Flinders Archaeology Blog

Electrolytic Reduction

With the harsh nature of maritime sites artifacts such as timbers, cloth, and organic materials can quickly deteriorate, leaving more durable artifacts such as metals, ceramics, and glass. Though metals may be less prone to deterioration under certainty circumstances, they are by no mean free from corrosion. Metal artifacts recovered from marine and submerged sites are very unstable due to the corrosive nature of the minerals dissolved in water. Metal artifacts recovered from marine sites must be treated in order to stop artifacts from deteriorating beyond repair. Removal of the artifacts from the water may actually do more harm than good and quicken the deterioration of the artifacts. When metals are recovered from the sea they are commonly encrusted in a conglomerate of different materials (Rodgers, 2004). Common encrustation of metals can consist of calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, metal corrosion, clay, sand, and marine life (Hamilton, 2010).These problems may often be solved with a conservation method known as electrolytic reduction or electrolysis. Electrolytic reduction is the process of submerging metal in a chemical solution, then running electrical current through the solution and metal artifact, resulting in the movement of ions from the artifact to the cathodes creating a low amp current (Kipfer, 2000). Electrolytic reduction is one of the most effective methods to conserve metals (Hamilton, 2010). Besides being an effective method, electrolysis is also very cost effective and relatively easy to produce. Continue reading →

In 1992, a heritage survey was undertaken in the City of Tea Tree Gully. One of the heritage places listed in the survey was the “Thatched Shed”, or, as I am more familiar with it, “Boord House”. The description of the house was a good equivalent of two paragraphs, complete with a picture, and some information on the location, but I was admittedly shocked when I saw the number of references these consultants had used: a grand total of two, one of which was an “historic marker on site” – which could have been either the memorial plaque outside the depot, or the little plaque installed on one of the walls of the house.

Of course, I knew that it would be impractical and impossible to gather a substantial amount of information on each individual heritage site, and then compact that information into a summary for each site in a city-wide survey. But another part of me thought, “Really? Only two?”. Naturally, I tried to compare it to my own experience in gathering information on Boord House, and really, I was quite lucky to have been provided with initial research materials: excerpts from books, shipping records, even an entire interview with a descendant from Alexander Boord. And then I considered the extra research materials I had to gather to fill in gaps in the research: construction materials, when they were used, property histories, and so on.

It took me a semester to write up a final report on my findings for my directed study, most of which referred to the significance of the house. It took a considerable amount of effort to compile information on a single site, with multiple visits, to attempt to justify its significance to State history, so I can only imagine the time it would take to cover an entire city’s heritage sites. It really put into perspective the workload and time restrictions consultants may face, even in an area where history is apparently appreciated.

I am very happy to have been able to work on a site with a surprising amount of history, and has attached to much such a historically rich area of Adelaide which I wouldn’t have otherwise known about.

-Antoinette Hennessy, blogpost 4

The Houses of Beaumont Village

Beaumont House is not the only house that was built at the early stages of South Australian settlement. There are other houses nearby in what was the village of Beaumont, that were built early and some of which still remain. For example there is Gleeville, a six roomed wooden house, built in 1838- 1839 (Simpson 1993: 146). The house has since been demolished, however, the stables built on this bit of land for the owner’s stallion, Abdallah, still remain (Simpson 1993: 145). On an area nearby stands Tower House, which is known to have been built sometime before 1850.  The house had eight rooms but it is believed the house had no tower until the late 1960’s (Simpson 1993: 148). A large number of various occupants transferred in and out of Tower House in the twentieth century (Simpson 1993: 149). Ferndale is another house that went through various occupants and was transferred numerous times until it was demolished in 1980-1981 (Simpson 1993: 150).

Norley Bank, another nearby house, was built in 1853-1854 by Peter Egerton Warburton. Warburton was commissioner of police, a justice of the peace and he was also an explorer. He led teams to places like Streaky Bay, Lake Eyre and Cooper Creek (Simpson 1993: 150). He also led an exploration in 1872-1873 across Australia from the centre to the Western Australian Coast. This made him famous and his book Journey across the Western Interior of Australia was published in 1875 (Simpson 1993: 151). Warburton retired to Norley Bank in 1877 and spent the rest of his life there. The house was transferred between various relatives until Norley Bank was demolished in 1972 (Simpson 1993: 150).

Holly Grange is one of the houses that still remain today. The house was built in the early 1850’s and had seven rooms. The house and land expanded over time and received various occupants throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries (Simpson 1993: 152). The Giles House is the last of the noted houses in Beaumont Village, built in 1855-56 by William Giles (Simpson 1003: 153). Giles House has a similar story to that of Ferndale, in that numerous occupants lived in the house until it was demolished in 1962 (Simpson 1993: 154). The history of these houses and their proximity to Beaumont House demonstrate a close community when Beaumont Village was at its peak. Although not all of the houses still exist, the ones that have remained are more important because they can tell us a great deal about the history and people of Adelaide.

Reference: Simpson, E. R. 1993 Beaumont House: The Land and its People. Adelaide: Beaumont Press.

The Australian Cultural Heritage Management Office, 446 South Road, Marleston

The Office and the Field

While completing my Practicum at Australian Cultural Heritage Management Pty Ltd I have noticed there are times when the office is nearly empty. Where is everyone? Out in the field of course! Everyone I have asked all agree that the field is so much more fun. But, there is still a lot of paperwork and research that must go on in the office. I have been lucky enough to experience both worlds but at the moment – I am going to focus on the office. “Why?!” you shriek, “We archaeologists belong in the field!” I believe you have all underrated the office. It seems like a pretty relaxed environment. You should see the scanner, all you have to do is press a few buttons and then just watch your documents go through. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the luxury coffee machine!

Many important skills are learnt and repeatedly honed in the office, such as writing reports, letters, tender responses and cost estimates. It seems you also become pretty fluent in legislation, which is definitely important. I have had a great time scanning field journals and hard copy documents and seeing how the whole system works. It’s also amazing how much you can learn about a place when all the documents regarding it are neatly organised.

The moral of this post: don’t hate on the office, without it you wouldn’t gain or improve your skills. You will miss out on a wealth of information…- and some pretty good coffee.