Aboriginal Heritage Study: Newcastle Local Government Area Newcastle City Council Report NSW Heritage Incentives Program (HAP 2001 203) 2003012 Australian Museum Business Services 6 College Street, Sydney NSW 2010 Ph (02) 9320 6311, Fax (02) 9320 6428 URL: www.amonline.gov.au/ambs [email protected] 7 December 2005 Report Document Information Date: 07/12/05 8:47 AM Issue: 3 Recipients: Jackie Arnold, Newcastle City Council Copies: 1 Reviewed: Alison Nightingale, Dr Val Attenbrow Approved: Alison Nightingale Printed: 07/12/05 8:47 AM Last Saved By: Meaghan Russell File Name and Path: E:\AMBS-New\CONTRACT\2003-2004\2003012\Reporting\Final Reports\2003012_FINALRpt_Feb05.doc Project Manager: Alison Nightingale Client Name: Newcastle City Council Name of Document: Aboriginal Heritage Study: Newcastle Local Government Area (Report) C:\Data\WORDDATA\SCameron\Aboriginal Heritage\Aboriginal Heritage Study_FINALRpt_07Dec05.doc i NSW Heritage Incentives Program (HAP 2001 203) Report Project Team Senior Project Manager / Archaeologist...................................... Alison Nightingale Project Manager / Archaeologist................................................. Meaghan Russell Project Officer / Archaeologist ................................................... Josh Symons Drafters ...................................................................................... Brendan Ryan ................................................................................................... Gabor Vasarhelyi Report Authors........................................................................... Josh Symons ................................................................................................... Meaghan Russell Review....................................................................................... Alison Nightingale Scientific Review ....................................................................... Dr Val Attenbrow Acknowledgments AMBS wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the following people in this project: Newcastle City Council.............................................................. Jackie Arnold ................................................................................................... Peter Marler (Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee) .................................. Richard McGuiness ................................................................................................... Lillian Eastwood Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council.................................. Ron Gordon Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council ............................... Stephen Talbott ................................................................................................... Kelly Griffiths Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council ..................................... Steve Kilroy ................................................................................................... Len Anderson C:\Data\WORDDATA\SCameron\Aboriginal Heritage\Aboriginal Heritage Study_FINALRpt_07Dec05.doc i NSW Heritage Incentives Program (HAP 2001 203) Report Executive Summary Australian Museum Business Services (AMBS) was commissioned by Newcastle City Council in September 2003 to conduct an Aboriginal Heritage Study for the Newcastle local government area (LGA). The aim of the study was to provide a greater understanding of the Aboriginal heritage of the Newcastle area, and to develop a framework for the strategic conservation and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage. Aboriginal cultural heritage refers to both the material evidence of Aboriginal occupation (archaeological sites), and intangible expressions of Aboriginal culture (social and cultural values). Archaeological evidence of Aboriginal occupation is a finite and irreplaceable resource, providing crucial information on past occupation in Australia and providing a link for modern communities to the past. Intangible expressions of culture link generations of Aboriginal people over time, and can include places of spiritual, traditional, historical or contemporary cultural significance. These locations do not need to contain material evidence. To achieve the aims of the study, a desktop study was undertaken to investigate the archaeological and cultural values of the Newcastle LGA. Research targeted key issues, such as: environmental resources and characteristics; land use history and terrain integrity; and patterning in archaeological site distribution. Social values and cultural significance can only be determined by Aboriginal community members, so involvement of local Aboriginal stakeholders was integral to the study. Prior to AMBS’ commission, Council consulted with local Aboriginal stakeholders to discuss the upcoming study, and its aims, approach and consultation framework. On this basis, a Reference Group was established for the study, with local Aboriginal stakeholders represented by members of the Awabakal, Mindaribba and Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Council’s Guraki Committee. Council also consulted directly with local Aboriginal stakeholders through the Guraki Committee. This consultation process aimed for broader Aboriginal community awareness of the study, to be continued by Council following completion of the AMBS study. The key results and recommendations of the study may be summarised as follows: Environmental Resources and Characteristics: research was undertaken to investigate the environmental resources, characteristics and terrain integrity of the Newcastle LGA, as this information is crucial to the investigation of past Aboriginal land use and the analysis of archaeological site distribution. Research demonstrated that resources influencing Aboriginal occupation of the region – water, stone, flora and fauna – were found throughout all areas of the LGA. Areas where a wide range of available subsistence resources or stone materials occurred, such as the Hunter estuary delta, the Hexham Swamp, the Stockton Bight, and the Black Hill Spur were found to be key locations in Aboriginal occupation of the region. History of Occupation and Landscape Modification: ethnohistorical records from the contact period were reviewed to summarise known information on the Aboriginal people, culture and material traditions of the Newcastle region of that time. This review refines our understanding of the Aboriginal cultural heritage values of the C:\Data\WORDDATA\SCameron\Aboriginal Heritage\Aboriginal Heritage Study_FINALRpt_07Dec05.doc ii NSW Heritage Incentives Program (HAP 2001 203) Report Newcastle LGA, and also indicates the range of materials likely to be identified in surviving/extant archaeological sites. The history of colonial occupation of the region was also reviewed, to identify areas where archaeological materials may have been removed as part of industrial/residential development. This research found that although colonial settlement and land use is widespread in the region, the spatial and stratigraphic impact of that settlement is not adequately understood, and that areas with terrain integrity may be found throughout ‘developed’ landscape areas, including the City Centre. Archaeological Knowledge of the Region: Site Distribution and Composition: previous archaeological investigations conducted throughout the Newcastle LGA were reviewed, to identify recorded patterning in archaeological site distribution and composition. Case studies were identified for detailed review, based on relevance of study area, investigation type and date completed. This review demonstrated that Aboriginal archaeological materials may occur in all landscape contexts within the Newcastle LGA. The density of sites varies between different landscape contexts, with sites more frequently identified in association with wetlands and watercourses within the Newcastle area. However, no landscape area within the Newcastle LGA should be considered archaeologically sterile unless determined so by an archaeological and/or cultural assessment. Analysis of the Newcastle LGA: Landscape Model of Archaeological Sensitivity: analysis of the environmental and archaeological data was used to develop a landscape model of archaeological sensitivity for the Newcastle LGA. This model assesses the probability (low, moderate, high or very high) of archaeological materials occurring within specific landforms and environmental areas. This probability was determined on two primary criteria: known site patterning and terrain integrity. This sensitivity analysis provides a broad assessment of archaeological site distribution within the Newcastle LGA, on which Council can develop strategic conservation and management strategies for Aboriginal heritage. This is an important tool in heritage management, but the need for assessment of archaeological sensitivity to adequately identify individual site sensitivity during the development process is also stressed. Cultural Sensitivity of the Newcastle LGA: places and objects within the landscape have significance to the contemporary Aboriginal community, and only Aboriginal community members can determine aspects of cultural significance. For this study, preliminary consultation was undertaken to discuss the social and cultural values of the Newcastle LGA, and statements made by community members on this issue are incorporated into the management strategy. However, further consultation will be required to address this issue, as no places or issues of significance were documented by the Aboriginal community during this study. This study stresses