Victorian Archaeology Colloquium 2014 Indigenous Communities, Academic Researchers, Heritage Managers and Heritage Advisers

This colloquium continues to bring together people involved in different ways with the archaeology of Victoria, including representatives of Victorian Archaeology Colloquium 2014 Indigenous communities, academic researchers, heritage managers and heritage advisers. It is an important time to take stock of where we are and to think about where we are going. We share many common interests and our understanding of the past and practices in the present can only be enhanced by sharing ideas and information. We are grateful to see such an overwhelming response to this initiative and hope it will lead to further interactions in the future. Institute for Advanced Study We are particularly grateful to Shaun Canning and ACHM, our major sponsor, for their generous contribution toward hosting this event, as well La Trobe University as our other sponsors AACAI, Ochre Imprints, Biosis Pty Ltd, AHMS and La Trobe University. Friday, 7 February 2014

David Frankel, Susan Lawrence and Caroline Spry La Trobe University

AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN CULTURAL OF CONSULTING HERITAGE MANAGEMENT ARCHAEOLOGISTS INC

Lunch catering by 12 Ovens (www.12ovens.com.au) PROGRAM

8:30 Registration

9:00–9:30 Welcome to Country

9:30–9:45 Introduction

9:45–10:00 John Tunn Fieldwork at Keilor: a short film

10:00–11:00 Session chair: Ilya Berelov

Ron Arnold, Ilya Berelov, Andy Herries and Matthew Phelan Recent Aboriginal occupation of Victoria’s southwest coast: the Browns Creek Community Archaeology Project

Martin Lawler, Ilya Berelov and Tim Cavanagh Investigation of a Pleistocene river terrace at Birrarrung Park, Lower Templestowe, Victoria

Jim Wheeler, Stacey Kennedy, Alan N. Williams, Phillip Toms and Peter Mitchell A Pleistocene date at Chelsea Heights: evidence of Aboriginal occupation beneath the Carrum Swamp

Racheal Minos Investigations on a terrace at Deep Creek, Bulla

11:00–11:30 Morning break

11:30–12:30 Session chair: Andrea Murphy

Edwina Kay The buildings of Abbotsford Convent: insights into the practice of confinement

Sarah Hayes and Barbara Minchinton The formation of cesspit deposits at Little Lon, Melbourne

– 2 – the importance of documenting the site as an archaeological landscape Alison O’Connor and its protection as a highly significant Aboriginal heritage place. Lonsdale Street, Lt. Lonsdale Street and Alston Lane: initial testing and first stage of historical excavation A Pleistocene date at Chelsea Heights: evidence for Aboriginal Barry Green and Alana Doyle occupation beneath the Carrum Swamp Hiding in plain sight: excavation of a lost pioneer Jim Wheeler, Stacey Kennedy (Archaeological & Heritage Management homestead on Kororoit Creek Solutions (AHMS)), Alan N. Williams (AHMS; The Australian National University), Phillip Toms (University of Gloucestershire) and Peter Sylvana Szydzik and Pamela Ricardi Mitchell (Groundtruth Consulting Pty Ltd) Two households ... in Truganina, where we lay our scene During recent test excavations at Chelsea Heights, a small number of 12:30–1:30 Lunch flaked stone artefacts were recovered from a sand body beneath peat deposits identified as part of Carrum Swamp. The low elevation of the study 1:30–2:30 Session chair: Jessie Birkett-Rees area (<2 m ASL) suggests that the upper peat deposits formed following inundation of the coastline in the early to mid-Holocene (~7–2 ka; Lewis Caroline Spry et al. 2013) and formed a cap over the artefact-bearing sand deposits. Re-evaluating artefact density as a standalone method OSL ages obtained from the sand body indicate that the artefacts were of categorising stone artefact occurrences in Victoria: a deposited between 32±4 ka and 30±3 ka, with burial of the sand by 10±1 case study from Beveridge ka. Due to low lithogenic dose rates, additional modelling of the ages was undertaken and indicates a more conservative age of artefact deposition Josara de Lange at ~25–23 ka, and burial of the sand unit by ~5 ka. Although few artefacts The Victorian Digital Archaeological Data Archive: an were recovered from the site and the scope of investigation limited by the annual update size of the study area, the results lend support to the previous findings at Bend Road (Hewitt & Allen 2010), and suggest that sealed archaeological Jillian Garvey deposits exist on specific landforms beneath the Carrum Swamp peats. Investigating Late Quaternary human occupation of The results also suggest the archaeological deposits underneath the semi-arid northwest Victoria: preliminary survey and swamp potentially pre-date the Last Glacial Maximum. excavation at Neds Corner Station and Murray-Sunset Our paper will discuss a number of possible geomorphic explanations of National Park the sedimentary sequence found at Chelsea Heights and the important Alex Blackwood, Emily Dillon, Chris Silvester, David Clark, Jeffrey questions they raise about the conventional view of the geomorphic Clarke, Maurizio Campanelli, Anthony Dall’Oste, Ada Dinckal, Sara history of the Carrum Swamp and current approaches to archaeological Lombardo, Anthony Romano, Adam Valka and Jillian Garvey investigation and assessment of sites within the former Carrum Swamp system. Identifying Aboriginal hearths in Late Quaternary northwest Victoria: cultural vs natural accumulations of References burnt clay and the implications for understanding the Lewis, S. E., Sloss, C. R., Murray-Wallace, C. V., Woodroffe, C. D. and Smithers, archaeological record S. G. 2013. Post-glacial sea-level change around the Australian margin: a review. Quaternary Science Reviews 74: 115–138. Ben Watson, Paul Kucera and Darren Perry Hewitt, G. and Allen, J. 2010. Site disturbance and archaeological integrity: the Wallpolla 3: documenting a complex archaeological case of Bend Road, an open site in Melbourne spanning pre-LGM Pleistocene landscape in the Murray River Corridor, northwestern to Late Holocene periods. Australian Archaeology 70: 1–16. Victoria

– 14 – – 3 – 2:30–3:00 Afternoon break Pty Ltd who employed similar excavation methodologies for both sites. Despite being structurally similar and located within close proximity to 3:00–4:00 Session chair: Shaun Canning each other, analyses of the artefact assemblages reveal that the two Darren Griffin and Ben Watson rural households were in fact quite different. Where residents at one house enjoyed a drink (or three) and smoking a pipe, residents at the Sisters Rocks: changing connections to a sacred place other appear to have preferred a more restrained lifestyle. This paper Adam Magennis will discuss some of the key findings resulting from the two excavations. Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Fieldwork at Keilor: a short film

David Rhodes John Tunn (Ironbark Heritage & Environment) Landscape analysis in archaeology: interpretation of The rich Aboriginal archaeological record identified along the Aboriginal campsites at ‘Greenhills’, Pakenham Maribyrnong River Valley holds a significant place in the history and maturation of Australian archaeology. The location played a prominent Thea Kinsela, Maddy Maitri and Susan Lawrence role in developing a professional and public understanding regarding the La Trobe University’s Young Archaeologists’ Program antiquity of Aboriginal Australia. Indeed some of the very early applications of radiocarbon dating were undertaken using samples recovered from the Jamin Moon valley’s alluvial sedimentary units and much has been published regarding A brief comparison of Indigenous cultural heritage the many decades of fieldwork undertaken there by a range of players. legislation – or – It’s not that bad here in Victoria ... no, Today I present rare footage of archaeological fieldwork undertaken at really ... Green Gully (current day Brimbank Park) by Dermott Casey, Prof. John Mulvaney and Prof. Richard Wright, and was shot by the Museum of Victoria in September 1966. This now historic footage represents one of the first real multi-disciplinary archaeological studies undertaken in what remains one of Victoria’s most significant cultural landscapes. Although the fieldwork involved the recovery of Aboriginal skeletal remains, none are shown in the footage.

Wallpolla 3: documenting a complex archaeological landscape in the Murray River Corridor, northwestern Victoria Ben Watson, Paul Kucera (Dr. Vincent Clark & Associates Pty Ltd) and Darren Perry (Ngintait People) This paper presents results of fieldwork carried out across a remnant Pleistocene alluvial terrace adjacent to Wallpolla Creek in northwestern Victoria. Intensive survey of linear corridors revealed evidence for intensive Aboriginal land-use and occupation across an area of over 150 hectares, including burial complexes, lithic artefact scatters, hearths, freshwater mussel shell deposits and other remains. The relationship between recorded features and the condition of the palaeoterrace is discussed in relation to

– 4 – – 13 – Landscape analysis in archaeology: interpretation of Aboriginal ABSTRACTS campsites at ‘Greenhills’, Pakenham David Rhodes (Heritage Insight Pty Ltd) Recent Aboriginal occupation of Victoria’s southwest coast: the Browns Creek Community Archaeology Project The property known as ‘Greenhills’ Pakenham South is situated on a prominent hill formed on Devonian Granite. Analyses of landscapes and Ron Arnold (Gadubanud and Gulidjan Traditional Owner Group), Ilya soils defined a laterite plateau on the crest of the hill, coarse sandy soils Berelov (Biosis Pty Ltd), Andy Herries (La Trobe University) and Matthew on the lower hillslopes and parts of the floodplain and paludal deposits Phelan (Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria) on the floodplain. Vertical groundwater penetration of the hill is restricted The Browns Creek Community Archaeology Project (BCCAP) is a by an impermeable laterite or clay layer forcing groundwater to drain to research and training project initiated and driven by Aboriginal traditional the slopes where natural soaks have formed. An archaeological salvage owners focusing on an extensive midden site in Victoria’s southwest. of two large Aboriginal sites defined distinct spatial clusters of artefacts Project partners are Gadubanud and Gulidjan Traditional Owner on the upper and lower slopes of the hill that are associated with the Group, Kuuyang Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Eastern Maar Aboriginal groundwater soaks. Specific activity areas within the artefact clusters Corporation, Biosis Pty Ltd, La Trobe University, Otway Coast Care were defined and excavated by hand during the salvage. Ongoing Committee and the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. artefact analysis suggests that these clusters are associated with specific The Browns Creek Shell Midden is an intact, stratified archaeological deposit activity areas. located near Apollo Bay containing a broad range of faunal and artefactual material including hearth deposits. The traditional owners initiated the Re-evaluating artefact density as a standalone method of project in order to explore the research potential of the site and further categorising stone artefact occurrences in Victoria: a case study enhance the understanding of the Aboriginal cultural values of the place in from Beveridge a regional context. The exploratory recording and excavation program, led by Biosis Pty Ltd and La Trobe University, commenced in 2013. Caroline Spry (Ochre Imprints) Preliminary findings from the field campaigns have indicated a When recording and registering stone artefact occurrences in Victoria, continuous occupational sequence spanning some 1,000 years up artefact density is used to categorise these archaeological traces as low to the contact period. The fieldwork yielded important information on density artefact distributions or artefact scatters. However, the results of subsistence strategies through time as well as opportunities for training a recent salvage project in Beveridge suggest that these categorisations in archaeological field methods for both traditional owners and La Trobe are behaviourally uninformative unless additional information is also University students. This included opportunities to apply archaeomagnetic considered, including the presence of analytical nodules and refits. This methods in coastal Victorian sites, and encouraging future collaborative information can be used, for example, to establish whether a high density research projects on Victoria’s diminishing coastal archaeology. artefact scatter is the product of a single, more intensive knapping episode, a number of less intensive knapping episodes, or other scenarios. This paper presents results from the first two phases of the research program.

Two households … in Truganina, where we lay our scene Identifying Aboriginal hearths in Late Quaternary northwest Victoria: Sylvana Szydzik and Pamela Ricardi (Ecology & Heritage Partners) cultural vs natural accumulations of burnt clay and the implications Two late-nineteenth to early-twentieth century rural household sites were for understanding the archaeological record excavated in Truganina between 2013 and 2014. Both sites comprised Alex Blackwood, Emily Dillon, Chris Silvester, David Clark, Jeffrey Clarke, bluestone ruins and were located on Leakes Road and Boundary Road, Maurizio Campanelli, Anthony Dall’Oste, Ada Dinckal, Sara Lombardo, Truganina. They were excavated by Ecology and Heritage Partners Anthony Romano, Adam Valka and Jillian Garvey (La Trobe University)

– 12 – – 5 – The Late Quaternary cultural record of northwest Victoria consists of one, with a particular focus on the area from which the C14 date was a rich and diverse archaeological assemblage providing evidence for acquired. human occupation from the Last Glacial Maximum to the present. These sites are distributed across several geomorphic land systems and include A brief comparison of Indigenous cultural heritage legislation – or – ancestral burials, stone artefacts, scarred trees, oven mounds, shell It’s not that bad here in Victoria ... no, really ... middens, isolated heat-retainers and hearths. Recent archaeological surveys at Neds Corner Station, as part of an ongoing ARC research Jamin Moon (Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria) project, identified two types of regionally distinct cultural heat retainers: There is a litany of criticisms, legitimate and otherwise, about Victoria’s burnt carbonate nodules and baked clay balls. These were recorded Aboriginal heritage law, as there is about similar laws around the country in a variety of forms from isolated heat-retainers to well preserved in and internationally. This paper presents a very brief outline of some of situ hearth features, and highlighted the ambiguity associated with those criticisms and some evidence supporting them and debunking distinguishing between anthropogenic burnt clay (hearths) versus naturally burnt sediment (lightning strike and bushfire). This uncertainty them. By using deconstructive methodology to break legislation into directly impacted the identification of Aboriginal heat-retainer hearths, discrete elements, the paper then presents some preliminary research especially in the absence of associated cultural material. results which qualitatively and quantitatively compare the trajectory of Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation over time in Australia. From this, To address this issue, preliminary clay ball and carbonate firing experiments we will see how the law here in Victoria compares to other Australian were conducted using a variety of materials to replicate the techniques jurisdictions. The paper concludes by stating that while the situation in used in the construction of hearths; thus helping to distinguish between Victoria isn’t as bad as other jurisdictions, there are multiple angles and Aboriginal heat-retainer hearths, and naturally forming ‘pseudo-hearths’. opportunities for improvement. The actualistic experiments were also aimed at exploring the wide variety of isolated burnt clay ‘balls’ that dominate the local landscape. While further investigation is required, these experiments provide a modern Lonsdale Street, Lt. Lonsdale Street and Alston Lane: initial testing baseline to which the archaeological record can be compared, and have and first stage of historical excavation important implications for research and cultural heritage management in Alison O’Connor (Andrew Long & Associates) the region. Preliminary historical research indicated that there existed good potential for archaeological remains of mid-nineteenth century terrace houses, Investigating Late Quaternary human occupation of semi-arid beneath the concrete slab of an industrial complex dating from the early northwest Victoria: preliminary survey and excavation at Neds twentieth century. Close correlation between historical mapping and Corner Station and Murray-Sunset National Park GIS predictions of site parameters resulted in highly accurate testing, Jillian Garvey (La Trobe University) revealing the locations of well-preserved archaeological remains The paper presents the results from the first field season of an ARC immediately below the overlying concrete slab. Guided by the indications research project focusing on human occupation and use of the landscape of testing, an expanded archaeological programme was undertaken. in semi-arid northwest Victoria. Based at Neds Corner Station and the The excavation revealed a rich site replete with preserved architectural adjacent Murray-Sunset National Park, it is investigating the spatial features and a very abundant artefact collection, largely provenanced and temporal distribution of cultural sites and material across several from substantial and intact cesspits. The distinctive artefactual evidence land systems spanning the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the present. has to date provided a unique window into the varied lifestyles among Detailed foot surveys of three different areas on Neds Corner Station residents of early Melbourne. Further investigation is imminent at this recorded more than 400 stone tools, scarred trees, shell middens and site. This presentation will outline the results of the initial phase of testing hearths. This survey was followed by an excavation of a shell midden and the first stage of excavation.

– 6 – – 11 – eight metres in depth. To manage potential cultural heritage which may from the Neds Corner Land System (thought to have been active during be affected by its planned restitution program, the City of Manningham the last LGM). Analysis of the shellfish from the midden was compared commissioned a CHMP for the works. One concern was the possibility to the results of a nutritional analysis of the modern Murray River that deeply buried archaeological deposits might occur within the terrace mussel Alathyria jacksoni to determine the potential dietary return in the sediments which would be impacted by the works. archaeological assemblage. Detailed analysis of this material provides Investigation, which included OSL dating, has shown that this portion important information on human subsistence strategies during the Late of the river terrace was formed during the latter part of the previous Quaternary. interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5), from 105±8.4 to 81.2±1.6 thousand years ago. The sediments were laid down during two warmer accretionary Hiding in plain sight: excavation of a lost pioneer homestead on stages (MIS5c and MIS5a), separated by a colder transgressive phase, Kororoit Creek MIS5b. Because the Pleistocene terrace was formed before any known human occupation in Australia, there is no likelihood that any deeply Barry Green and Alana Doyle (Green Heritage) buried archaeological deposits would occur within the terrace sediments. In mid-2013 Green Heritage Compliance and Research was engaged by Beyond the immediate requirements of the CHMP, the study contributes Melton City Council to conduct archaeological investigations of the Drovers to our understanding of the river’s Pleistocene development. This paper Hut site on Kororoit Creek in advance of a road development. This paper discusses the techniques used for the investigation. presents the preliminary results of these investigations. The Drovers Hut had initially been recorded in 1991 based on surface features and documentary evidence; however the site had not been excavated. Open Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management at the Mornington area excavation carried out by Green Heritage revealed the presence of Peninsula Shire a single-roomed ad hoc structure, built inside the footprint of an earlier Adam Magennis (Mornington Peninsula Shire) and more substantial, two-roomed bluestone structure. As the excavation progressed it became clear that the later structure was a mid-nineteenth Discussion paper about Local Government Cultural Heritage Management Plans, Cultural Heritage compliance and Cultural Heritage protection century hut later used as an agricultural shed, continuing in use up to the conducted by Local Government Cultural Heritage Advisor at Mornington 1930s. The earlier structure revealed itself to be domestic rather than Peninsula Shire. agricultural in nature, and based on form, function and location, likely to be an early pastoral homestead. Subsequent historical research strongly indicates that it is the 1841 Chain of Ponds homestead of James Sceales Investigations on a terrace at Deep Creek, Bulla and family. Racheal Minos (Dr. Vincent Clarke & Associates Pty Ltd) Until recently there had been little archaeological investigation within the Sisters Rocks: changing connections to a sacred place area around Bulla despite investigations in the wider Maribyrnong region Darren Griffin (Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation) and demonstrating this to be a highly significant region for understanding Ben Watson (Dr. Vincent Clark & Associates Pty Ltd) Australian prehistory. Excavations were conducted in 2012–2013 at Bulla. The excavations were located on a large terrace bordered to the In the Dreamtime, Bunjil created Sisters Rocks and his wives imbued west by Deep Creek, which is a part of the extensive Maribyrnong River meaning into the place by marking them and naming them. This tradition system. During the investigation a diverse range of material culture in a has continued unbroken until today, with modern graffiti still marking and variety of raw materials were identified. The work also yielded a secure naming the rocks. Does the transformation of connection by different radiocarbon date that reflects the longevity of Aboriginal occupation in agents through time change the reverence of this space or are the the Bulla area. This presentation will discuss the chronology of Bulla changing cultural connections to this place what make it sacred?

– 10 – – 7 – The formation of cesspit deposits at Little Lon, Melbourne Driven by a team of passionate archaeologists and teachers, the Young Archaeologists’ Program is an exciting new initiative offering educational Sarah Hayes and Barbara Minchinton (La Trobe University) excursions and incursions during school terms, as well as fun holiday The history of waste management in Melbourne is critical to understanding activities. All our school activities are linked directly to the Australian the depositional processes which filled the cesspits in Little Lon and Curriculum History and Humanities curricula, and our inquiry-learning also other sites in the city. This is a necessary precursor to associating approach allows students to learn about archaeology and history through cesspit deposits with house lots and people to enable the interpretation practical activities. of material culture. This paper will examine cesspits on twelve house lots Our current program includes Australian historical archaeology activities at Little Lon within the context of Melbourne’s waste management history and an “Introduction to Archaeology” workshop designed to introduce including patterns of cesspit construction and the move to nightpan senior students to basic archaeological practices and terminology. We are collection prior to the introduction of an underground sewerage system working in conjunction with the Education Faculty and the La Trobe Award in the late 1890s. Cesspits have great potential for analysis, but we must to provide undergraduate students with opportunities to gain practical be careful to ensure that the ownership of artefacts recovered from any experience that utilises their skills. Next year, we will be introducing WWI cesspit is properly attributed. This paper argues that the twelve selected and Ancient Australia units, and will expand the program to include a cesspit sites represent varying phases, depositional patterns and sources series of archaeology activities with links to the Science curriculum. because of the different processes associated with their closure, and in these circumstances valuable insights can be gained from combining the archaeological findings with the documentary history. The Victorian Digital Archaeological Data Archive: an annual update Josara de Lange (Andrew Long & Associates) The buildings of Abbotsford Convent: insights into the practice of The Victorian Digital Archaeological Data Archive (DADA) is an industry- confinement driven initiative to crowd-source standardised digital archaeological data and Edwina Kay (La Trobe University) make them available online. Since its inception at the Victorian Archaeology Colloquium in 2012, it has piqued the interest of a number of heritage The Convent of the Good Shepherd in Abbotsford was much more than organisations and is currently being developed through workshops with simply a place for nuns to reside. The substantial complex of convent representatives of the Federated Archaeological Information Management buildings was started by four Irish Sisters in 1863. The Sisters of the Systems project, with support by the heritage team at the Office of Aboriginal Good Shepherd operated a Magdalen Asylum, an Industrial School, Affairs Victoria. This paper provides an update on its development. a Reformatory, and a day school at their convent on the banks of the Yarra River. Thousands of women and girls lived and worked at this site in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, some on a voluntary basis, Investigation of a Pleistocene river terrace at Birrarrung Park, Lower however many had no choice in their confinement behind the convent Templestowe, Victoria walls. The buildings at Abbotsford Convent are the basis of this PhD Martin Lawler, Ilya Berelov and Tim Cavanagh (Biosis Pty Ltd) research investigating the role of institutional confinement in society. Birrarrung Park in Lower Templestowe occupies an alluvial floodplain These buildings are also being compared to Good Shepherd convents in within a great bend of the Yarra River, at its confluence with the Plenty Ireland, to explore differences in the responses to the social problem of River. The terrace deposits at this location have not been previously ‘fallen’ women and ‘neglected’ children in these two countries. dated but are believed to comprise one or more Holocene terraces with earlier Pleistocene terraces, overlying Tertiary gravels and clays. La Trobe University’s Young Archaeologists’ Program Severe erosion at the mouth of an outfall drain at the eastern side of the Thea Kinsela, Maddy Maitri and Susan Lawrence (La Trobe University) Park has created a large chasm through the terrace deposits, more than

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