Catalogue of the Roth Collection of Aboriginal artefacts from north Queensland. Volume 4. Items collected from Nassau River, Night Island, Palmer River, Peak Point Electric Telegraph Office, Princess Charlotte Bay, Staaten River, Starcke River, Tinaroo, T
Abstract
[Preface] This is the fourth and final catalogue in this series on the Roth collection of Aboriginal artefacts from Cape York Peninsula, held at the Australian Museum. These catalogues will make it easier for people to gain access to this material which was gathered together over 100 years ago. Information presented here is from both the objects and the 18 Roth Bulletins and Reports published between 1898-1910. Like most 19th and early 20th century writings, the Bulletins are written in a manner that is at times, difficult to understand, and there is no index. Production of these new regional catalogues by the Australian Museum should make the older works easier to understand and use.
The regional catalogues were compiled with the assistance of John Day and Bridget Ohlsson (photo-graphers), and Fiona Duncan, Sara Knuckey, Tania Cleary, Jane Bible and Kelly Bona (cataloguers). Additional photographs have been taken by staff of the Photography Section of the Australian Museum, Ric Bolzan, Carl Bento and Stuart Humphreys. The catalogues were designed by the late Brian Bona of Studio B.
Funding support for the project was provided by both State and Federal Governments. During the 1984 financial year $45,855 was received from the Commonwealth Employment Programme (CEP) towards the cost of employing some of the above people. From 1985 to 1992 the Australian Museum gave $22,100 from its Consolidated Revenue Funds towards this project. The first volume was produced in 1993 as part of the Museum's participation in the International Year of the World's Indigenous People.
Ian Loch of the Malacology Division of the Australian Museum and Philip Colman, previously of the Malacology Division, but now Research Associate of the Australian Museum, kindly checked scientific names of shells mentioned in the Roth Bulletins. Peter Hind of the National Herbarium, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney was most helpful in checking botanical names. Dr Betty Meehan made many helpful suggestions when the project was in the conceptual stage. Geoff Wharton, consultant historian has offered critical advice. Staff of the Australian Museum Library gave invaluable assistance when I was pursuing obscure references.
A special thanks to Drs Jim Specht and Val Attenbrow in the Branch of Anthropology at the Australian Museum who spent long hours over the manuscript and offered many useful comments and constructive criticisms, and to Dr Shane McEvey for his editorial assistance.
