Gun-guwelamagapa

Gun-guwelamagapa: Gun-nerranga gun-nerranga rrawa, An-barra gun-nika describes the An-barra Archaeological Project, which investigated the archaeological sites around the mouth of the Blyth River (An-gartcha Wana - literally "Big River") in central Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia. This volume delves into the pre-colonial settlement patterns and subsistence strategies of the An-barra community, set against the backdrop of significant environmental changes during the mid to late Holocene.

The authors provide a detailed analysis of the archaeological findings, comparing them with ethnographic evidence to uncover the history and cultural heritage of the An-barra people. The Traditional Owners, including Betty Ngurrpangurrpa and other community members, actively participated in the research, providing invaluable knowledge and insights. Their support enabled the collection of archaeological assemblages and facilitated the interpretation of findings through the lens of their cultural heritage. This volume is a companion piece to Betty Meehan''s earlier work, Shell Bed to Shell Midden (1982), and extends the narrative by integrating archaeological data with ethnographic insights.

Gun-guwelamagapa reveals the relationships between the An-barra community and their environment, highlighting the role of shell middens, earth mounds, and other archaeological features in understanding the past. The authors discuss the significance of these sites, the methods used in their investigation, and the broader implications for interpreting the archaeological record of northern Australia.

Gun-guwelamagapa emphasises the importance of integrating ethnographic and archaeological data to provide a holistic understanding of past human behaviours. It also showcases the contributions of the An-barra community to the preservation and interpretation of their cultural heritage, offering new perspectives on the history and culture of the An-barra people.

About the Authors

Betty Meehan is a retired anthropologist and archaeologist who has been conducting research in northern Australia for six decades.

The late Rhys Jones was a professor of archaeology at the Australian National University. He worked in Arnhem Land for several decades.

Betty Ngurrpangurrpa is an An-barra woman from central Arnhem Land. She has worked with Betty and Rhys since she was a child in the early 1970s.

Sally Brockwell is an archaeologist who has worked in northern Australia, Indonesia and Timor Leste.