Lining the Path: A Seascape Perspective of Two Torres Strait Missions, Northeast Australia

Abstract

This paper compares the socio-spatial characteristics of two missions dating from different periods in Torres Strait, northeastern Australia. It builds upon previous archaeological research which correlates settlement-subsistence systems with the seascape cosmologies of marine specialists. Against the backdrop of profound changes in colonial governance and religious commitment (from mission to church) from the late nineteenth to mid twentieth centuries, we map the changing structure of two Torres Strait missions, and reflect upon these changes relative to lived sea-space. We use this approach in the belief that "local" histories provide meaningful context to broader colonial narratives.

“Their God is their belly”: Moravian missionaries at the Weipa Mission (1898–1932), Cape York Peninsula

“…Ash et al . ). At Weipa, Aboriginal people were spatially dispersed throughout the large Weipa Aboriginal Reserve prior to and after the establishment of the mission.…”

“…Flexner 2013Flexner , 2014Middleton 2008) and in some Australian settings (e.g. Ash et al 2010). At Weipa, Aboriginal people were spatially dispersed throughout the large Weipa Aboriginal Reserve prior to and after the establishment of the mission.…”

An Archaeology of Early Christianity in Vanuatu

“…Dalley and Memmott 2010;Ireland 2010;Lydon 2009;Middleton 2008;Smith et al 2012). One of the innovations of this project was that archaeological survey covered multiple sites, allowing for documentation of variability terra australis 44 across time and space (Flexner 2013; see also Ash et al 2010;Morrison et al 2010), as well as presumably cultural variability (the research area covers four different language areas). Work was spread out among seven mission landscapes on two islands: Port Narvin, Cook's Bay, and Dillon's Bay on Erromango; Lenakel, Waisisi, Port Resolution, and Kwamera on Tanna (Figure 1.1).…”

Both sides of the frontier: The ‘contact’ archaeology of villages on Mabuyag, western Torres Strait

“…A growing literature surrounds the archaeology of contact at missionary Ash et al, , 2010 and pearlshelling centres (McPhee, 2004) in western Torres Strait. Archaeological excavations at Totalai, a missionary site on Mua, suggested human activity from at least 1621e1384 cal BP to the recent period Ash et al, 2010).…”

“…Archaeological excavations at Totalai, a missionary site on Mua, suggested human activity from at least 1621e1384 cal BP to the recent period Ash et al, 2010). After 228e141 cal BP, a substantial reduction in dugong, turtle, shark, macropod, fish bone and lithics (including cessation of igneous flakes) was observed coincident with an increase in shellfish and glass artefacts (Ash and David, 2008, p. 342;Ash et al, 2010, p. 73).…”