Much More than Stones & Bones: Australian Archaeology in the Late Twentieth Century

This bold and rigorous examination of the popular, cultural, and political aspects of the development of Australian archaeology draws on a wide variety of sources including media, government files, film and radio documentaries, interviews, and firsthand involvement in archaeological projects. Through the critical analysis of some major Australian archaeological projects, du Cros draws out crucial ethical debates, such as conservation versus commercialism, "science" versus indigenous spirituality and self-determination, and popular access versus technical elitism, challenging preconceived notions about Australia's cultural history and how this history has been formed through archaeology.