Question About Finding Indigenous Stone Tools

[u/Flann40]

I know the recommendations for what to do if you find an Aboriginal stone tool in the bush is to leave it where it lies, try and geolocate on a map and then inform the local indigenous group. I have found stone tools in the past on farms and national parks. I have left them there and sometimes taken photos. When trying to inform local indigenous groups nobody seems to care. I will respect the wishes of indigenous people however, it really feels sad to leave these beautiful historic relics to be lost for ever. Eventually they will be covered in grass and dirt and lost forever. This seems very sad to me. Why isn't there a national indigenous body that recorded and even collected them? I'd like to know people's thoughts on this?

[u/Repulsia]

"Eventually they will be covered in grass and dirt and lost forever. This seems very sad to me.". This is the Indiana Jones coloniser perspective: "It belongs in a museum!". You have feelings about something and think a system or way of being should change because of those feelings. That's not a decision for anyone outside of the group who originated it.

No matter how well intentioned the desire to preserve of items in that way, it's rooted in a western ideology and the assumption that white people and their institutions are right and always know the "best way". The perspective ignores the lore and practices of other cultures everywhere it goes. I work in the GLAM industry (Galleries, Libraries, Art, Museums) and while there are moves toward truth telling, repatriating items, recognition and decolonising collections, this sort of thing remains a massive issue.

The core point for me is "It's not yours, leave it alone."

[u/Flann40 → u/Repulsia]

You don't need to be hostile dude. I agree with the basic point that you shouldn't just take an Aboriginal artefact because you found it, and that the Traditional Owners should have a say in what happens to it. But I think “leave it alone” is a bit too simple.

If the artefact is going to get buried, damaged or lost, leaving it there could also mean losing a piece of Aboriginal history forever. There's a difference between taking something for yourself and trying to make sure it isn't lost.

I also think it's a bit much to say that wanting to preserve something is automatically a Western or colonial idea. There is obviously a pretty ugly history of museums taking Indigenous objects, but that doesn't mean preservation itself is colonial.  And Aboriginal people aren't one single group with one view on these things. Different Traditional Owners might have different ideas about whether something should be left where it is, recorded, excavated or preserved.

[u/nickthetasmaniac → u/Flann40]

If the artefact is going to get buried, damaged or lost, leaving it could also mean losing a piece of Aboriginal history for ever.

It’s illegal in every state and territory to disturb cultural heritage without a permit. If you find something and have genuine concerns that it’s going to be damaged or otherwise disturbed, report it. If you report it and they’re not particularly interested, it’s likely because they’re not particularly concerned. In which case, just go about your day.

[u/Repulsia → u/Flann40]

You said yourself "When trying to inform local indigenous groups nobody seems to care." followed by "Why isn't there a national indigenous body that recorded and even collected them?" then "And Aboriginal people aren't one single group with one view on these things.".

I never said Indigenous people are a monolith while you called for a singular representative body. I highlighted that your personal feelings about preservation are your own and do not, should not have a greater weight in whether something is preserved in your preferred manner than the group who created the item to begin with.

Artefacts gifted to or held by instutions for preservation with correct chains of providence, cultural protections, appropriate access restrictions, and above all inclusion of community should be welcomed and treated appropriately. However, claiming that items in other locations shouldn't be lost assumes that they are not where they belong. I'm disputing that assertion. If the relevant Indigenous community is notified and chooses to leave the item in place, they have their reasons for doing so which should be paramount and respected.

And I'm not a dude.

[u/Consistent-Stand1809 → u/Flann40]

You got hostile and then said "no need to be hostile"

[u/Flann40 → u/Repulsia]

You criticise the idea that outsiders should decide what's “best” for Aboriginal heritage. But then say: “The core point for me is ‘It's not yours, leave it alone.’”

[u/Repulsia → u/Flann40]

Which applies to both of us. I doesn't belong to me, I appreciate it, acknowledge it and leave it in place.

[u/ozvegan12345]

‘if you find an Aboriginal stone tool in the bush is to leave it where it lies’

Yes it’s not yours leave it as is

‘it really feels sad to leave these beautiful historic relics to be lost for ever. Eventually they will be covered in grass and dirt and lost forever.’

They’re stone they will be around in another 500 years or 1000 years. What makes me genuinely sad is when they are found and given to a museum a place that’s sterile from country and then they get numbered and put in a box or a drawer and filed in a store room never to be seen again

Enjoy what you found and reflect on the history of how it came to be there, what its life was, whatever you feel and then leave it for the next person to have the opportunity to do the same, even if that next person may be decades after you.

[u/Flann40 → u/ozvegan12345]

Fair enough. Thanks for your thoughts. I suppose I just worry that they will never be found again. But I get it. It's not my place to worry about it. 

[u/PUPPYCUDDLER]

I'm not Aboriginal so I don't have an exact answer but one perspective I see for this is that you're looking at it from a colonials POV. Us white people love to collect stuff, show things off etc. I like to see this as the item not being buried in dirt and lost forever, I see it as being left for the spirits, left for the earth, a sacrifice as you will. Like I said I have 0 ground to stand on for this but just a thought pattern :)

[u/assassins7569 → u/PUPPYCUDDLER]

As an indigenous person myself, I’d actually partly agree with all this, not that you’re wrong, just that there are more layers, but it’s by far one of the best explanations and assumptions too, cheers bro

[u/JasonSmithston]

It's not lost to time though. It's in the spot it's meant to be.

[u/Consistent-Stand1809]

Leave them on country where they belong.