SEMINAR: Archaeology Seminar Series 2014 - Tales from the Weld Range: A summary of Weld Range Web of Knowledge activities

The Weld Range in Wajarri Yamatji country is home to the nationally heritage listed Wilgie Mia Aboriginal Ochre mine. At the time of European contact, the vibrant red ochre from Wilgie Mia was traded far and wide. It continues to be used ceremonially today. The spiritual and economic significance of this place also drew people and objects to the Weld Range forming a rich archaeological landscape. Building on the relationship developed between Wajarri traditional owners and UWA archaeologists through professional consultancy at Weld Range since 2007, in 2013 the collaborative team were awarded federal funding to document these extraordinary sites, register them with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, continue Wajarri training in archaeological method and theory and raise public awareness for the Weld Range. Underlying our use of a variety of archaeological site recording methods is an exploration of the connections between places. In this presentation we provide an overview of the project, the sites and research themes under investigation.