Whaling and Sealing in Nineteenth-Century Australia

Abstract

<p>The colonial industries of whaling and sealing dominated the first decades of nineteenth-century Australia. This article considers the archaeology of these maritime industries, particularly Aboriginal employment and labour. Examining both historical and precontact archaeology, we argue that the involvement of Aboriginal men and women was an extension of traditional hunting and ritual engagements. Whales and seals were sought out for food, rituals and other uses, and their harvesting involved both men and women. Although archaeological research into whaling and sealing in Australia has been relatively limited, it will prove a fruitful and revealing area, promising a nuanced understanding of Indigenous agency and colonial maritime expansion.</p>