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 South Africa—to develop a broad understanding of what happens when such different civilizations encounter one another.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759106840
Publisher:	AltaMira Press
Publication date:	01/17/2008
Series:	Indigenous Archaeologies Series
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.69(d)

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

Chapter 1 Prologue: Central Australia from a Cessna
Chapter 2 Chapter 1. The Lost Legions: Historical Pastoral Industries, Culture Contact, and Colonialism
Chapter 3 Chapter 2. The Ends of the Earth Were Our Portion
Chapter 4 Chapter 3. Pangki Warruna/ Strangways Springs Sheep Station (Central Australia)
Chapter 5 Chapter 4. A Documentary History of Strangways Springs Station
Chapter 6 Chapter 5. The Texture of Agency
Chapter 7 Chapter 6. Further Down the Wallaby Track
Chapter 8 Chapter 7. Listing the Legions
Chapter 9 Epilogue: Central Australia From a Cessna

Editorial Reviews

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.

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

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.

April 2010 Archaeology In Oceania

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

December 2008 Australian Historical Studies

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