Hundreds of bones stolen during the 1948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition were returned after a standoff between indigenous tribespeople and the Smithsonian.
Synopsis
Hundreds of bones stolen during the 1948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition were returned after a standoff between indigenous tribespeople and the Smithsonian.
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In Arnhem Land, elders learned in the late 1990s that hundreds of sacred bones, taken during the 1948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition, were housed at the Smithsonian Institution. The documentary Etched in Bone details the ensuing conflict between indigenous tribespeople and the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian over the repatriation of these artefacts. Director Béatrice Bijon uses original footage from National Geographic to illustrate the tensions surrounding this significant cultural dispute.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- See the impact of colonialism on indigenous Australians.
- Find out about the 1948 bone theft expedition.
- Meet the Arnhem elders fighting for repatriation.
Did You Know
- Hundreds of bones were stolen during the 1948 expedition.
- The bones were deposited in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.
- Indigenous elders learned about the theft in the late 1990s.
- The repatriation call led to a standoff with the Smithsonian's Department of Anthropology.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What year did the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land take place?
The expedition took place in 1948.
How many bones were stolen during the 1948 expedition?
Hundreds of bones were stolen and deposited in the Smithsonian Institution.
When did Arnhem elders become aware of the bone theft?
Arnhem elders became aware of the theft in the late 1990s.
What are people saying?
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