Counter-mapping theory and its application to a constantly changing Aboriginal stone arrangement site

Abstract

In pre-contact times, the Gummingurru Aboriginal stone arrangement site on Queensland’s Darling Downs was a complex locale of motif creation and constant maintenance, social alliance formation, male initiation and cultural education. Since European settlement, the arrangements have undergone a raft of changes, yet the site remains a place of constant narration based around regular recreation of motifs, alliance-making and sharing of cultural experiences. As a consequence, the site was and is constantly changing. How do we, as archaeologists, represent such a site, ensuring the rigour required of archaeological place characterisation and yet avoid the ‘fixity’ that comes with conventional archaeological place recording? In this paper, we demonstrate some of the opportunities available to archaeologists to document both the tangible and the intangible elements of an ever-changing, constantly evolving site like Gummingurru. We evaluate different counter-mapping strategies, and technologies ranging from computer-based maps and programs, to 2D and 3D animations. The aim is to explore the relevance of these approaches for archaeology and heritage place representation.

KEYWORDS:

• Archaeological documentation
• representation
• recreation
• animation
• fixity

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Jarowair/Wakka Wakka Traditional Custodians and the Gummingurru Aboriginal Corporation for their continued support of the research, especially Brian Tobane, Conrad Bauwens, Shannon Bauwens and Annette Riley. The research was funded as part of an Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Research Grant. We particularly thank Sean Ulm for his ongoing assistance and research advice. Elena Piotto and Jon Prangnell have participated in many hours of engaging discussion of the ideas presented here, and Bryce Barker provided comments on the final draft manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.