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The value of contemporary social significance in archaeological assessment and its implications for current legislative reform: a case study from the Esperance region, Western Australia
Author(s) -
MITCHELL MYLES B.,
GUILFOYLE DAVID R.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
archaeology in oceania
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1834-4453
pISSN - 0728-4896
DOI - 10.1002/arco.5211
Subject(s) - legislation , cultural heritage , legislature , relevance (law) , value (mathematics) , cultural heritage management , archaeology , geography , ethnology , political science , history , environmental ethics , law , philosophy , machine learning , computer science
This paper presents a case study of an Aboriginal heritage assessment conducted with the Esperance Nyungars in southern Western Australia. The study incorporates contemporary social significance with archaeological assessment to form a holistic cultural significance statement for the landscapes surrounding the Munglinup River. The results are analysed with reference to the currently proposed legislative reform of the Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act . The analysis has relevance for archaeological assessment methodologies, cultural heritage management, legislation reform and administration of the current and future Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act . This case study demonstrates the value of incorporating social significance into archaeological assessments, including custodial responsibilities, cultural landscapes and the links between ecology and cultural heritage.