Aboriginal Territoriality (was Re: Origins)
Gil Hardwick (gil@landmark.iinet.net.au)
Fri, 19 May 1995 10:08:40 GMT
In article <rodhagen-1805951537410001@dialup-a3.netspace.net.au>, Rod Hagen (rodhagen@netspace.net.au) writes:
>I don't think that there is any doubt that the research indicates "that
>what we are looking at is the distribution of GENES for those blood
>groups".
Utt tutt tutt, Rodney! You like friend Eric are shifting the context
of our discussions and presenting new ideas based on far more recent
research to sustain argument derived from very old material indeed.
Let me remind you that Avery did not show that nucleic acids are the
vectors of genetic information until 1944, and it was not until 1953
that Watson and Crick were able to show their binary structure. Your
argument only holds for subsequent field research specifically to map
gene distributions.
The work Phillip cited on distribution of BLOOD GROUPS was according
to him dated 1954, while our two American protagonists had actually
been out in the field as long ago as the 1930s.
Poor definition and refusal to specify the actual period and focus of
basic research does not a scientific report make.
>On the other hand, to me at least, Birdsell's argument with Hiatt and
>others, referred to obliquely by Gil, (and Hiatt's with Berndt, Stanner
>and others) concerning aspects of Aboriginal territorial organisation are
>much more interesting matters for debate. Any takers?
Sure. But before we get into it can we invite others to actually read
up on the topic and think about it first? The matter remains critical
in national affairs, and it does need to be aired again in the proper
manner.
Please note that I have altered the Subject: line above accordingly.
Key references I have at hand which reflect the transition from the
older generation of scholars who had studied under Elkin, to that new
generation writing prior to the formation of ATSIC and AIATSIS are:
Berndt R.M. (ed) 1970
Australian Aboriginal Anthropology
Nedlands: UWA Press for AIAS
Peterson N. (ed) 1976
Tribes & Boundaries in Australia
Canberra: AIAS
Hiatt L.R. 1984
Aboriginal Landowners
Oceania Monograph 27
Sydney University
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