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An archaeological survey of Jack Smith Lake, southeast Gippsland: a report to the Australian Heritage Commission / by K. Hotchin and P. J. May.

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Field name Details
Uniform title Occasional report (Aboriginal Affairs Victoria)
Title An archaeological survey of Jack Smith Lake, southeast Gippsland a report to the Australian Heritage Commission / by K. Hotchin and P. J. May.
Publisher and/or associated date/s [Melbourne, Vic.] : Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Aug 1984.
Description Electronic resource ; Online.
Publication Dates 1984.
Series Occasional report (Aboriginal Affairs Victoria), 0725-7317 19
Note Report-Series. Melbourne, Vic. RMIT Publishing. 2011.
Conditions of access Available to Museum Staff only.
Summary Concern over the deterioration of apparently rich and extensive archaeological deposits lead to a joint submission by the Victoria Archaeological Survey and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to the Australian Heritage Commission for funds to undertake this survey. Work began in 1981 and in 1982 the results and analyses were expanded into a thesis at the Australian National University, Canberra. This enabled the inclusion of radiocarbon dating results in this report.::Field work comprised site recording, collection of surface materials, auger and leveling transects and analysis of site environmental associations. Two suites of archaeological deposits were recognised, defined by their stone technology and midden material. These are shown to belong to different time periods.::The first phase is characterised by shell middens of the "cockle" Anadara trapezia, and mud oyster, Ostrea angasi. Associated with these deposits is a sophisticated stone artefact technology showing fine workmanship. The evidence suggests that the Aborigines in this period practised a highly selective fishing strategy concentrating on snapper, Chrysophrys auratus. There are no closely comparable deposits known in the region Dating puts this phase 2-4.000 years ago.::The cessation of daily tidal flow meant that neither cockle, oyster or snapper were available from the lake. Midden deposits of this second phase are of the ocean beach "pipi", Plebidonax deltoides. Stone technology is simpler and relies heavily on local quartz pebbles for raw material. Radiocarbon dating suggests that these deposits date from within the last 500 years.::What appears to be a locally unique stone and bone technology was noted. There is an association of long bones being cut and split to form a range of point-forms using a burin type of cutting tool. Hitherto such a bone and stone technology was unknown in Australia.::The sequence of deposits from 4000 years ago to the time of European contact and locally unique deposits and technological developments make the Jack Smith Lake study area important far beyond the regional level. For this reason this report recommends the immediate stabilisation of archaeologically sensitive areas. and the erection of fences to protect those areas from traffic, erosion and vandalism.
Subjects Aboriginal Australians -- Australia -- Victoria -- Antiquities
Archaeological surveying -- Australia -- Victoria
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Australia -- Victoria
Jack Smith Lake Region (Vic.) -- Antiquities
Other Corporate Bodies Victoria Archaeological Survey
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria
Call number Informit database (IIC)
Internet Site Access to full text via Informit e-Library
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