 |
 |
 |
Tasmania's history - older than you imagine
People have lived in Tasmania for at least 35,000 years - and possibly as long as 70,000 years. If this is hard to imagine, then you might also be surprised about how different the Tasmanian environment was in those days.
During the last Ice Age, average temperatures were 6ºC lower and annual rainfall was half of what it is today. Glaciers covered the Central Highlands and the sea level was 120 metres lower than today - allowing people to walk across what is now Bass Strait.
Computer modelling is being developed by the Aboriginal Heritage Office to understand how Aboriginal people interacted with their environment over this immense time period and where they were likely to have lived.
This will provide a valuable tool for predicting the location of Aboriginal heritage places. It will also indicate how people in the past have responded to large scale environmental changes - changes that Tasmanians will face again in the future.
Understanding the past - understanding the present
Aboriginal rock art in Tasmania is amongst the oldest in the world. Ochre paintings deep in south west caves have been dated at over 12,000 years old. Rock engravings found on the west coast are similar to works found in other parts of Australia that may date back over 40,000 years. Each of these heritage places is part of a precious jigsaw of human history of Tasmania.
Every example of rock art in Tasmania tells something of the relationship between Aboriginal people and their physical and spiritual world. The symbols found in engravings and paintings continue to form an important part of the ongoing culture of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania.
A rich landscape
Middens can be found on almost every part of Tasmania's coastline. They have been formed by hundreds of generations of Aboriginal families who left behind a detailed record of their lifestyles; foods including shellfish, scalefish, birds and mammals; technology in the form of tools made from stone and bone; and adornments of ochre, charcoal and shell.
The information to be found in Tasmanian middens is as valuable as anything we might learn from the most complex of rainforest ecosystems, or the most ancient of Egyptian ruins. It is the story of how human beings can live sustainably with the Tasmanian environment.
There is still much to be learned from these places. They offer knowledge that might be essential for our future. A variety of stone tools have been designed by Aboriginal people for use in activities including hunting, butchery, woodcraft and surgery. They are quarried from selected materials that occur in different parts of the island.
Where stone artefacts are found can tell a lot about how people were living, where they travelled and who they traded with. For this reason it is important not to move or disturb stone artefacts.
Places and People
Artist June Brown reflects timeless cultural traditions with the use of rock art symbols in her paintings.
Middens, quarries and other Aboriginal heritage places are an essential part of the cultural education of young Aboriginal people. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and other Aboriginal organisations hold regular cultural camps and festivals to pass on important traditions and celebrate Tasmanian Aboriginal culture.
Worth protecting
Marion Bay grazier James Dunbabin is working with the Aboriginal Heritage Office to protect coastal middens and artefact scatters on his property and the adjoining coastal reserve by managing access to the area.
Not only has James protected these fascinating cultural site for future generations, but is also conserving the nesting habit of a number of shore birds.
His approach is an example of how conservation and farming can work together.
Living Land
Protecting Aboriginal heritage in Tasmania has not kept pace with today's decision-making and environmental protection processes.
Up-to-date Aboriginal heritage legislation will be developed by consulting extensively with the Tasmanian community to recognise local needs, and by drawing on the best features of heritage protection laws from around Australia and the world.
- It is important for Tasmania's future that we understand and respect the heritage of Tasmanian people - a history that stretches back thousands of years.
- Tasmanian Aboriginal people will be able to take responsibility for the management and protection of their heritage.
- People working their land, exploring opportunities for development or enjoying recreational activities, will have a fair and effective regulatory system to work with.
The Tasmanian Government will include protection of Aboriginal heritage in the high standards that have been set for cultural development, economic growth and regulation of business activities in Tasmania.
