Gweagal shield
The Gweagal shield is made from wooden tree bark, is oval-shaped, and stands about 1m tall dating to the 18th century. It originates from New South Wales and has for many years been on display in the British Museum.
The shield became one of many objects at the British Museum subject to controversy owing to its place in the decolonization debate, which includes the subject of cultural repatriation of artifacts. Academics from England and Australia have argued that since this shield was taken during an invasion encounter,[1] the shield should be repatriated by allowing it to return to its native land.[2][3][4] To date, British Museum has denied requests for its repatriation.[5]
History
Accession
The shield is thought to have been recovered by James Cook on his voyage on the Endeavour to discover Oceania.[2] There is documentation that on the morning of April 29, 1770, one of Cook's ships arrived at Botany Bay, near Sydney, in what is now New South Wales,[2] and smaller long boats appeared which landed on the beach, as members of the Gweagal tribe hid behind the tree line.[4] In an attempt to show that the new ship was not welcome on this bay, two warriors began to throw spears.[4] In response, and with Cook as British Navy Officer in command, musket shots were fired at the inhabitants.[4] One Gweagal tribe member, Cooman, was shot in the leg.[6] It is commented by historian Marc Fennell in conversation with Rodney Kelley that death was likely for the person shot.[4] Research suggests the shield was collected by Cook's party. They remained in the bay for eight days before leaving to travel North.[4]
There is also evidence that the shield at the British Museum is not the one taken during this event. Information is lacking around the provenance and accession of the work.[7] Only a short label from the 19th century with 'CAP:COOK' indicates any ownership history in records.[2] In 1978, the shield was found in the museum storage then given a registration and "Q number."[1]
Origin
There is debate as to the origin of the shield. While many believe the shield came from the Gweagal tribe, others believe the material and the position of the handle suggests otherwise.[8] A study by Maria Nugent (Australian National University) and Gaye Sculthorpe (curator in the Department of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas in the British Museum) indicates there are two main distinguishing factors that place the shield's origin elsewhere. Nicholas Thomas writes that when compared to Miller's drawing in Joseph Bank's collection, the handle is not in the same place as other Gweagal tribe shields.[8][2] Art historian Alice Procter is skeptical as to the weight of this conclusion based on the drawing.[2] Instead the more powerful point is on the composition of the shield.
The investigation of the shield also came at a time when Rodney Kelly pinpointed the shield as his ancestors. Some question the timing of these new investigations by Thomas, Nugent and Sculthorpe.[2]
Damage
There is also debate around the small circle-shaped hole in the shield.[9] The British Museum has stated that upon diagnostic scanning using variable pressure scanning via an electron microscope (VP-SEM), their scientists confirmed the shield is red mangrove wood (Rhizophora stylosa). These radiographic images suggest that the small hole near the center is a result of damage due to the ragged edges rather than any natural knotting in the wood falling out.[10][11]
Rodney Kelley, a sixth-generation descendant of the shot warrior Cooman, believes the hole came from musket fire by Cook's men.[4] This is based on testimony from diary accounts from those present, like that of Beaglehole, and oral histories held and passed down by Gweagal elders.[12][13]
So far, there is no conclusive answer to this question. Members of the British Army who have experience firing the type of muskets used in the colonial era and by Cook's men state that the damage is not conducive with the type of damage normally done by these weapons.[4]
References
- ^ a b "shield | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Procter, Alice (2020). The Whole Picture. Cassell. p. 138.
- ^ Keenan, Sarah (11 November 2016). "Give back the Gweagal shield". Critical Legal Thinking. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Shots Fired". ABC Radio National. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ "Murray, Alexander Stuart, (8 Jan. 1841–5 March 1904), Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, from 1886", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, retrieved 1 May 2021
- ^ Keenan, Sarah (2018). 'How the British Museum Changed its Story About the Gweagal Shield'. Australian Critical Race and Whiteness Studies Association.
- ^ Thomas, Nicholas (February 2018). "A Case of Identity:The Artefacts of 1770 Kamay (Botany Bay) Encounter". Australian Historical Studies: 49:1.
- ^ a b Nugent & Sculthorpe (February 2018). "A Shield Loaded with History: Encounters, Objects, and Exhibitions". Australian Historical Studies. 49:1: 39.
- ^ "shield | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ Attenbrow & Cartwright 2014, An Aboriginal shield collected in 1770 at Kamay Botany Bay
- ^ MacGregor 2010, A History of the World in 100 Objects (89)
- ^ Beaglehole, J.C. (ed.) 1955. The Journals of Captain Cook: The Voyage of the Endeavour, 1768-1771. Cambridge: For the Hakluyt Society at the University Press (entry for April 29th, 1770).
- ^ Beaglehole, J.C. (ed.) 1963. The Endeavour Journal of Joseph Banks, 1768-1771, Volume II. Sydney, London: Angus & Robertson (from page 54, from page 133).