Abstract
The rise of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) studies has opened up new
possibilities for studying pre-historic ecology. The use of sediments to
identify organisms even where macroscopic remains are limited or no
longer exist is an exciting and potentially ground-breaking area of
genomics. There are special considerations however when managing this
substrate in Indigenous Australian contexts. Sediments and soils are
often considered as waste by-products during archaeological and
paleontological excavations, and as such are not typically considered of
high value in ethical considerations in traditional western research.
Nevertheless, the product of sedaDNA work – genetic information from
past fauna, flora, microbial communities, and human ancestors – is
likely to be of cultural value for Indigenous peoples. We argue that the
integration of Traditional Knowledges into sedaDNA research would a)
allow identification of sensitive, secret, or sacred genomic data, and
b) improve research outcomes by providing ecological context for species
through multi-millennia oral histories.