SCIENCE REPORTER FOR A DAY
ANCIENT TIMES Les Bursill OAM is a Dharawal (Aboriginal Australian) historian, archaeologist, anthropologist and author. He was interviewed by Catherine (Cat) Beehag, Manager of Science Communication and the Australian Museum Science Festival. CAT: You’ve discovered over 300 archaeological sites in the Sutherland Shire in Sydney. What is your favourite site and why? LES: I guess the discovery of the Wagilag Sisters Dreaming is my favourite engraving site, followed by the Hooked Boomer and Kangaroo Dreaming. I also truly love the Red Fish cave site with its Fish Dreaming and the child’s hand stencils.
I like them because these sites are part of my dream line. I am Dharawal, as were all my forebears. These sites are my people’s history. CAT: Where did you study hunter-gatherer and Dharawal culture and language? LES: I only work on Dharawal sites in southern Sydney. I did a degree majoring in Prehistory at the University of New England. My second major was Ancient History. Then I completed a Masters degree on Dharawal living sites – it was original research. CAT: You have had many careers in your life so what advice would you give to a young student just leaving school? LES: Set up a good portable superannuation scheme, keep up to date with technology, and don’t let yourself become too narrow in any one field. Don’t ever work at a job you don’t enjoy. Don’t sit around – get out and find an active hobby that you can turn into a career if the need arises.
Photo courtesy Les Bursill.
THIS EDITION OF XPLORER COMPILED BY DEREK WALKER, CHARLOTTE GALLEGUILLOS, SHENALI BOANGE & TIM MALL
BUSH CALENDAR
Murray Co
d
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Photo by
euca, k tree, Melal the paperbar of rk ba e the th ople used e and soften Aboriginal pe would prepar ey Th . st the oi in m d keep it wrap the fish to cook fish an 3 days, then or 2 r fo h. er rt it with ea ing it in wat en and cover bark by soak in a ground ov it e ac pl eating. r k, fo ar wet paperb h was ready as dry, the fis w k ar rb pe When the pa
FUN FACT
For Aboriginal people, the Sydney Golden Wattle, Acacia longifolia, was both a bush calendar and a fishing aid. It is said that when the wattle blooms (June to October), it’s time to go fishing for mullet. The fisher would drop flowers onto the water surface and the fish would swim up and eat them. The flowers would bloat the fish, causing them to float so they could be readily scooped up.
Mark McG
routher
Photo © Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust.
