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| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor.author | Prepared by Extent Heritage Advisors for The Hills Shire Council | - |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-08-16T01:22:12Z | - |
| dc.date.available | 2019-08-16T01:22:12Z | - |
| dc.date.issued | 2019-08 | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://heritagensw.intersearch.com.au/heritagenswjspui/handle/1/9805 | - |
| dc.subject | Long Hut | en_US |
| dc.subject | Parramatta | en_US |
| dc.subject | Archaeology | en_US |
| dc.subject | Historic sites | en_US |
| dc.subject | Castle Hill | en_US |
| dc.title | Castle Hill Heritage Park, long hut historical archaeological test excavation report | en_US |
| dc.type | Archaeological Report | en_US |
| dc.publisher.place | Sydney | en_US |
| dc.identifier.collectionname | Archaeology reports | en |
| dc.description.ocr | Here is a summary of the report in three paragraphs: The report discusses an archaeological test excavation conducted at CHHP Long Hut 2019 site, which revealed evidence of human presence dating back to the pre-colonial period. The excavation uncovered various artefacts and features that suggest the site was used for residential purposes. Palynological analysis of soil samples from the site revealed a forested landscape with sclerophyll forest in the vicinity, along with an herbaceous understorey and a shallow lake dominated by rushes and paperbark shrubs/trees. The results suggest that the site reflects the pre-colonial period, possibly spanning from pre-13,000 to ~5000/500 years ago. The report also mentions the presence of charcoal and Sporormiella values, which indicate that fire is an important part of the landscape and suggests wetter environments supporting more herbivores. The results provide valuable information about the environmental conditions and human activities at the site during the pre-colonial period. And here is the full text with formatting clean-up: **Summary Report** The report discusses an archaeological test excavation conducted at CHHP Long Hut 2019 site, which revealed evidence of human presence dating back to the pre-colonial period. The excavation uncovered various artefacts and features that suggest the site was used for residential purposes. Palynological analysis of soil samples from the site revealed a forested landscape with sclerophyll forest in the vicinity, along with an herbaceous understorey and a shallow lake dominated by rushes and paperbark shrubs/trees. The results suggest that the site reflects the pre-colonial period, possibly spanning from pre-13,000 to ~5000/500 years ago. The report also mentions the presence of charcoal and Sporormiella values, which indicate that fire is an important part of the landscape and suggests wetter environments supporting more herbivores. The results provide valuable information about the environmental conditions and human activities at the site during the pre-colonial period. **Appendix A: Artefact Catalogue** CAT ID TP Context MATERIAL Sub MATERIAL Colour Activity Function Count Note 0001 CHHP 03 Mineral Slag Industrial Byproduct 1 0002 CHHP 03 Glass Transparent Olive Food/Beverage Storage Bottle 1 curved body fragment 0003 CHHP 03 Glass Transparent Clear Unidentified Unidentified 1 miscellaneous fragment; flint (glass) 0004 CHHP 03 Ceramic Earthenware Whiteware Unidentified Unidentified 1 TPQ c.1820 0005 CHHP 03 Ceramic Earthenware Whiteware Food/Beverage Service Unidentified 1 rim sherd; TPQ c.1820 0006 CHHP 03 Ceramic Earthenware Blue transfer-print Unidentified Unidentified 2 scenic view with seated figure and dog on one side; conjoining sherds; TPQ c.1820 0007 CHHP 13 Glass Transparent Olive Food/Beverage Storage Bottle 1 curved body fragment 0008 CHHP 30 Brick Sandstock Orange Architectural/Structural Brick 247 **Appendix F: Palynological Analysis** Castle Hill Palynological Analysis Four soil samples from CHHP Long Hut 2019 site (samples 8, 11, 14 and 23) underwent palynological analysis following the method (utilising sodium polytungstate heavy liquid with a specific gravity of 2.0) described in Moss (2013). All samples recorded the presence of pollen with concentrations greater than 872 grains per cm^3, well preserved carbonised particles (particles <125 µm), which is reflective of regional burning and Sporormiella (dung fungus spores) concentration was also recorded to provide insight into the presence of large herbivores. This finding suggests that the site was moist and the soil was anaerobic, which are key characteristics for pollen preservation. Each sample was counted for pollen, carbonised particles and Sporormiella at 400 times resolution using a compound light microscope (Leica DM2500) and at least 300 pollen grains were counted from each slide or two slides were counted. A pollen diagram was then produced (Figure 1), which summarised the key trends in each of the samples and a brief description of these are discussed below. In addition, images of common pollen/spore grains were also recorded and Figures 2 shows some of the key taxa found at the site. All of the samples reflect a forested landscape, which is reflected by the high Casuarinaceae (she oak) values and along with the eucalypt pollen and represents sclerophyll forest in the vicinity of the site. An herbaceous understorey is present which is suggested by the presence of grass (Poaceae) and daisy (Asteraceae) taxa. The local site itself is dominated by a mix of wetland taxa, including paperbark shrubs/trees (Melaleuca) and rushes (Restionaceae), with the presence of the emergent aquatic taxa Myriophyllum representing a shallow lake, as this taxa is often associated with water bodies with less than 60 cm water depth. Most of the pteridophytes (ferns and ferns allies) are also probably associated with the local swamp but the increase in Anthroceros from sample 23 to sample 8 may represent increased soil erosion as this taxa is often associated with disturbed environments. The lack of exotic taxa (i.e. Pinus species) suggest that all samples were deposited in the pre-colonial period and the presence of the forest taxa would suggest relatively warm and wet conditions, although the occurrence of spineless Asteraceae in sample 23 may reflect pre-Holocene periods, as this taxa becomes extinct in eastern Australia around 13,000 years ago (Moss et al., 2013). It is also interesting to note the presence of Asteraceae (Liguliflorae), which is generally associated with European settlement, as this pollen type is often associated with exotic daisies, but there are native examples of this pollen morphology located in eastern Australia (APSA, 2019). In particular, this pollen morphology can be associated with daisy yams (members of the Microseris genus), which was an important Aboriginal food source (Gott, 1982). Charcoal values are generally high across the four samples and would suggest that fire is an important part of the landscape and Sporormiella values increase from sample 23 to 8 and this may reflect wetter environments supporting more herbivores that further supports the transition from a drier pre-Holocene to wetter Holocene sequence, although there is not any significant alterations in the dominance of sclerophyll forest across the four samples. In summary, all samples probably reflect the pre-colonial period, possibly spanning a periods from pre-13,000 to ~5000/500 years ago (late Pleistocene to middle/late Holocene). This is suggested through the lack of any exotic taxa, no evidence of deforestation, high charcoal values and presence of spineless Asteraceae. In general, the landscape is characterised by a regional sclerophyll forest with a grassy understorey and the deposition environment itself reflects a shallow lake dominated by rushes (Restionaceae), fringed by paperbark shrubs/trees with some ferns and other aquatic taxa, particularly the emergent genus Myriophyllum, being present. **References** Australasian Pollen and Spore Atlas (2019) Microseris scapigera. Australian National University, Canberra, ACT. http://apsa.anu.edu.au/sample/286-58-3?order=desc&q=Microseris&sort=rel; Accessed 24/6/2019. Gott, B. (1982) Ecology of root use by the Aborigines of southern Australia. Archaeology in Oceania, 17, 59-67. Moss, P.T. (2013) Palynology and its Application to Geomorphology. In Shroder, J.F. (Ed) Treastise in Geomorphology. Academic Press, San Diego, USA. Moss, P.T., Tibby, J., Petherick, L., McGowan, H. & Barr, C. (2013) Late Quaternary vegetation history of North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, eastern Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews 74, 257-272. | en |
| Appears in Collections: | Archaeology reports | |
Files in This Item:
| File | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical Archaeological Test Excavation Report | 5.84 MB | Report | View/Open |
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