Archaeology open day unearths history

BURIED beneath the surface at Barwon Grange this weekend will be the chance to step into the shoes of an archaeologist and uncover fragments of the past by hand.

The heritage-listed property in Newtown is the lone surviving example of the many riverside villas built along the Barwon River for Geelong’s elite in the 1850s and 1860s.

As part of the Australian Heritage Festival and National Archaeology Week, the National Trust of Victoria will host an archaeology open day at Barwon Grange on 16 May

The event will begin with a short briefing from qualified archaeologist Dr Stephanie Robinson before participants step into a simulated colonial dig site to excavate, uncover and record artefacts themselves.

Barwon Grange has run archaeology programs for schools in recent years, but this is one of the first opportunities for the wider public to get involved. People of all ages are invited to participate.

“This simulated excavation site has piqued the interest of locals and regular visitors to Barwon Grange, so we’re opening it up to members of the public who would like to experience a taste of archaeology,” National Trust of Victoria’s Nicola Dziadkiewicz said.

Dziadkiewicz said archaeology played a vital role in understanding parts of Australia’s history not captured through written records.

 

 

“Most of the human story can’t be found in the historical, or written, record,” she said. “However, archaeological evidence shows that people have been living in Australia for at least 65,000 years.

“This means that the historical record of Australia only covers 0.4 per cent of our country’s human story. Archaeology allows us to explore and understand the preserved remains of the other 99.6 per cent of the deep history of Australia.

“Archaeologists also investigate environmental evidence like pollen and charcoal to explore past climates, ecosystems and landscapes.”

The National Trust has observed growing public interest in archaeology.

“People love hearing about archaeological finds, and how this shapes our understanding of who we are,” Dziadkiewicz said.

“While history focuses on written records, archaeology looks at the physical remains of this history.

“Together, these separate fields can help us reconstruct historical landscapes and communities.”

The open day will run from 10.30am to 12.30pm.