Fred McCarthy (archaeologist) facts for kids

Frederick David McCarthy (born August 13, 1905 – died November 18, 1997) was an important Australian expert in how people live and how ancient cultures worked. He was an archaeologist, who studies old things, and an anthropologist, who studies human societies.

He worked at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Later, he became the first leader of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. He was very interested in Australia's ancient history, how museums work, and Aboriginal rock art.

Life and Early Career

Frederick McCarthy was born in 1905 in Petersham, New South Wales. He was one of two identical twin brothers.

When he was just 14 years old in 1920, he started working at the Australian Museum as a clerk in the library. A neighbor who worked at the museum told him about the job. By 1930, he moved to a different department that studied birds and reptiles.

In just 12 years, he became the Curator of Ethnology. This meant he was in charge of the museum's collection of items from different cultures. He held this important job until 1964. Even though he didn't have a university degree at first, he later studied anthropology at the University of Sydney in 1933. He wrote a special paper about the tools and culture of eastern Australia.

In 1940, McCarthy married Elsie Bramell, who also worked at the museum. Elsie had to leave her job at the museum because of a rule that couples could not work in the same department. However, she continued to help Fred with his research trips. Fred and Elsie were the first people in any Australian museum to be professionally trained in anthropology and archaeology.

Outside of work, McCarthy loved sports and going on long walks in nature. He retired in 1971. He was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Australian National University to celebrate his many achievements.

Important Work and Discoveries

During the difficult years of the Great Depression, when money was scarce, McCarthy did something amazing. He organized a team of volunteers and, using his own money and free time, explored many ancient art sites around Sydney. He carefully recorded and sketched the rock art before new buildings and towns covered these important historical places.

He often spent weekends traveling to areas like the Hawkesbury River, Cowan, Berowra, Mangrove Creek, and the Georges River. All his detailed notes and drawings of Sydney's Aboriginal art were later given to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies after he retired.

In 1948, McCarthy was invited to join a big scientific trip called the 1948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land. During this trip, he worked with Margaret McArthur. They did an important study about how much time Aboriginal women spent looking for food in a place called Oenpelli (now Gunbalanya).

In 1958, he received a special grant to study Aboriginal art in northwestern Australia. In 1961, he went to the Cape York Peninsula and studied Aboriginal clan dancing in Aurukun. He carefully described 43 different traditional dancing events in two large books. He also collected many important ornaments used in these dances.

In 1957, he wrote one of the first detailed books about Australian Aboriginal people, called Australia's Aborigines, their life and culture.

Awards

• He received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Australian National University.