South Australia

Events

28 Apr 2008 - 26 May 2008 : Archaeology School Program
Presented in conjunction with the Council of Norwood, Payneham and St. Peters, this five week course is designed to teach local school children the importance of archaeology and history in their Council ward. Students from Flinders University will introduce students from Marryatville Primary School to the basics of archaeological study, as well as how we can use this information to uncover the past histories of individuals from the area. This will culminate in a simulated dig, where students will have the opportunity to experience archaeology in the field, utilising their newly acquired skills and knowledge. Dig deeper...

18 May 2008 : 19th Century Childhood and the Archaeology of Death, Tour and Talk
As material culture, gravestones convey history as well as archaeology. Although 19th century South Australia represents a time when social attitudes toward children meant that childhood was recognised as a separate phase of life, children were still very much part of the adult world. In this talk I will discuss the role of children in 19th century colonial South Australia and how they were memorialised in the Fleurieu Peninsula cemetery landscape. Dig deeper...

18 May 2008 : Slate Quarries and the World of Delabole, Willunga, Public Lecture
Public Lecture by Dr Susan Piddock. In the hills above the town of Willunga lies a less well known village. Today the village of Delabole consists of a series of rapidly disappearing cottages, the foreman’s house and a chapel. The village was located just a stones throw from the Delabole Quarry, closely linking the families with their work place. While rapidly disappearing these cottages represent a life long passed where a close knit community built their own chapel of slate above the village overlooking the community and the nearby hills. Many of the people who lived at Delabole were Cornish and they bought with them their knowledge and their way of life to a new land. In this talk I will be looking at the world of slate quarrying in Nineteenth Century Willunga and life in the village of Delabole. Dig deeper...

18 May 2008 and 21 May 2008 : Archaeology at the Adelaide Gaol, Tour and Talk
An archaeological investigation is currently taking place at Adelaide Gaol. So far, the investigation has recovered finds reflecting the changing nature of prisoners’ activities at the gaol, their personal life and secrets. The archaeology is also offering new reflections on the shared cultural landscape of the Torrens River between 1836 when settlement of Adelaide commenced and 1840 when construction of the gaol commenced. Archaeologist for the project, Dr Keryn Walshe from the South Australian Museum will give a 30-40 minute talk on the archaeology and show some of the finds. Come and share the excitement of ‘seeing’ early Adelaide through the archaeology of the Adelaide Gaol. The archaeological works area will be out of bounds for safety reasons but the talk will take place in the adjacent yard in view of works. Dig deeper...

18 May 2008 : West Terrace Cemetery Tour
West Terrace Cemetery, originally the Adelaide Public Cemetery, was part of Colonel Light's original draft plan of 1838, and was the primary burial ground for the City of Adelaide and its immediate villages. As such it represents a standing connection with the colonial era, one of the few parts of the urban or rural landscape in which materials dating from the mid-19th century have been preserved in substantially unchanged form. This offers a conduit for research into Victorian-era Australia for the historical archaeologist, and many surveys have been performed in recent years looking at a variety of aspects. Dig deeper...

19 May 2008 : Public Archaeology Display
This public archaeology display will be co-ordinated by Anna Leditschke and Crystal Henry and will run in conjunction with the Archaeology School Program at Marryatville Primary School. Students from Marryatville Primary School will be participating in a simulated dig. The Old Bootmaker and the Publican are two individuals (Mr Simon Heane and Mr Ben Morey) who lived in Bridge Street around the 1850s onwards. The Old Bootmaker’s store still exists as does the Rising Sun Inn, which is situated across the street. The simulated dig will consist of items belonging to these individuals and will allow students to gain a better understanding of the archaeological process. Dig deeper...

19 May 2008 : The Historic Gawly Foundry, Public Lecture
Public lecture by Martin Wimmer. In February and March 2008, Austral Archaeology Pty Ltd was engaged to monitor and record a site in Gawler, South Australia which is currently being redeveloped as a shopping centre complex. The site was formerly the location of the James Martin & Co. Phoenix Foundry. It is thought that this may have been the first foundry in South Australia and is consequently of State and local heritage interest. The Foundry, built on 18 acres, operated from approximately 1870-1930 and at its height employed in the vicinity of 1,000 people. The site has been re-used often since that time. Fabric still visible and relating to the time of the Foundry include two furnace chimneys, retaining walls, coal/ore chute, factory façade with arched entrance and various sections of buildings. The archaeologists were tasked with monitoring the demolition of the more modern structures on the block and with overseeing the removal of the car park matrix and top soil. They were also briefed to record any structures and artefacts which may be uncovered through mechanical excavation and interpret them in the context of what is known of the Foundry business and the surviving Foundry structures. This talk will provide a brief history of the foundry and discuss the findings and results of the archaeological survey conducted there. Dig deeper...

19 May 2008 : Australian Archaeologists in the Near East: A Continuing Tradition, Public Lecture
Public lecture by Dr Margaret O'Hea. Australian archaeologists have long made valuable contributions to the study of Near Eastern archaeology, from the theoretical work of V. Gordon Childe (the “Neolithic Revolution”) to current revisions off our understanding of developments in the earliest agriculture and urbanism, or cultural identities in Late Antiquity or early Islamic architecture and material culture. How did this tradition develop, and where is it going? Margaret is a Senior Lecturer and the Head of Classics at the University of Adelaide. She has worked extensively in Jordan and the Middle East, including at the site of Pella. Dig deeper...

21 May 2008 : Stately Homes of South Australia, Public Lecture
Public lecture by Robert Stone. Stately homes convey more than buildings providing shelter. While planned for domestic use, spatial arrangements, style, external design, scale and elaboration exceeded the practical functions. Vestibules, ballrooms, libraries and billiard rooms indicate a wider social purpose; they were places of power, culture and class. This talk will be illustrated with images of nineteenth century homes a cross South Australia. Dig deeper...

21 May 2008 : Archaeology Quiz Night
Our annual Quiz Night is a great event to be involved in. Questions for everyone, not just archaeologists, and loads of fun awaits you at this event. Prizes will be awarded on the night. This year the Quiz Night will be held at Don Arturo’s Restaurant in Brighton, just opposite Charlie’s Diner, on Wednesday 21st May. It promises to be a big night but there are limited seats. Contact Cassandra Taylor at tayl0415@flinders.edu.au by the 17th of May to reserve your seat at only the cost of a gold coin. There will be 8-10 people per table so round up your friends and enjoy a wonderful night. An optional set menu which includes three courses is available for $10. Set Menu Entrée: Bruschetta Main Course: choice of Roast with vegetables Pasta Bolognaise Pasta Napolitana Dessert: Apple Strudel If you are interested in the set menu please enquire when making a booking. Parking is available at the back of the restaurant. Payment for the meal is on the night. Dig deeper...

22 May 2008 : Amnesty collections reveal impact of looting on Australian shipwreck sites, Public Seminar
Since the invention of SCUBA by the French following WWII, there has been significant increase in people venturing underwater to search for treasures, continue to indulge in spearfishing and discover what had been hidden beneath the surface of the sea. In Australia, pioneer divers did the same in the waters off Australia's vast coastline, particularly in the 1950s and 60s. One of the consequences was a significant human impact on historically and archaeologically valuable shipwrecks that contained information about trade, life on board, cargo carried, personal possessions and social status amongst other information. After three decades of suspected shipwreck looting, the Australian government introduced the Commonwealth legislation to protect historic shipwrecks. Almost 20 years later, in 1993, a nation-wide amnesty was declared calling for all members of the public with protected shipwreck relics to declare them without fear of prosecution. This talk will include preliminary results on what was looted from shipwrecks, why this was done, how this has impacted on the archaeological record as well as a brief assessment on the effectiveness of the amnesty in retrospect. Dig deeper...

23 May 2008 - 24 May 2008 : Archaeology at the Old Mitcham Police Station, Public Excavation
The Old Mitcham Police Station has been in constant use since it was built in 1891, serving the community of Mitcham for over 110 years. Excavation beneath the floors of the building has the potential to provide a window into the history of Mitcham and police activities in the local area. The excavations for this project will be conducted in conjunction with National Archaeology Week and SA History Week, and will be offered as a publicly-accessible event to promote the history and heritage of Mitcham. Guided tours of the site, the process of archaeology and the artefacts will be offered through both programs, and the excavations will be open to the public generally on the 23rd and 24th of May. Dig deeper...

23 May 2008 : Impacts on the cultural heritage and archaeological sites of Iraq during the Coalition Invasion, Public Seminar
Public seminar by Dr Lynley Wallis. Guests should arrive at 6.45 for a 7 pm start to the lecture. A light supper will follow the talk. Abstract In the wake of the massive destruction of buildings and monuments during World War II UNESCO sponsored the Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (also known as the Hague Convention), which came into effect in 1956. The Convention requires that signatory countries draw up a list of cultural property of major importance that other countries should respect during times of armed conflict. The Convention covers immovable and movable cultural heritage, including monuments of architecture, art or history, archaeological sites, works of art, manuscripts, books and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest, as well as scientific collections of all kinds regardless of their origin or ownership. It was primarily designed to ensure that losses to the world's cultural heritage such as occurred in WWII never happened again. Currently, more than 118 nation states (including Australia, though interesting not the United States nor the United Kingdom) are parties to the Hague Convention. Iraq (comprising the lands of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) is home to some of the world’s oldest and most significant archaeological and cultural heritage sites. As well as being one of earliest centres of agriculture and urban settlements, it was also home to the development of cuneiform writing on clay tablets approximately 5000 years ago. In addition to the numerous archaeological sites scattered through the country, Iraq’s museums, particularly the National Museum in Baghdad, are repositories for many thousands of unique, irreplaceable sculptures, inscribed tablets, seals and other cultural objects that are tangible reminders of the fascinating history of the surrounding region. In this talk I consider the effect of the 2003 Coalition Invasion not only on the archaeological sites of Iraq, but also on the collections held by the National Museum in Baghdad, and raise the issue of the importance of such sites and collections for the construction of national identity. Presenter Biography Dr Lynley Wallis is currently employed as a lecturer in archaeology and cultural heritage management in the Department of Archaeology at Flinders University. She has more than 15 years experience experience in the industry, having worked variously in the tertiary education sector, government heritage agencies, and as a private consultant. Her research interests are broad and range from exploration of the longterm Indigenous occupation of northern Australia and the Coorong region of SA, to the interactions between Indigenous groups and settlers in northwestern Queensland during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, to reconstructing palaeoclimatic and vegetation patterns through the past 40,000 years, to the geophysical, historical and archaeological investigation of the historic Maesbury street cemetery in Kensington, SA Dig deeper...

24 May 2008 : Indiana Jones Movie Night
Indy is back!!! Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the next and last instalment in the Indy series. Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones returns to the big screen when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artefacts known as the Crystal Skulls. On Saturday 24th May we’re giving you the chance to see the biggest movie of the year at a reduced price. These tickets are only $12.50 but there are only 80 tickets! So book your tickets now by contacting Cassandra Taylor at tayl0415@flinders.edu.au. Don’t miss this great opportunity. Dig deeper...

Exhibitions/Displays

17 May 2008 - 30 May 2008 : Flinders University Library Display
A display of posters, books and artefacts at the Flinders University Central Library foyer and another display at the Sturt Campus Library will be held from 17-30 May 2008. These displays will mainly include the theme of maritime and historic archaeology focussing on research and excavation projects carried out by archaeologists at Flinders and other institutions. The displays include information on whaling sites, shipwreck laws, early shipwreck looting in Australia and some interesting books published on the various subjects. It will also include a display of 'artefacts' created by Flinders University archaeology students as part of a project. Come and view the displays and learn about the interesting archaeological projects going on in Australia. These displays have been organised by Jennifer Rodrigues and Jun Kimura. ARCH1001: Artefact replicas Part of the assessment for students in this topic was to replicate an artefact from any of the cultures or time periods covered by the ARCH 1001 course. The replication process was designed to introduce students to the process of experimental archaeology and to how archaeologists interpret human behaviour from material objects. You are invited to appreciate the creativity and ingenuity of these students in devising their own manufacturing processes to replicate these artefacts and to learn about the past through their interpretive reproductions. Dig deeper...