Remembering Dick Gould And His Significant Contributions To The Development of Archaeological Theory And Method

This paper provides a retrospective examining the significant contributions of Richard ‘Dick’ Allan Gould (1939-2020) to the development of archaeological theory and method globally, with particular reference to the Australian context. Following the death of Dick in March 2020, a number of colleagues, friends and former students collaborated to produce a tribute to his extensive contributions to our discipline. The breadth of Gould’s archaeological influence is remarkable considering the highly specialised and regional approaches of many archaeologists today. Archaeological areas represented in this overview include Anthropological Archaeology, Ethnoarchaeology, Hunter-Gatherer Studies, Experimental Archaeology, Cultural Resource Management, Disaster Archaeology, and Maritime and Underwater Archaeology. In relation to Australia, Gould pioneered research examining Indigenous colonisation and adaptations related to the desert core during a time period when most archaeologists focused on coastal and riverine regions. He was one of the first archaeologists in Australia to consult Aboriginal communities regarding excavation and associated research involving pre-contact sites. The Anthropology Division of the South Australian Museum provided a base for Gould’s arid-land research in the Warburton Ranges of adjacent Western Australia. In addition, his examination of social complexity among hunter-gatherers in California influenced Graeme Pretty’s research at Roonka on the Lower Murray River of South Australia.