to contribute to broader international debates regarding the nature and impact of settler colonialism, and the role of archaeology in giving voice to marginalised and subaltern peoples....Paterson's volume is engagingly written and should appeal not only to archaeologists but to a broader audience who are interested in the hidden histories of life on the Australian pastoral frontier. This is an important book which emonstrates the potential contribution of Australian historical archaeology to broader global debates and to issues of contemporary public concern.

Archaeology In Oceania

The volume offers a thoughtful and well-documented study of culture contact on one frontier. As such, it offers a useful beginning for a comparative analysis of the processes and practices that have shaped settler pastoralism in other world areas and will prove of value to those with interests in these processes in southern Africa and elsewhere.

South African Archaeological Bulletin

Paterson offers a well-considered and thoroughly engaging study of pastoralism as a context for colonialism and culture contact. With breadth of international coverage and depth of local nuance, the book examines carefully the ways in which Indigenous peoples in Australia and worldwide came to terms with the variable but pervasive impacts of European-introduced herding. Given its scope, sophistication, timeliness, and accessibility, this work will be required reading for anyone with interests in Indigenous and colonial histories.

Stephen W. Silliman

In this deeply contextualized study of culture contact in central Australia, Paterson touches on, and expands, all of the topics of central concern to historical archaeologists of contact. The Lost Legions is a must-read for all historical archaeologists, even those who believe they do not work with issues of post-Columbian colonialism.

Charles E. Orser Jr.

A work that is a valuable addition to the historical archaeology of the Australian frontier.

December 2008 Australian Historical Studies

This new book makes a valuable contribution to the archaeological study of culture contact in general, but in Australia more particularly, where monograph-length studies which demonstrate the potential for a nuanced and in-depth analysis of the historical archaeology of Indigenous people remain rare. Paterson's book is a welcome addition, not only in drawing together the results of his research and publication in Australian contact archaeology over the course of almost a decade, but also in pointing to the potential for Australian historical archaeology to contribute to broader international debates regarding the nature and impact of settler colonialism, and the role of archaeology in giving voice to marginalised and subaltern peoples....Paterson's volume is engagingly written and should appeal not only to archaeologists but to a broader audience who are interested in the hidden histories of life on the Australian pastoral frontier. This is an important book which emonstrates the potential contribution of Australian historical archaeology to broader global debates and to issues of contemporary public concern.

April 2010 Archaeology In Oceania