The Knight of Pentacles is not the high octane action kind of person. This individual is happy to patiently lay down the foundations for whatever plans are afoot and is prepared to patiently put one foot in front of the other and take their time. This Knight is prepared to invest laborious hours of hard work.
Archaeologist Isabel McBryde, who roamed the landscape of northern New South Wales in the 1960s in search of rock art and ceremonial grounds, scarred trees and surface scatters, middens and massacre sites, rock shelters and quarries. Known affectionately as the Mother of Archeology in Australia.
One of the most inspiring things about Isabel’s research is its social nature. She was interested in a holistic, peopled past and she combined archaeological and ethnographic research in a manner that no-one before her had done, but that is now a feature of the archaeological discipline in Australia. Isabel wasn’t just interested in academic pursuits, she was deeply committed to developing strong, mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal communities and was involved in developing fundamental legislative protection for cultural heritage within Australia and internationally, too.
Isabel’s pioneering approach to community archaeology is recorded in this wonderful reminiscence by Dr Mary-Jane Mountain, who writes about her involvement with the famous find of Mungo Lady, the earliest known anatomically modern human inhabitant of Australia, and the negotiation of the return of her remains.
“One of the distinctive things that Isabel did was to involve local communities and their historical societies in her work. This was time consuming work, but just so important.
Time consuming because her growing network of informants across New England expected responses. Important not just because of what she learned, but because she was educating key individuals and indeed entire communities in the importance of recognising and preserving Australia’s Aboriginal heritage”.
From Personal Reflection Belshaw Blog
Waltzing With Matilda's 