Cameo Dalley

Mapping the Shape of Contemporary Australian Archaeology: Implications for Archaeology Teaching and Learning

Abstract Results from the largest survey of professional Australian archaeologists ever undertaken are considered in the context of teaching and learning issues. The survey asked questions about the composition of the archaeological workforce, professional activities of archaeologists, skills and qualifications needed to work in archaeology, and opinions on university learning and professional training. Data about the discipline are a basic requirement for informed decision-making on archaeology teaching and learning, but few useful datasets are available. While results generally confirm anecdotal evidence and findings of previous surveys, the large sample size (n=301) enables more detailed characterisation of important aspects of the contemporary archaeological workplace. An analysis of self-assessed skill sets and skill gaps indicates that the training of many professionals left significant gaps in several core skill and knowledge areas which are remarkably consistent across various industry sectors. These findings can be used to inform curriculum development and the exploration of new archaeology teaching and learning models that are more attuned to the contemporary Australian archaeological workplace.

Negotiating Indigeneity: Culture, Identity, and Politics

Defining “indigeneity” has recently been approached with renewed vigor. While the field can involve quite passionate commitment to advocacy among scholars, theoretical clarity is needed in understanding just who might be thought of as indigenous, and the reasons why this is so. Does “indigeneity” make sense only if it is understood in relation to the “non-indigenous,” and if so, how useful is the latter category across societies and nations with very different cultural histories? Two edited volumes, one which addresses this question in global perspective and another focused exclusively on Australia, are reviewed and contextualized within broader debates.

A working profile: The changing face of professional archaeology in Australia

Abstract Results from comprehensive surveys of Australian professional archaeologists undertaken in 2005 and 2010 are considered in the context of disciplinary trends, focusing on changes in access and participation, archaeological workplaces, qualifications and skill gaps. Strong growth is demonstrated in the professional archaeology sector between 2005 and 2010, showing substantial restructuring in the last five years, with an increase in Indigenous archaeology and a corresponding decrease in other subfields, especially historical archaeology. An analysis of self-assessed skill sets and skill gaps shows that the training of many professionals continues to leave significant gaps in core skill and knowledge areas which are consistent across industry subfields.