Sites of significance

Sites include camp sites, mission sites, reserves and places where battles or massacres took place.

Most of what we know about Aboriginal people comes from European viewpoints after colonisation. For earlier sources, we have to rely upon archaeological findings, given that the line of Aboriginal oral history was often interrupted with European influence.

Archaeological evidence takes a variety of forms such as the tools or other implements that were used (which are collectively called artefacts) or the places where Aboriginal people have left traces of their presence (these places are called sites). 

Every archaeological site tells us something about Aboriginal people's way of life. To Aboriginal people, these sites are an irreplaceable link with the past. To others they are a fragile and non-renewable source of information about the past. For these reasons sites are protected under Australian law.