ABSTRACT

This article presents the results of historical research, as well as archaeological and geophysical surveys, in order to explore a number of frontier conflict events at Dead Man’s Flat in South Australia (SA). The historical records reveal the cruelty and complexity of the period and expose the concealments, contradictions, euphemistic language, denials and silences that are typical of the Australian frontier. Further disparities are revealed in more recent commemorative efforts. Archaeological investigations in the study area provided an ‘absence of evidence’. Whilst the geophysical survey revealed that there are potential graves located on the flat, no interment was located in the area commemorated by local non-Indigenous community members. The combined results of this multi-method approach uncovered new dissonances, raised new questions and provided new exegeses about the frontier in this region. For traditional owners, the sum of the evidence reveals a history of invasion, killings and massacre, theft, deceit and cover-up – Dead Man’s Flat is, therefore, a place to be approached with deep respect in order to honour the experiences of their ancestors.

摘要

本文介绍了历史研究以及考古和地球物理调查的结果，以探索南澳大利亚 (SA) 死人公寓 (Dead Man's Flat) 的一些边境冲突事件。历史记录揭示了那个时期的残酷和复杂，揭露了澳大利亚边境典型的隐瞒、矛盾、委婉的语言、否认和沉默。在最近的纪念活动中揭示了更多的差异。研究区域的考古调查提供了“缺乏证据”。虽然地球物理调查显示该单位有潜在的坟墓，但当地非原住民社区成员纪念的地区并没有安葬。这种多方法方法的综合结果揭示了新的不和谐，提出了新的问题，并提供了有关该地区边界的新解释。对于传统业主来说，证据的总和揭示了入侵、杀戮和屠杀、盗窃、欺骗和掩盖的历史——因此，死人公寓是一个值得深切尊重的地方，以纪念他们的经历。祖先。