George Grey’s whalers Part 1: Report on Kalbarri Site Inspection,16 October 2005 Part 2: Report on the Site Survey and Excavation 23–27 January 2006 Picture of one of Grey’s Whalers on the beach taken from Grey’s Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in Northwest and Western Australia, During the Years 1837, 38 and 39 Edited by Jennifer Rodrigues Report—Department of Maritime Archaeology Western Australian Museum, No. 210 2006 © Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum Table of Contents List of Figures iii List of Tables iv PART 1: Report on Kalbarri Site Inspection,16 October 2005 1 Acknowledgements 2 Abstract 2 Introduction 2 Historical background associated with the area 2 Grey and his exploration of the northwest coast 2 From Bernier to Dorre Island 3 From Dorre Island to the Gascoyne 4 From the Gascoyne to Bernier Island 4 Landing at Gantheume Bay 6 Initial discovery of main site 8 Location of site 9 Artefacts recovered from the site (1995–2005) 12 Other sites in close proximity 13 Registration of artefacts 16 Environment 17 General information of area 17 Threats to the site 17 Significance assessment 17 Discussion 18 Recommendations 18 Administration and correspondence 18 Appendix 1. News article featured in The Geraldton Guardian, 14 October 2005 19 Part 2: Report on the Site Survey and Excavation 23–27 January 2006 21 Acknowledgements 22 Technical data 23 Introduction 23 Site description 23 Administration 23 Preliminary search and survey 26 Site conditions 27 Metal detecting 27 Survey 28 Excavations 29 Trench 1 29 Trench 2 31 Post excavation 31 Registration of artefacts 32 Materials recovered during search, survey and excavations 32 Materials recovered outside of excavations 32 Photographs of finds 37 i Artefact analysis 38 Associated sites 38 Assessment of site significance 40 (i) Archaeological and historical 40 (ii) Scientific 40 (iii) Educational 40 (iv) Recreational 40 (v) Cultural 41 Site identification comments 41 Legislative issues 42 Recommendations 42 References 43 Appendix 1. Survey data 43 Appendix 2. DGPS recordings 44 Appendix 3. Kalbarri artefact registration from January 2006 expedition 45 Appendix 4. Waypoints for targets 200m south of excavation site 45 ii List of figures Figure 1. The district and River Glenelg on the north-west coast of Australia, 4 from the surveys of Captain George Grey (Governor of South Australia) taken in 1838. Figure 2. Map and Chart of the west coast of Australia from Swan River to Shark 5 Bay, including Houtman Abrolhos and Port Grey, from the surveys of Captain Grey, Wickham, King and from other official documents. Figure 3. Site of collapsed section where finds were recovered, looking east 7 (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). Figure 4. Cut within sand dune where Mr Finlay found lead shot, looking east 7 (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). Figure 5. Location of Kalbarri in Western Australia. 8 Figure 6. Area where Mr McDonnell found more lead shot and a lead fitting in 9 October 2005 (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). Figure 7. View main site, looking SW towards Blue Hole (Photo: Jen 10 Rodrigues). Figure 8. Pathway to beach accessed from car park, looking west (Photo: Jen 10 Rodrigues). Figure 9. Modern mooring chain, stretching seaward (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). 11 Figure 10. Close up view of chain links (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). 11 Figure 11. Lead shot recovered in 1995, total weight: 1415.5 g (UNID 4603) 12 (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). Figure 12. Samples from UNID 4603, showing ‘moulding’ marks (Photo: Jen 12 Rodrigues. Figure 13. Shot recovered in October 2005, total weight: 74.2 g (Photo: Jen 13 Rodrigues). Figure 14. Samples from UNID 4604, showing evidence of sprues (Photo: Jen 13 Rodrigues). Figure 15. Striations along the edge of the lead fitting (UNID 4605) (Photo: Jen 14 Rodrigues). Figure 16. Lead fitting weighing approximately 10.5 kg (UNID 1605) (Photo: 14 Jen Rodrigues). Figure 17. Bones 1 site, looking west (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). 15 Figure 18. Bones 2 site, looking north (Photo: Jen Rodrigues). 15 Figure 19. Close up view of Bones 2 site, close up looking north (Photo: Jen 16 Rodrigues). Figure 20. Aerial photograph showing site, Kalbarri and the Murchison River. 24 Figure 21. Looking at the site from sea. 24 Figure 22. Search and survey over reef. 25 Figure 23. Search and survey over reef. 25 Figure 24. Search and survey over reef. 26 Figure 25. Site before excavations. 27 Figure 26. Metal detecting around the foredune. 28 Figure 27. Visual transits of the site. 29 iii Figure 28. Recording with the DGPS. 30 Figure 29. Surveying with Total Station. 30 Figure 30. Survey points. 31 Figure 31. Total station coordinates showing Trench 1 and 2 within the blow 32 out. Figure 32. Total station coordinates showing the shape of the swale where the 32 site was located. Figure 33. Excavating Trench 1. 33 Figure 34. Trench 1, facing east. 33 Figure 35. Trench 1, facing south. 34 Figure 36. Profile of lead shot positions in Trench 1. 34 Figure 37. Sand fill in trench 1. 35 Figure 38. Tench 1 towards the left of image. 35 Figure 39. Trench 1, facing south. 36 Figure 40. The site after re-vegetation. 36 Figure 41. Lead shot, KG 4610. 37 Figure 42. Lead shot, KG 4611. 37 Figure 43. Lead shot, KG 4612. 37 Figure 44. Lead shot, KG 4613. 37 Figure 45. Lead shot, KG 4614. 37 Figure 46. Lead shot, KG 4617. 37 Figure 47. Lead shot, KG 4615. 37 Figure 48. Timber fragments, KG 4616. 38 Figure 49. Copper nail, KG 4619. 38 Figure 50. Iron fragments, KG 4618. 38 Tables Table 1. Artefact registration details. 16 iv Part 1 Report on Kalbarri Site Inspection,16 October 2005 ‘Attack of natives near Hanover Bay’, from a sketch by Captain George Grey. 1 Acknowledgements Thanks are due to Mr Mike McDonnell for accompanying a museum staff and assistant archaeologist to the site and providing information about his finds and metal detecting results. Mr McDonnell also showed the museum staff two other sites in close proximity, which contained remains of bones. In addition, Mr Ted King provided details of the finds and proffered other information that he felt could be related to certain features and artefacts discovered at the site. Mr Gary Finlay, the original finder, confirmed details of his earlier find. Ms Kelly Fleming, PhD candidate at University of Western Australia, assisted with the inspection. Research Chemist Ms Vicki Richards from the Department of Materials Conservation (Western Australian Museum), provided advice on the material identification and corrosion process of the lead fitting. Abstract Finders in Kalbarri, Western Australia, discovered lead shot as well as a lead fitting in the sand dunes of one of the local beaches. These were believed to be associated with the explorer George Grey who was wrecked in the vicinity in 1839. In October 2005, the site was inspected by a staff from the Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum, as a result of this discovery, which was reported to the Department. Two other sites, which contained bone fragments, were also recorded because these were in close proximity to the site where the archaeological finds were first discovered. Introduction A museum staff from the Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum, inspected a site in Kalbarri, Western Australia, on 16 October 2005. Three local residents from Kalbarri had recovered a large number of lead shot and a lead fitting between 1995 and 2005. The purpose of this inspection was to record the site, collect the artefacts from the finders, gather as much information as possible as well as obtain a GPS position of the site. The finds are of interest to the Museum because of their possible association with the George Grey expedition of 1839, although this has yet to be confirmed absolutely. Historical background associated with the area GREY AND HIS EXPLORATION OF THE NORTHWEST COAST After a long delay of nearly five months, Grey was finally able to leave Fremantle on 17 February 1839 aboard the 302-ton American whaler Russel in order to continue on his exploration of the Western Australian coast including areas of the country lying behind it. He obtained three whaleboats for this task along with a party of 11 support staff, which included a surgeon. Grey’s decision to procure three whaleboats was a precaution in the event an accident occurred which reduced the number of boats. The main objectives of the expedition was to obtain information on the real state of north western Australia, its resources, and the course and direction of its rivers and mountain ranges. It was also to familiarise the natives with the British name and character, to search for and record all information regarding the natural productions of the country, and all details that might bear upon its capabilities for colonisation or the reverse; as well as to collect specimens of its natural history (Grey, 1841: 4). Grey also intended to continue his examination of the section of the coast left unvisited southward of his depot, as far as Gantheume Bay (Grey, 1841: 330). Grey planned to land at a point northward of Shark Bay with a supply of provisions sufficient for five months. His intention was to establish a provision depot on an island 2 there so as to use that as a base point from which he and his team could carry out their operations of examining undiscovered areas of the bay (Grey, 1841: 329). On 25 February, Grey and his team along with their boats, food and other supplies, were disembarked on Bernier Island in Shark Bay. By the early morning of the following day, the men had finished burying their stores.