SECTION 87/90 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE IMPACT PERMIT #1098622 EXCAVATION REPORT FOR SBA ARCHITECTS PTY LTD A piece of Nobby’s Tuff manuport recovered from a sand dune deposit dated between 3,500 and 2,480 years BP. Final Report 13 May 2011 684 Hunter Street, Newcastle - Section 87/90 #1098622 AHIP Excavation Report “This page has been intentionally left blank” Archaeological & Heritage Management Solutions Pty Ltd May 2011 2 684 Hunter Street, Newcastle - Section 87/90 #1098622 AHIP Excavation Report CONTENTS 1. Introduction ............................................................................................ 15 1.1 Rational, Scope and Objectives .............................................................. 15 1.2 Study Area....................................................................................... 16 1.3 Report Structure ................................................................................ 16 1.4 Authorship........................................................................................ 14 1.5 Acknowledgements ............................................................................. 14 2. Project Description ................................................................................... 15 2.1 Background....................................................................................... 15 2.2 Proposed Development......................................................................... 18 3. Aboriginal stakeholder Consultation ............................................................... 25 4. Excavation Methodology.............................................................................. 27 4.1 Research Aims ................................................................................... 27 4.2 Excavation Methods ............................................................................ 28 4.2.1 Modifications ................................................................................. 29 5. Excavation Results .................................................................................... 37 5.1 General ........................................................................................... 37 5.2 Geomorphology.................................................................................. 56 5.3 Dating............................................................................................. 70 5.3.1 Radiocarbon Samples........................................................................ 70 5.3.2 OSL Samples .................................................................................. 75 5.3.3 Interpretation ................................................................................ 80 5.4 Lithic Analysis ................................................................................... 81 5.4.1 General ........................................................................................ 81 5.4.2 Assemblage Through Time.................................................................. 85 5.4.3 Post Depositional Issues..................................................................... 91 5.5 Summary ......................................................................................... 91 6. Significance Assessment.............................................................................. 95 6.1 Basis for Assessment............................................................................ 95 6.2 Cultural Significance ........................................................................... 95 6.3 Scientific Significance.......................................................................... 99 6.4 Summary ....................................................................................... 101 7. Conclusion & Management Strategy .............................................................. 102 7.1 Recommendations ............................................................................ 103 8. References............................................................................................ 106 Archaeological & Heritage Management Solutions Pty Ltd May 2011 3 684 Hunter Street, Newcastle - Section 87/90 #1098622 AHIP Excavation Report LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. General location of the study area........................................................... 11 Figure 2. Detailed location of the study area.. ........................................................ 12 Figure 3. The study area at time of excavation, looking south. .................................... 13 Figure 4. The study area at time of excavation, looking northeast. ............................... 13 Figure 5. Map showing the location of AHMS previous excavations at ACCOR Ibis Hotel and Riverwalk in relation to the study area.................................................... 17 Figure 6. Proposed development design showing the restaurant structure facing Hunter Street, with car parking to the rear. ................................................................ 20 Figure 7. Map showing the proposed stormwater systems and water runoff of the proposed development.. ................................................................................. 21 Figure 8. Map showing the location of proposed fill and piers for the restaurant structure.. 22 Figure 9. Map of proposed impacts to the study area, including fill, stormwater drains and retention and sand filter box and piers. .................................................. 23 Figure 10. Map showing the proposed open areas locations proposed as part of the original research design. ............................................................................... 31 Figure 11. Example of collapsed trench section, a frequent occurrence due to the sandy nature of the soil profile. .................................................................... 32 Figure 12. Example of collapsed trench section, a frequent occurrence due to the sandy nature of the soil profile. .................................................................... 32 Figure 13. Map showing the location of the original research design open area excavations, the location of a 20th Century wall and its impact upon these areas, and the proposed alternative open area that were approved under a methodology amendment to the AHIP...................................................................... 33 Figure 14. One of the large concrete footings partially excavated and located within the proposed Area 2 open area. ................................................................. 34 Figure 15.Discussions with some of the registered Aboriginal stakeholder on site. ............. 34 Figure 16. A historic post hole located in the general vicinity of B and C 15, looking southwest....................................................................................... 35 Figure 17. General location of the 16 x 3 m salvage open area in relation to the proposed development and other geographical features.. ......................................... 41 Figure 18. Map showing the location of each test pit in the wider open area excavation...... 42 Figure 19. The final 16 x 3 m open area excavation, looking northeast.. ......................... 43 Figure 20. The final 16 x 3 m open area excavation, looking south. ............................... 43 Figure 21. Test pits showing start and end levels in metres AHD................................... 44 Figure 22. Test pits showing the number of spits recovered and the depth dug (in cm). ...... 45 Figure 23. Spit correlations for A1 – 16 based on AHD heights taken during the excavations. 46 Figure 24. Spit correlations for B1 – 16 based on AHD heights taken during the excavations. 47 Figure 25. Spit correlations for C1 – 16 based on AHD heights taken during the excavations. 48 Figure 26. Stratigraphic correlations for A1 – 16 based on AHD heights taken during the excavations..................................................................................... 49 Archaeological & Heritage Management Solutions Pty Ltd May 2011 4 684 Hunter Street, Newcastle - Section 87/90 #1098622 AHIP Excavation Report Figure 27. Stratigraphic correlations for B1 – 16 based on AHD heights taken during the excavations..................................................................................... 50 Figure 28. Stratigraphic correlations for C1 – 16 based on AHD heights taken during the excavations..................................................................................... 51 Figure 29. Initial excavations in test pits B1 (foreground), B2, B3 and B5, looking northeast..52 Figure 30. Photograph following the completion of B1- 8, looking southwest.................... 52 Figure 31.Excavations of A1-9 and C1-9, looking north............................................... 53 Figure 32. Excavations were changed for A/B/C 9 – 16 to minimise trench collapse............ 53 Figure 33. Excavations were changed for A/B/C 9 – 16 to minimise trench collapse............ 54 Figure 34. Test pit B6 (1 – 2 m below surface), looking east. ....................................... 55 Figure 35. Location of the study area on Hunter Street in relation to the made ground from the railway to the coast and the approximate 19th Century location of Cottage Creek and Honeysuckle Point................................................................ 57 Figure 36. Photographs of the soil profile across A/B/C 1-8......................................... 62 Figure 37. Photographs of the soil profile through A/B/C 9 -16. ..................................