Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
Anita Yousif, Vice-President, Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology, adminofficer@asha.org.au
Jayden van Beek, Artefact Heritage and Environment, Australia, jayden.vanbeek@artefact.net.au
Dr Jennifer Jones-Travers, Latitude Heritage Pty Ltd., Australia, jennifer@latitudeheritage.com.au
The Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology (ASHA) invites paper presentations on recent archaeological findings, research and the advancement of historical archaeology in the Asia–Pacific region. The session provides a platform for knowledge sharing on the region’s diverse and rich archaeological heritage and history.
Archaeological investigations carried out since the late 1960s have resulted in the discovery of copious material evidence. Ongoing research has provided some insights and answers to the subjects of: colonialism; convictism; cultural and trade connections; industrial and agricultural development; creation of urban environments and change of natural landscapes; interpretation of material remains and intangible values; interactions with Indigenous people; and the profound change these interactions caused in social, religious and cultural spheres. However, the abundance of archaeological records retrieved to date still have enormous potential to shed more light on the past and close the gap on missing records. One approach to address these gaps includes technological science, such as GPR, GIS, LiDAR, data processing programs, thermoluminescence and optical dating.
More active dissemination of archaeological findings over the last two decades through publication, media and onsite interpretation, have also led to a significant increase in the public interest in archaeology and history.
However, whilst there have been remarkable achievements, there are still some pending challenges associated with the management of archaeological material, including the maintenance of archaeological collections, assessments of significance, disposing of materials with little or no significance, interpretation and ownership.
We hope that this summary provides a motivating basis for a wide range of presentations and look forward to receiving your contributions.
Papers:
Origins of Water Powered Flour Milling Technology in Victoria, Australia
Gary Vines, Dept of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
In the 1840s and 1850s, several dozen millers and mill wrights migrated from Britain to the Port Phillip colony in Australia and erected small water powered flour mills similar to those they knew in their homelands. The technology they employed was little changed from the Middle Ages and they worked within a local communal subsistence economy with low levels of capital and technological investment. Simultaneously, other highly capitalised flour factories were being erected using the most up-to-date, steam-powered technology that the British Industrial Revolution was able to provide. These extremes of capitalisation and technological sophistication continued to operate side by side from the very first mills built in the early 1840s until the last water wheel stopped turning in the 1950s. Why then, were these disparate technologies introduced to Victoria at the same time and why did an obsolete technology survive for so long?
Osteobiographies from a Lakeshore Town in Batangas, Philippines
Marvin D. Dorosan, School of Archaeology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Philippines
Kimberly Plomp, School of Archaeology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Philippines
Timothy James Vitales, Archaeology Division, National Museum of the Philippines
Grace Barretto-Tesoro, School of Archaeology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Philippines
Old Tanauan, now known as Talisay in Batangas is one of the lakeshore towns around Taal Lake. The Augustinians established Tanauan in 1584, during the early years of Spanish occupation in the Philippines. The arrival of the Spaniards and eruptions of Taal Volcano at the centre of the lake brought significant changes to the lives and environment of the town’s past inhabitants. Although numerous archaeological studies have been conducted on Batangas, analyses of the human remains from the region are very limited, if not absent. This research aims to shed light on the past of the town, particularly on how people interacted with the changing landscape. By linking such external factors with the study of skeletal remains, this study provides a comprehensive narrative that tells their stories and paints a broader picture of the impact of these significant events on the community. Osteobiography of human skeletal remains found at the 17th-century church ruins of Old Tanauan during the 2011 and 2023 excavations were used to construct a possible account of their lived experiences. The skeletal remains exhibited pathological conditions and indicators of habitual activities that may have been related to the environmental changes brought by the eruptions of Taal volcano.
‘Backyard Archaeology’: Assembling, Curating, and Exhibiting the Everyday
Steve Brown, Centre for Creative and Cultural Research, University of Canberra, Australia
‘Backyard Archaeology’ was an exhibition held at the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, Australia, over a 7-month period in 2024. The display centred on 3,600 artefacts recovered in 2010 from 6 test excavations undertaken across a 347m2 property in the suburb of Arncliffe, Sydney. The investigation had been undertaken by the author to explore the past human and environmental history of a seemingly ordinary suburban property and to study connections and attachments between people, place, and things.
Visited by over 18,000 people, the exhibition demonstrated how a seemingly insignificant assemblage evoked empathetic responses from visitors and awoke personal memories, many voiced through storytelling. Additionally, the act of exhibiting became a performative practice of official heritage-making—that is, the display shone a light on the ways a seemingly insignificant archaeological collection became meaningful, and thus valued, by a public audience. I use this case example to argue for a democratising of archaeology such that anyone can participate (‘we are all archaeologists’) and anyone can engage with ordinary found objects to garner insights into the everyday lives of past and contemporary peoples and connected global events.
Networked Infrastructure and the Archaeology of the Modern City: Roads in Sydney
Dr Iain Stuart, Artefact Heritage and Environment, Australia; The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (TICCIH)
Recent archaeological and historical research has focused on the historical archaeology of urban block as part of the Modern City rather than the infrastructure associated with their growth and development. This is no doubt due to such projects piggybacking on the historical archaeological projects mandated as part of urban redevelopment projects. Such projects rarely impact on the spaces outside the property boundaries and so projects such as the Archaeology of the Modern City has not considered networked infrastructure which were constructed in such spaces.
In Sydney the recently completed Central Sydney and Eastern Suburbs Light Rail project substantially constructed within the existing road corridor, exposing the archaeological remains of networked infrastructure such as tramways, sewers and drains and roads to be recorded and assessed.
Because of the amount of information generated, this paper looks at the archaeology of roads as an example focusing on the technology of road construction. It highlights the utility of approaching the archaeological evidence from an industrial archaeological perspective which looks at the technology from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Beneath the Green: Interpreting the Silent Dead of Liverpool’s Cemeteries
Alexander Beben, Austral Archaeology Pty Ltd, Australia
Archaeological investigations undertaken by Austral Archaeology Pty Ltd within the Liverpool Central Business District (CBD) have facilitated rare, comparative analysis of three historic cemeteries: Apex Park, Pioneers’ Memorial Park, and the Liverpool Memorial Gardens. While these projects did not involve the exhumation or analysis of human remains, they revealed an extensive dataset of burial cuts, grave forms, spatial organisation, and associated infrastructure that enables nuanced interpretation of Liverpool’s burial history.
Through the systematic documentation of over 550 grave cuts, including patterns of reuse, alignment, and demographic variation, the archaeological record provided critical insights into the scale and management of pauper and asylum interments. Discrepancies between the observed archaeological features and the historic documentary record—such as the underreporting of burial density or absence of headstones—suggest substantial gaps in our understanding of 19th-century funerary practice, particularly for marginalised populations.
These projects demonstrate that archaeological excavation, even without the analysis of human remains, can interrogate the socio-cultural frameworks of past communities and highlight how burial grounds reflect institutional, economic, and religious systems. In doing so, they raise an important question for historical archaeology: do we truly understand the nature and value of this underexamined archaeological resource?
Looking Back and Moving Forward: The University of Sydney’s Archaeological Archive
Andrew Wilson, Archaeological Collections Registrar, School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia
In accordance with national and state requirements and its own Research Data Policy mandating the retention and preservation of research data, the University of Sydney has established an Archaeological Archive to house and manage all available material and records from archaeological investigations carried out under the auspices of the University since the 1960s.
This paper discusses the legal and ethical issues involved in the process as well as the practical challenges of locating, moving, storing and documenting hundreds of thousands of artefacts, documents and photographs, as well as digital images and files.
While the process remains far from complete the value of the material is already being demonstrated in training, teaching, public outreach and research. One early outcome has been the identification of the origin of historical archaeology in Australia.
The Bigger Picture: On the Benefits of a Whole of State Historical Archaeology Collection
Anne-Luise Muir, Heritage Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
The exhibition Traces of Girlhood opened at the National Trust’s Como House in Melbourne in 2024. Curated by archaeologists and an historian, the exhibition set out to explore the diverse experiences of girls and young women in late c19th and early c20th century Victoria. Collaborators included the National Trust (Victoria), DJARRA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation), the Australian Queer Archives, and Vision Australia, amongst others. It incorporated art, objects, audio visual material, historical images and archaeological artefacts. Artefacts from Heritage Victoria’s historical and maritime archaeological collection contributed the stories of Chinese girls, affluent girls from the country, orphaned girls, ill girls, and explored the notion of girlhood itself.
Using Traces of Girlhood as a case study, this paper will discuss how having access to a whole of state historical archaeological collection enables the creation of multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary exhibitions that can explore relevant issues from diverse perspectives. The depth of material available and the ability to see patterns across different assemblages allow the telling of nuanced and personal stories. The project has demonstrated the value of collaboration, and the importance of recognising that the curator’s voice is not always the most appropriate one to tell every story.
Reassessing the Perceived Significance of Beads in the Archaeological Discourse of West Bengal in Eastern India: A Critical Review
Shalini Saha, Dept of Library and Information Sciences, Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata, India
Debajit Ghosh, Dept of Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
The present paper critically examines the representation of beads in the archaeological scholarship of West Bengal, eastern India, and how it indicates the patterning behind their perceived value. Despite a significant recovery of beads from the Early Historic period and other cultural phases in said region, their documentation and interpretation remain fragmented. Considering this crucial gap, this study reassesses beads’ roles in the prior scholarly narratives through a critical review of the associated archaeological literature particularly across fifty published volumes of Indian Archaeology – a Review (IAR), and the other relevant publications. The preliminary observations highlight several gaps in bead studies encompassing the inadequate documentation of raw materials, shapes, and contexts; and limited interpretative approaches. Moreover, the absence of a comprehensive account of beads interconnected with broader material assemblages lacks a holistic interpretation of the bygone cultures of West Bengal. Thus, through this literature-based reconnaissance survey, the current study elucidates the need to redefine beads as integral archaeological records rather than ‘minor antiquity’. Finally, this study proposes recommendations to enhance the scholarly treatment of beads, advocating for their systematic documentation and contextual integration, thereby positioning West Bengal’s archaeological record within the broader discourse of Asia-Pacific archaeology; and its future implications.
Convict Tales – Silver Coins, Boot Reef and a Possible Convict Transport
Kieran Hosty, I AM Archaeology: Habitat & Heritage, Sydney, Australia
Irini (Renee) Malliaros, Director & Chief Archaeologist, I AM Archaeology: Habitat & Heritage, Australia
In 2012, the Australian National Maritime Museum and Silentworld Foundation commenced a long-term research project to investigate shipwreck sites associated with shipping routes through and around the Great Barrier Reef that connected 19th-century Australia with the rest of the world.
Many of the investigated shipwrecks were engaged in a particular form of triangular trade where convict transports would sail out to Australia with a military guard on board, then return to England, via the Torres Strait, transporting military supplies such as horses or soldiers and their families to the Indian sub-continent.
This systematic survey included the investigations of Boot Reef, 80 km east of the entrance to Torres Strait, where an unidentified vessel laden with Spanish bullion was reported to have been wrecked in the early 19th century.
Field investigations resulted in the discovery of a previously undocumented early 19th-century shipwreck site, the surviving material culture of which proved critical in paring down the shortlist of potential vessel candidates. Interestingly, it was not just what was present on site that helped solve the mystery of the ship’s identity wreck’s identity – the investigation’s evidence-based approach was complemented by the notable absence of specific naval architectural components.
For Better or for Worse: The Impact of Historic Shipwrecks on Local Communities in the Pacific
Irini (Renee) Malliaros, Director & Chief Archaeologist, I AM Archaeology: Habitat & Heritage, Australia
Kieran Hosty, Manager, Maritime Archaeology Program, Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, Australia
Is it really possible to locate historic wooden shipwrecks using satellite imagery? Given the right depth, yes, it is! Noted primarily on reefs in the Pacific, is a phenomenon called ‘black reefs’. Over time, iron components of wooden wrecks such as anchors, chains, etc. give rise to a dark discolouration on the reef caused by a shift in the dominant species of the local ecosystem due to the increased availability of iron.
This phenomenon may assist with locating shipwrecks remotely, but it has also served to highlight the long term (150 years and more) impact of heritage on the environment. This shift to the ecosystem has been noted in less remote places in the Pacific, where underwater cultural heritage (UCH) in near-shore environments, is seen to be of benefit to the local community. In addition, to the income generated from visitors, the fish populations that aggregate on the site may also be of value to local fishers. However, are these fish appropriate for human consumption, are they absorbing harmful substances from the UCH, or are they displacing fish of a higher economic value? This paper investigates the impact of UCH older than 150 years on local communities in the Pacific.
Enigmatic Objects; An Archaeological Prosopography of an Urban 19th Century Neighbourhood
Ramona Lola Angelico, LaTrobe University & Dr Vincent Clark Archaeology & Heritage
Thousands of personal effects survive in Melbourne’s archaeological record but remain for the most part, unanalysed. Although separated from the people who once owned them, the objects are embedded in the stratigraphic relationships and contexts of a particular place and time.
Using creative fiction, informed by detailed historical research and material culture analysis, this paper explores the potential of prosopography as a framework for the interpretation of material culture at a neighbourhood level.
Through a symbiotic approach to artefact analysis, personal items from historical archaeological sites in close proximity within urban Melbourne, are analysed alongside individuals selected from the local historical record, based on the dates and locations of the records, corresponding to the artefact deposits. Considering the value of writerly aesthetics in the reconstruction of the past, creative writing is employed to address the problem of connecting artefacts with individuals, specific to urban working-class neighbourhoods of the mid-19th century. This challenges the depersonalisation of archaeological data and seeks meaningful understanding of lived historical experience.
Time, Truthtelling and Materiality—Archaeological Source Material and Public Art in Australia
Matt Poll, Indigenous Programs Manager, National Maritime Museum, Sydney, Australia
Dr Sandra Wallace, Managing Director of Artefact Heritage, Australia
Public art, in all its mediums provides a way to enliven archaeology and articulate stories from the past to contemporary audiences. This paper examines the space between public art, heritage and culture to explore ways that we can shape the urban form and public domain to embed deep time stories into our social milieu. The focus will be on First Nations stories and the translation of historical knowledges sourced from archaeological field work into physical public art and the design off social infrastructure, particularly in east coast urban centres.
The integration of archaeological source material into public art deserves to be recognised as a powerful avenue for fostering deeper engagement with Indigenous histories and historical truthtelling. Ethical and collaborative use of archaeological findings can serve to rectify historical erasure.
Grounding public art in tangible, scientifically-derived archaeological evidence is an important opportunity to move beyond symbolic gestures to create meaningful, enduring connections to the deep time of Australia’s First Peoples, fostering greater public understanding and respect.
The Buffalo Hunters of Kakadu
Charlotte Feakins, The University of Sydney, Australia
This paper explores the Australian buffalo hide industry. The hide industry was prevalent in the Northern Territory from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. It involved Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women and men working collectively for white male shooters to exploit feral water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) primarily for their thick hides. The work was dangerous, labour-intensive, and required great skill and courage. Over the nearly eighty years that the industry operated, unique cross-cultural relationships developed between the diverse groups, and lives became intimately entangled. Aboriginal people dominated the workforce, typically constituting around 90%, and often excelled in both experience and ability. As a result, the success of the industry was contingent on the labour of Aboriginal women and men, and without their involvement, it would have been economically unviable. Yet, in popular accounts, only the white shooters are heroicised. Their legend has become entangled in national imagining, obfuscating the valuable role of Aboriginal women and men, and influencing the memory of the industry and heritagisation of Kakadu National Park. This multi-scalar and interdisciplinary study, combining historical archaeology, critical heritage studies, and folkloristics, ‘excavates’ the memory of the buffalo shooting industry across a cultural continuum whilst providing historical reinterpretation.
Surviving the Sydney Opera House
Dr Nadia Iacono, Principal/Archaeologist, GML Heritage
An escalator upgrade project provided the chance to record and retain in situ rare state significant remains of Fort Macquarie. One of Australia’s earliest Gothic buildings, designed by Sydney’s first government architect, emancipist Francis Greenway, the remains lie beneath the World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House (SOH).
Between 2022-2024 GML Heritage undertook investigations when historical archaeological remains were first encountered during early works to install the Utzon Escalators. This paper highlights how a small, yet complex project led to positive outcomes for archaeology, yielding a deeper historical understanding and appreciation of former historical site uses and wider-ranging interpretation opportunities for one of Australia’s premier cultural institutions.
“The Graves of the Incognito Warriors”: Examining the Fate of Japanese Wartime Casualties in Australia
Alison Starr, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Queensland, Australia
The human remains of almost 300 Japanese nationals who died in Australia during the Asia-Pacific War were disinterred from multiple locations around Australia in 1964, and reinterred at the newly-created Cowra Japanese war cemetery. The reinterments joined the “graves of the incognito warriors” (Adachi 1975): Japanese combatants who died during the 1944 mass prison escape attempt known as the Cowra Breakout. The graves represent most, but not all, Japanese wartime remains in Australia, with unrecovered casualties (some in identified locations, some not) still located around Australian waters, including near Darwin and Sydney.
Considering these enemy wartime remains that found a semi-permanent post-war location that was extraterritorial, situated within enemy territory, and in a remote setting, this paper considers the collocated war cemeteries and their relationship with the archaeological remnants of the nearby former prison camp. With uneven formal heritage recognition of these sites, this paper investigates the meaning that these sites hold for Japan and the Cowra community, and how the sites have been overlaid with largely unrecognised aspects of intangible heritage that respond to presence (at the war cemeteries) and the absence of human remains (at the former camp).