The Australian Government recognises that provenance research is often the first step in determining the community of origin for an ancestor or object so they can be repatriated to their traditional custodians. When the traditional custodians are known, they may advise on matters concerning access, controls and the publication of all research data. They may also advise on matters relating to any other broader research concerning their ancestor or object.

Provenance research may be coordinated by the Office for the Arts (OFTA) or one of eight Australian museums that are eligible for funding under the Indigenous Repatriation Program—Museum Grants (Museum Grants).

Types of research

The Government supports the use of non-invasive research methods to determine the provenance of ancestors and objects so they may be repatriated to their traditional custodians. Provenance research aims to locate as much information as possible about an ancestor or object, including the circumstances of their removal and journey to a collecting institution or private holder. Provenance research enables communities to understand more about the removal of their ancestors and objects. This information may inform a community's decision making about a proposed repatriation on matters such as who should be involved and any cultural practices and protocols to be undertaken.

OFTA will not provide provenance research to third parties without the free, prior informed consent of the traditional custodians, when known.

  • Free means that consent must be voluntarily given, without coercion, duress or pressure.
  • Prior means that consent must be given before any action is taken.
  • Informed means that all parties have a clear understanding of what is being proposed and its implications.
  • Consent is a process of communication between all parties, resulting in an agreement.

If there are no traditional custodians to speak for the ancestors, OFTA takes the position that no information should be made publically available or published as free prior and informed consent has not been obtained.

Archival

The Government supports archival research to establish the provenance of ancestors and objects. When determining provenance, all available material is reviewed to assist in the identification of the appropriate traditional custodians. This may include reviewing accession records, letters, correspondence, historic and contemporary journal publications and media, exhibition records, drawings, photographs and other relevant documentary information. Once the traditional custodians are identified, they are provided with the archival research. The traditional custodians may then advise on any further research matters, including the access and controls of the information relevant to their ancestor or object.

Consultation

During the provenance research process, OFTA may undertake consultation with different stakeholders to clarify information. OFTA may work with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative bodies, community members and community based researchers to provide specific place based information and community knowledge. State and territory agencies may also be consulted to provide advice to support provenance research and determining the appropriate traditional custodians for consultation. Domestic museums funded under the Museum Grants also take a similar approach to facilitate the return of ancestors and objects held in their care. OFTA and the museums funded under the Museums Grants also work collaboratively to support the consultation process when working with the same communities.

This approach is consistent with the Australian Government's Policy on Indigenous Repatriation (the Policy) which seeks to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are closely involved in all stages of the repatriation process, and that their rights and practices are always respected.

Forensic anthropology / Osteology

To assist with determining the provenance of ancestors, a forensic anthropologist or osteologist may be engaged to undertake non-invasive analysis of an ancestor. Forensic analysis may provide details of specific skeletal elements, pathologies, fractures or traumas and include details such as estimated age and sex. Having an accurate description of the ancestor can assist in linking the ancestor to associated archival records held both overseas and in Australia, which strengthens the provenance for the ancestor.

Ultraviolet (UV) light

UV light analysis provides a non-invasive research method that may reveal provenance information about the ancestor or object. Historically, information about the ancestors and objects may have been written on them, along with associated tags and labels. Over the course of time, such writing can fade (uniformly or in patches) or in some cases, may have be purposefully erased. The use of UV light analysis may show any original writing, identify relevant markings and, in some cases, reveal writing that is completely invisible under natural light. Results from UV light analysis is used in conjunction with the archival research.

Craniometrics

Craniometrics analysis is a non-invasive research method which involves taking a selection of measurements from an ancestor's skull and then comparing the measurements with an existing dataset to determine an ancestor's ancestry. Due to the reliance on comparative analysis and methodology of the approach, the use of craniometrics analysis for determining the provenance of ancestors for repatriation is problematic. The Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation (ACIR) supports the position that the Government will not commission craniometrics analysis or research, due to its limitations and acknowledges it does not take into account social or cultural associations. The Government will not repatriate ancestors to Australia, where provenance claims are based solely on craniometrics analysis.

Invasive testing

The methods used for invasive testing frequently involve the destruction of part of the ancestor or object. The Policy states that invasive physical research, such as the sampling of teeth or DNA analysis, should not be undertaken. For this reason, OFTA does not support the invasive testing of ancestors.
The potential destruction of any part of an ancestor or object, is an issue for the traditional custodians, where known, with the cultural authority to make decisions on those matters. It would therefore be a matter for such custodians to approve and arrange for any form of invasive testing.

DNA analysis

There are two common applications of genetic testing. DNA analysis focuses on taking and testing modern DNA samples from living people and/or the recently deceased, while aDNA (ancient DNA) is the analysis of the genetics of ancestors. DNA analysis or aDNA analysis are potentially useful for identifying affiliations between ancestors, and between ancestors and modern-day community members. However, the analysis is only as good as the reference sample it is compared with and there is currently no Australia wide reference sample available. There has been little work to understand the full impact of its application in the area of determining provenance for the repatriation of ancestors held in collecting institutions or with private holders. The process of acquiring a sample for aDNA analysis requires invasive testing. When custodianship has been transferred to the traditional custodians, they will determine if this is an appropriate form of research to pursue.

Isotopic analysis

Isotopic analysis involves analysing radioactive particles, minerals and chemicals in soils that are either attached to ancestors or are deposited in bones and teeth. Samples are taken and analysed for particular isotopic characteristics, and then compared with the isotopic characteristics of certain places or foods common to specific areas. While this testing may be useful, currently there are often too few comparative samples. In order to provenance ancestors using this method, researchers require a match between the soil on the ancestors, or the ancestors themselves, and the soil at a particular location. This requires thousands of samples for comparison. Isotopic analysis, therefore, has most potential when other information has narrowed down the likely community of origin. The process of isotopic sampling frequently requires invasive testing. When custodianship has been transferred to the traditional custodians, they will determine if this is an appropriate form of research to pursue.

Advice for communities on invasive testing

Once the ancestors and objects have been returned to the custodianship of their community, the traditional custodians may seek to undertake their own research directly with an independent researcher. If traditional custodians are considering the use of scientific testing they should consider all of the issues that may arise before agreeing to take part in any project.

Issues for consideration may include who holds and maintains the data generated, access and controls to that data and how the information may be used in the future for publications and other research projects. Communities should ensure the principles of free, prior informed consent are applied for all stages of the research project.

An overview of some of the concerns about scientific testing on ancestors can be found: Information for communities scientific testing on Indigenous ancestral remains.

Other resources