Indigenous archaeology expert joins elite group

The Australian Academy of the Humanities this month celebrated 50 years by inducting a further 17 fellows, including Flinders University archaeologist Professor Claire Smith.

Professor Smith has spent her career focusing on the theory, practice and ethics of Indigenous archaeology; archaeological teaching and field methods; and rock art research.

“In our 50th anniversary year, I am honoured to welcome the new members of our Fellowship, elected in recognition of their distinguished achievement in the humanities disciplines and their contribution to Australian cultural life,” the Academy’s President Professor Joy Damousi says.

“Those elected this year come from a range of fields including archaeology, classics, history, philosophy, media and communications, religion, Asian studies, literature, art history, linguistics and musicology, as well as creative practitioners from across the arts and culture sector.

“They demonstrate the richness and diversity of the humanities in Australia today,” Professor Damousi says.

The Academy announced a further eight Corresponding Fellows and Honorary Fellows to the distinguished list for 2020.

Professor Smith‘s book Indigenous Archaeologies broke new ground through the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives. Country, Kin and Culture: Survival of an Aboriginal Community was short-listed for the NSW Premier’s History Award.

Her recent book, Global Social Archaeologies, co-authored by Koji Mizoguchi, outlines a new framework that places social justice, human rights and ethical globalisation at the centre of archaeological theory and practice.

A regular contributor to The Conversation, her latest articles are about decorating NT anthills, Indigenous cultural sites and rebuilding the Notre Dame cathedral.

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