Remembering the mother mission: exploring trauma, cultural heritage values and identity at Mapoon, a former mission village in Western Cape York, Queensland

Sutton, Mary-Jean Nancy

doi:10.14264/uql.2015.662

Cited by 1 publication

(7 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(62 reference statements)

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“…Mapoon Traditional Owners experienced violence at the hands of early European settlers (the Jardines, c.1880s), and with the kidnapping of children to work in the pearl shell industry (McIntyre‐Tamwoy ; Sutton ) in areas of Mapoon Lands that included Cullen Point, Batavia and Pennefather, as well as further inland. This violence led to the later establishment of the Mapoon Mission at Cullen Point by the Moravians in 1891 (Sutton ; Wharton ). The mission was forcibly closed by the Queensland State government in 1963 and family homes were burnt to the ground (Sutton ; Wharton ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This violence led to the later establishment of the Mapoon Mission at Cullen Point by the Moravians in 1891 (Sutton ; Wharton ). The mission was forcibly closed by the Queensland State government in 1963 and family homes were burnt to the ground (Sutton ; Wharton ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Limited archaeological survey of the Cullen Point and the Mapoon area more generally indicates that sites are dominated by middens; however, scarred trees, mission‐time remains and cemeteries, unmarked burials and cultural sites are also present (Sutton ). Cullen Point is the location of known mythological sites, as well as bora grounds, dancing and fighting grounds, and story places associated with Chivaree, an important spirit being in Tjungundji cultural history (McConnel , ; Thomson ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two earth mounds (Jack Brown's Mound and Shadforth's Landing Mound A) were identified on Cullen Point as sites remembered by Elders as burial places for family members during Sutton's () PhD research (Susie Madua and Elder A pers. comm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coral pieces and shell (local mixed marine species of varying sizes) were often used to decorate burial places, and evidence of this practice is visible within Mapoon graves and cemeteries today. During the mission time, the “old people” would collect shells from the beach in handmade baskets and later use them to line graves (Mrs Harriet Flinders, interview, 17 December 2010; Audio Recording #VN680010 cited from Sutton ). Flowering trees such as frangipani and Christmas trees were also sometimes planted on top of burial sites to demarcate their locations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reimagining life and death: Results and interpretation of geophysical and ethnohistorical investigations of earth mounds, Mapoon, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

Pierre¹,

Conyers

Sutton³

et al. 2019

Archaeology in Oceania

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Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic surveys were conducted on 13 earth mounds within Mapoon Aboriginal Lands, western Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Detailed analysis of GPR profiles and amplitude maps of the mounds were compared to those from previously recorded, known burials at the Mapoon Mission Cemetery. Based on these models, burials were identified in ten of the 13 mounds. Both European-style (coffin) and traditional burials were identified, suggesting that they were used for human interment for some time and that there may have been continuity of burial practice in these features after European contact. GPR and magnetics also indicate that a number of mounds had constructed floors or platforms at the base of the mounds, and evidence for burning. Stratigraphic layers identified with GPR show that many of these mounds have complex internal layering, suggesting multiple building episodes. Based on the GPR and magnetics results, in conjunction with ethnohistorical and oral history research, we conclude that the mounds are constructed features that appear to have had a long history of use for multiple purposes, including mortuary. These results demonstrate the cultural continuity of mortuary practices within Mapoon from pre-contact times to the present. RÉSUMÉDes relevés géo-radar ou encore appelés radar de pénétration au sol (GPR) et magnétique ontété effectués sur 13 monticules de terre situés sur les terres autochtones de "Mapoon", dans I'ouest de la péninsule du Cap York, dans le Queensland en Australie. Une analyse détaillée de ceb profils et des cartes d'amplitude des monticules, aété comparéeà celles d'enterrements connus et précédemment enregistrés dans le cimetière de la mission de "Mapoon".À partir de ces relevés, des inhumations ontété trouvées dans dix des 13 monticules. Des sépultures traditionnelles, de style européen (en cercueil) ontété identifiées, suggérant qu'ellesétaient utilisées pour I'enterrement d'humains et qu'il pourrait y avoir eu une continuité de la pratique de I'inhumation après les premiers contacts avec une civilisation européenne. Ces analyses indiquentégalement qu'un certain nombre de monticules avaient des sols ou des plates-formes construitsà leurs bases, ainsi que des traces de brûlures. Les couches stratigraphiques identifiées avec géo-radar montrent que beaucoup de ces monticules présentent une stratification interne complexe, suggérant de multiplesépisodes de construction.À partir de ces résultats, ainsi que de la recherche en histoire ethno-historique et orale, nous concluons que les monticules ont des caractéristiques de construction démontrant une utilisationà des fins multiples, y compris en tant que morgue. Ces résultats démontrent la continuité culturelle des pratiques mortuaires au sein de la mission de "Mapoon" depuis les temps précédant le contact avecu une civilisation européenne et continué de nos iours.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%