Debitage: letter to editor

I was perplexed to read Peter Thorley's review of Deborah Bird Rose's Dingo Makes Us Human in the December 1993 edition of Australian Archaeology. Having recently read this volume closely since I was reviewing it myself for Anthropological Forum I could not help but wonder whether, in fact, Thorley and I had read the same book. I find the grudging quality of his final recommendation to read the volume especially puzzling. Since most of the issues which he raises are important to archaeological practice in remote Aboriginal communities it seems worthwhile subjecting them to further discussion. Also, I feel it would be a great pity if Thorley's review deterred people from reading what I consider to be one of the most perceptive and powerful ethnographies of an Australian Aboriginal community yet written.