Under the Boards: The Study of Archaeological Site Formation Processes at the Commissariat Store Site, Brisbane Karen Jane Murphy Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Bachelor of Arts with Honours in the School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia. October 2003 Under the boards Declaration This thesis represents original research undertaken for the Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree at the University of Queensland, and was completed during 2002 and 2003. The interpretations presented in this thesis are my own and do not represent the view of any other individual or group. Karen Jane Murphy 31 October 2003 ii Under the boards Table of Contents Title Page ................................................................................................................................i Declaration.............................................................................................................................ii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................iii List of Tables........................................................................................................................vi List of Figures......................................................................................................................vii Abstract.................................................................................................................................ix Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................1 Research Question and Aims ...............................................................................................1 Rationale ................................................................................................................................3 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................4 Research Design....................................................................................................................4 Thesis Outline ........................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................7 Introduction...........................................................................................................................7 The Key Models.....................................................................................................................7 Middle Range Theory.............................................................................................................7 Behavioural Archaeology .......................................................................................................9 Similarities, Differences and Problems.................................................................................12 Methods and Approaches...................................................................................................16 Importance of the Study of Formation Processes .................................................................16 Cultural Formation Processes ...............................................................................................16 Non-cultural Formation Processes........................................................................................20 Identifying Formation Processes...........................................................................................21 The Study of Formation Processes in Historical Archaeological Sites..........................25 Summary..............................................................................................................................27 iii Under the boards CHAPTER 3 HISTORY’S IMPACT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD AT THE COMMISSARIAT STORE......................................................................................28 Introduction.........................................................................................................................28 The Penal System and the Commissariat in Australia ....................................................28 The Establishment and Early Years of Moreton Bay Penal Settlement ........................28 The New Commissariat Store ............................................................................................31 The Commissariat Store in the Free Settlement ..............................................................35 1840s – 1900.........................................................................................................................36 1900s – 2001.........................................................................................................................40 Summary of Archaeological Implications ........................................................................43 CHAPTER 4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION AND DATA ...........................45 Introduction.........................................................................................................................45 Data Issues...........................................................................................................................45 Archaeological Investigation of the Commissariat Store ................................................46 Stratigraphy.........................................................................................................................49 SUI ........................................................................................................................................50 SUII.......................................................................................................................................52 SUIII......................................................................................................................................53 SUIV .....................................................................................................................................53 SUV.......................................................................................................................................54 SUVI .....................................................................................................................................55 SUVII....................................................................................................................................55 Archaeological Features.....................................................................................................55 Bearers and Supporting Pillars..............................................................................................55 Mortar Structure....................................................................................................................56 Old Concrete Floor................................................................................................................56 Flagstones..............................................................................................................................56 Drain......................................................................................................................................56 Artefacts...............................................................................................................................58 Overview...............................................................................................................................60 Artefacts by SU.....................................................................................................................62 Buttons ..................................................................................................................................66 Clay Pipes .............................................................................................................................68 Coins .....................................................................................................................................71 iv Under the boards Weapon-related Artefacts .....................................................................................................72 Bones.....................................................................................................................................72 Summary..............................................................................................................................75 CHAPTER 5 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION..............................................................76 Introduction.........................................................................................................................76 Data Analysis.......................................................................................................................76 Identification of Site Formation Processes .......................................................................77 AU1 –Discard, Loss, Faunalturbation and Floralturbation...................................................77 AU2 – Flooding and Faunalturbation...................................................................................80