'1~' (~~J-,-~I I REPORT ON THE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL I...

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\ k,'-a \- \'1~' (~~J-,-~I Ht REPORT ON THE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCA VATIONS

IN MACQUARIE PLACE,

SYDNEY, NSW, 1988.

Edward Higginbotham M.A. Cambridge

CONSULTANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES

www.higginbotham.com.au

Dr. Edward Higginbotham. Edward Higginbotham & Associates Pty Ltd,

Phone: +612 9716 5154. Fax: +612 9716 8547.

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,/

REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL

EXCA VATIONS IN

MACQUARIE PLACE, SYDNEY, NSW,

1988.

E Higginbotham Consultant Archaeological Services

87 Renwick Street, LEICHHARDT, NSW 2040.

(02) 560-5062.

Postal address: PO Box 97

HABERFIELD, NSW 2045. (02) 797-8209.

For Peddle, Thorp and Walker, Sydney.

February 1991.

www.higginbotham.com.au

Dr. Edward Higginbotham. Edward Higginbotham & Associates Pty Ltd.

Phone: +612 9716 5154. Fax: +612 9716 8547.

I I Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, NSW, 1988.

I CONTENTS.

I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

1. INTRODUCTION. 1

I 1.l. Location of the archaeological investigations. 1 1.2. Excavation techniques used in the archaeological investigation. 1

I 1.3 Excavation records. 3

I 2. SUMMARY OF HISTORICAL SEQUENCE OF DEVELOPMENT. 4 I' 2.1. Sequence ofland title and buildings.

4

2.2. Owners and occupants. 5 , 3. DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION OF

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION. 7

I 3.l. Phase 1. Natural soils. 7 3.2. Period I, Phase 2. The Construction of the Service Wing, pre 1830s. 9

I 3.3. Period 1. Phases 3 to 6. The Occupation of the Service Wing, 1800s to 1850s. I I I, 3.4. Period 2, Phases 7 to 10. Demolition of the Service Wing. .14 3.5. Phase 11. The Well, 1855 to 1860. 14 I 4. ARTIFACT ANALYSIS. 22

.4.1. Analysis of the site. 22

I 4.2. Dating of the artifacts. 23 4.3. Dating of phases. 23

I 4.4. Functional analysis of the artifacts. 29 4.5. Depositional Theory. 30 I 4.6. Functional analysis of the phases. 32 4.6.1. The Service Wing. 34 I

4.6.2. The Well. 37

4.7. Analysis of shell and bone. 42

4.8. Pollen analysis. 44

I 4.9. General comments and c.onclusions. 45

I 5. CONCLUSIONS. 53

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APPENDIX 1.

Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, NSW. 1988.

SITE RECORDS. 5.+

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, NSW, 1988.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

The author would like to credit the following for their role in the archaeological

excavation:

Project Management: Tony Thorp of Peddle, Thorp and Walker, and Stephen

Ulwin, ofNorthboume Developments Pty Ltd.

Excavation: the excavation was undertaken principally by the author, but also by

Tracy Ireland and Leah MacKenzie.

Specialist reports: Dr. Jim Boow (specialist report: glass), Denis Gojak (specialist

repolt: kaolin or clay tobacco pipes), Wayne Johnson (specialist report: glass), Leah

MacKenzie (specialist report: ceramics), and Jean Smith (specialist report: glass).

Publication drawings:. Georgia Rennie, from original site plans by the author.

Photography: author.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, ~SW. 1988.

1. INTRODUCTION.

The archaeological excavation of 7 - 15 Macquarie Place, Sydney, was undertakcn in

1988 prior to redevelopment (Figure 1.1). It was completed in accordance with the

recommendations of the historical and archaeological assessment of the site, prepared

as a report in 1987. 1

The site is bounded by 7 - 15 Macquarie Place, 29 - 31 Reiby Place and 6 to 18 Bulletin

Place, Sydney (Figure 1.1). The buildings on 6 - 18 Bulletin Place were retained

during the redevelopment and were not subject to excavation. The site formed pat1 of

Allotments 13 and 14 of Section 47, City of Sydney.

An excavations permit for the site was issued by the Heritage Council 011 16 June

1988.2

1.1. Location of the archaeological investigations.

The only surviving surface archaeological remains were found under the laneway,

which formerly crossed the site to the rear of the Macquarie Place frontage (Figure 1.1)

Part of the Service Wing belonging to the House of Thomas and Mary Reibey was excavated in this location. Elsewhere ,other surface archaeological remains had been

destroyed by basements of former developments.

In spite of basement excavation, the lower portion of the Well, belonging to the House,

was located under basement levels of2,8 metres AHD (Figure 1.1). .

1.2. Excavation techniques used in the archaeological investigation.

The excavation of the Laneway was commenced by mechanical excavator, to remove

the concrete slab and the demolition materials (5) below. This was followed by manual

excavation while the demolition of neighbouring buildings was continuing.

1 E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988. 2 DSC 87/1348.

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Site Plan ~ structure

rn open~sided structure

II_____ ~N o 10m I

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Figure J. J. Site plan of 7 - J 5 Macquarie Place, showing the location of the house built by Thomas and Mary Reibey between 1803 and I 81 0, and demolished in 1881 - J 882. The positions of the Well (41) and the Service Wing are shown, as well as the excavation trench

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, NS\V, 1988.

The upper portion of the Well had ~been destroyed by earlier basements to 2.8 metres

AHD. On initial inspection the shaft was fined with sandstone blocks, either deposited

during the original backfill, of dumped into the shaft after basement excavation. The

\Vell was recorded but not excavated at this stage in order not to disrupt the demolition

of the adjacent building. Subsequently mechanical excavation revealed the lower water-

logged and dark coloured fiU containing numerous artifacts, requiring its excavation to

below the level of proposed basement excavation for the new development. The \V ell

was consequently excavated manually from 2.6 metres to - 0.70 metres AHD. over a

period of 6 days. The artifactual deposits were divided up and given separate numbers

for each day's excavation, excepting the first three days which were given a single

context number (42 - 46).

Because oftime restraints, the Well could not be completely excavated, although limited

auguring indicated more than 1.5 metres (more than 2.2 metres below sea level) of

remaining fill, with no evidence of the base. It was intended to retum to complete the

excavation once the construction of the new development had proceeded above

basement level. This delayed the completion of the project until mid 1989.

Later discussions between the client, consultant and the Department of Planning

concluded that the further excavation of the \-Vell should be considered as a research

excavation, since the archaeological evidence was no longer at risk from the present

development. The standards of research excavations were therefore deemed to apply.

While the initial excavation had been conducted to a high professional standard, the

completion of the excavation for research purposes would have placed an undue burden

on the client in terms of the cost of artifact analysis and conservation of organic

materials.

It was therefore decided that the archaeological investigation on site should be

concluded when the well shaft and its contents were finally sealed from disturbance by

the laying of the concrete floors. With this work completed, the artifact analysis was

able to proceed and was finally completed in early 1990.

1.3 Excavation records.

The excavation records are described in Appendix 1, together with information on their

pennanent storage.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, ~SW, 1988.

2 . SUMMARY OF HISTORICAL SEQUENCE OF DEVELOPMENT.

A complete discussion of ~he historical sequence of development for the site was

researched prior to excavation and is contained within a separate repOli. l The evidence

will be summarised below.

2.1. Sequence of land title and buildings.

Between 1800 and 1803 Thomas Reibey was al10wed to occupy the allotment now

bounded by Reiby Place, Pitt Street and Macquarie Place. Between 1803 and 1810 the

building of a stone house on the Macquarie Place frontage was completed, together

with the Service Wing and the possible replacement of earlier out-buildings.

Thomas Reibey was given a 14 year lease on the allotment on 1 May 1804. A grant of

the land was not issued unti125 August 1812, to Mary Reibey, the widow of Thomas,

who had died as a result of a disease contracted while on a commercial voyage to India.

Mary Reibey took over and successfully continued the large mercantile and other

interests of her late husband, the house in Macquarie Place at times being in her

occupation, but often leased out to individuals and organisations, befitting the prestige

location of the property, opposite the gates' to Government I-louse and adjacent to

Sydney Cove.

In 1845, when first assessed for its rateable value, the building on Macquarie Place wa


Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, ~SW, 1988.

redevelopment effectively curtailed the archaeological record by the use of basements in

each and every instance. 2

2.2. Owners and occupants.

The historical documentation gives the sequence of occupation from the COIlstluction of

the main house on the Macquarie Place frontage until its demolition in 1881 - 1882:3

Date.

c1800 - 1813.

1813 - 1817.

1817-1822.

1822 -

1826 - 1828

c1828 - 1837.

1837 - 1839.

Name. Predominant function.

Thomas and Mary Reibey. Residence and centre of

mercantile affairs.

Robert J enkins. Residence and centre of

mercantile affairs.

Bank of New South Wales Financial centre.

Mary Reibey and family,

when not otherwise

tenanted.

Australian Agricultural

Company.

Church and School Land

Corporation.

Colonial Treasury and

Auditor General

Residence and centre of

mercantile affairs.

Centre of pastoral

enterptise.

Government

administration.

Government

administration.

2 T. Kass, 'Histotical analysis of a site bounded by Macquatie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquatie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988. 3 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', pp. 5 - 10, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macqualie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, XSW, 1988.

With the building of a second house on Reiby Place in 1839 tQ 1840, the occupation

sequence of the part of the sub-divided allotment fronting Macquarie Place is alone

followed:

Date.

1840 - 1842.

1843 - 1845.

1850 - 1851.

1851

1853 - 1868.

1868 - 1875?

1875 - 1881.

Name.

The Exchange.

Australian Subscription

Library.

Andrew Toming, ship

painter and decorator.

Henry Bamett.

Wi11iam Pilford.

Christopher Stahmer.

Government Shipping

Master.

Predominant function.

Financial centre.

Centre of leaming.

Residence and Tradesman.

Residence.

Hotel, 'The Royal Admiral

Inn'.


Inn' .

Goverrmlellt

admi nistration.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, ~S\V, 1988.

3. DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION OF TIlE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION.

The archaeological site has been divided up into phases, representing groups of

archaeological contexts. These groups may be related by stratigraphy. physical

appearance, location or chronology. For example, the post-holes from one building, or

alternatively a series qf layers representing the demolition of a building may be grouped

together. Ultimately the archaeologist uses these phases as a useful tool for interpreting

the site and the human activities central to it. In the following list, two or more phases

have also been grouped together, and to avoid confusion these have been termed

Periods 1 and 2.

Phase Dating Description.

Natural soils.

2 Pre 1830s Construction of the Service Wing. Period l.

3-6 1800s - 1850s O

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-Period 1 o ~N

2m I GR

Figure 3.1. Period 1, Phases 2 to 6 of the Service Wing, showing the archaeological features associated with the construction and occupation of the building.

Sydney Cove, consisting of a loamy sand (AI Horizon), sandy clay loam (A2

Horizon), and brownish yellow to white sandy clay with yellowish brown mottles (B

Horizon).l

1 E Higginbotham, M Macphail, and B Davey, 'The soil and pollen analysis of part of the gardens of First Government House, Sydney', in AlHA, Sydney, 1988, Vol. 6, p. 52.

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=------------------------------------------ --- ----



Period 2

~N 2m I -=-----o

G.R

Figure 3.2. Period 2, Phases 7 to 10 of the Service Wing, showing the archaeological features associated with the demolition of the building and the subsequent development. The position of Sections 1 to 3 are illustrated.

3.2. Period 1, Phase 2. The Construction of the Service Wing, pre

1830s.

Period 1, Phase 2 is dated by artifact analysis of a small and perhaps unreliable sample

to the years between 1788 and 1830. Some contamination was suspected of this

context, which on historical grounds alone is dated to 1803 to 1810.2

2 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', p. 6, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place. Sydney, .:\"S\V, 1988.

The location of the excavated area of the Service Wing is illustrated in Figure 1.1.

Phase 2 was restricted to describing the sandstone boundary wall (12), its foundation

trench (31), and part of the fill (38) of that footing trench, where it was sealed by the

wa11 footings of the partition wall (9) (Figures 3.1 and 3.2). The brick partition wall (9)

butts up to the boundary wan (12), indicating that the latter is the oldest structural

element encountered during the excavation.

Pollen samples were taken from this fill layer (38) and also from the mortar of the

boundary wall (12).3

In 'view of the small artifact sample available, and its possible later contamination,

Phase 2 was amalgamated with Phases 3 to 6 for all subsequent dating and functional

analysis.

3.3. Period 1. Phases 3 to 6. The Occupation of the Service Wing,

1800s to 1850s.

Period 1, Phases 3 to 6, induding Phase 2, are dated by artifact analysis between 1800

and 1850s. Historical evidence in fact pGints to the occupation of the Service Wing

between 1803 and 1810 to 1880s, when the buildings were demoJished to make way

for commercial development.4

The portion of the Service Wing surviving until the excavation comprised only the

sandstone boundary wall (12), opposite which the sandstone footings of its other side

wall (20) were located. Within the excavation, only the footings of one brick paliition

wall (9) survived. It was constructed of flat sands'tock brick, without any frog, bonded

with mud mortar, over a footing of rough sandstone blocks. This building was

interpreted as the Service Wing erected between 1803 and 1810 (Figures 3.1,3.2, and

3.3).

Comparison with the subdivision plan prepared in 1881, upon which the detail of the

site plan is based, indicates that the room (18) to the south-east of the paliition wall (9) . was the kitchen, while the room (17) to the north-west was the stables (Figure 1.1).

3 See Chapter 4, Section 4.8. Pollen Analysis. -i T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', pp. 6-10, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place. Sydney, NSW, 1988.

This may have been the case in the 1870s or 1880s, but the archaeological evidence

suggests that the stables may have had an earlier domestic or similar use.

The kitchen (18) was floored with timber, as indicated by the plinth on the brick

pa11ition wall (9), and the nature of the underfloor deposits. There is some evidence that

the flooring may have been renewed, and the wall replastered. The evidence is as

follows:

1. Rotted wall plates were found in horizontal slots in the brick partition

wall (9). The most reasonable interpretation is that these provided the

means of attachment for the skirting boards.

2. The surviving wall plaster had concealed these wall plates from view,

in addition to covering the wall to the floor level. At floor level, bottle

glass has been stuffed into the gap between the boards and the wall to

stop the plaster from falling beneath the floor. The composition of the

wall plaster was similar to the mud mortar and had a whitewashed

surface. The glass was I!0t datable, but the plaster type was primitive,

implying a pre 1850 date.

The lease of the house to Andrew Toming on 24 August 1850 made proyision for the

kitchen to be floored in timber, in preference to building a new kitchen.s It is possible

that the historical and archaeological evidence may refer to the same event.

Other features in the kitchen (18) are difficult to interpret. They include a stone filled

trench (23,24), two slots and one possible post-hole (28, 29). They were all filled with

a single layer of soil (23), and one which provides a reliable sample for the dating of

the occupation of the Service Wing from 1800s to 1850s. Clearly the deposition of this

layer (23) post-dates the use of the structural features. It is possible therefore that they

represent the configuration of the kitchen before its refurbishment in the 1850s.

The use of the kitchen (18) for this purpose throughout the occupation of the Service

Wing from 1800s to 1880s is consistent with the results of artifact analysis and the


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Archaeological excavations in 1\:1acquarie Place, Sydney, ~S\V, 1988.

structural and documentary evidence that survives. The artifact analysis only indicates a

domestic situation, but has good evidence of functions associated with the kitchen.

The use of the other room (17) as a stable is questioned. While not denying that it may

have been used for this purpose during the later stages of occupation, the lime mortar

floor (26) is not a suitable floor type for this purpose. It would have quickly worn out

under these circumstances. The artifact analysis again supports a domestic use, the

floor type being more suitable for a store room or similar function, where traffic is not

expected to be heavy. The plaster (35) on the partition wall (9) post-dates the mOliar

floor (26). The artifacts again date the occupation between the 1800s a,nd 1850s,

indicating that the lime mortar floor and wall plaster may have been an alteration or

refurbishment of the premises. There is no indication of any earlier flooring.

Two layers are recorded as accumulating over the mortar floor (26) before the

demolition of the Service Wing. One is a layer of humic loam (16) , overlain by a layer

of silty sand (15). The humic layer also contains plaster and brick fragments, and

sandstone blocks. The silty sand layer (15) also spills over the footings of the side wa11

(20) of the Service Wing, and is similar to a layers (14, 19) found in the kitchen (18)

and courtyard respectively. Taken together, these layers represent the gradual

dilapidation and collapse of' the structure prior to demolition. Under these.

circumstances, it is quite possible for the rooms to have been abandoned for domestic

purposes, and for one of them to have been used as a stable, as recorded by the

surveyor in 1881 (Figure 1.1).

The only remaining evidence for refurbishment of the Service Wing is the presence of

cement render on the external face of the side wall (20). This rendering may be dated to

the latter part of the 19th century.

The evidence discussed above indicates that the Service Wing was constructed between

1803 and 1810, but that it was refurbished extensively by c. 1850, and perhaps

maintained to an even later date. One room (18) was continuously used as a kitchen, the

other (17) as a store room or similar function, until the dilapidation of the Service Wing

relegated its use to a stable.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney.),,"SW. 1988.

3.4. Period}, Phases 7 to 10. Demolition of the Service Wing.

Period 2, Phases 7 to 10 were not reliably dated by artifact analysis, the sample being

too small, but suggesting occupation to 1870s. The historical date for the demolition of

the House and Service Wing, namely 1882 to 1883, provides a more precise date than

the archaeological evidence. 6

Period 2 is restricted to a layer of brick and other demolition material (5), and the

various walls, footing trenches, and stormwater drains of subsequent development

from the 1880s onwards (1, 2, 4, 6 - 8, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 19).

This period includes the layers (14, 15, 19) associated with the dilapidation and

collapse of the Service Wing, discussed in Section 3.3 above.

3.5. Phase 11. The Well, 1855 to 1860.

Phase 11 is dated by artifact analysis between 1850 and 1860. Registration ?iamonds

and other marks on glass and ceramics allowed this date to be refined to 1855 to 1860.

References to a well located on the property first appear in 1818, and indicate the

intention to cover over the pre-existing well. 7 The occupants of the site from the earliest

date would have required a water supply, and it is likely that the Well (41) was sunk

during the construction of the house between 1803 and 1810 (Figure 1.1). The

remaining well shaft was cut into sandstone, the rock face being finished with a pointed

pick using oblique or diagonal strokes. The upper portion of the shaft had been

destroyed by earlier basements to 2.8 metres AHD. On initial inspection the shaft was

filled with sandstone blocks, either deposited during the original backfill, of dumped

into the shaft after basement excavation. The Wen was recorded but not excavated at

this stage in order not to disrupt the demolition of the adjacent building. Subsequently

mechanical excavation revealed the lower water-logged and dark coloured fill

containing numerous artifacts, requiring its excavation to below the level of proposed

6 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', p. 10, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and "Walker, Sydney, 1988. 7 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', pp. 7-8, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988.

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Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, :'\SW. 1988.

basement excavation for the new development. The Well was excavated manually from

2.6 metres to - 0.70 metres AHD. over a period of 6 days. The artifactual deposits were

divided up and given separate numbers for each day's excavation (.:1-2 - 46). Because of

time restraints, the Well could not be completely excavated, although limited auguring

indicated more than 1.5 metres (more than 2.2 metres below sea level) of remaining fill,

with no evidence of the base.

The Well was most likely backfilled because it was no longer required as a source of

fresh water, a possibility supported by historical evidence, which indicates that

Macquarie Place had a reticulated water supply from at least 1844.8 The backfill was

principally in the form of domestic rubbish in a matrix of wood ashes. The ash may

have been derived from stoves or open fireplaces, the Ph value of 5.5 being consistent

with this source and fuel. The acidity of the backfill also explains the uncorrodcd nature

of the non-ferrous metals and the etching of their surfaces. It may also explain the

disappearance of the thread or twine in the numerous shoe examples, but the survival of

other fabrics.

8 C.H.Bertie, The early histOIY of the Sydney A1unicipal Council, Sydney, 1911.

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Figure 3.4. General view of the excavation of the Service Wing, looking north- west, after the removal of most of the underfloor deposits. The sandstone boundary wall (12) is on the left, the brick partition wall (9) centre, and the other wall of the building (20) is 011 the right. Part of the extemal yard surface (29) and other intemal features (24,27, 28, 31) may also be seen. (Scale 1 metre, with 0.5 metre division. Photograph: E. Higgil1botham).

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Figure 3.5. Detail of the brick partition wall (9), showing the slots for the wooden wall plates, a11d also the uneven nature of the bedrock and the sandstone footings. (Scale I metre, with 0.5 metre division. Photograph: E. Higginbotham).

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Figure 3.6. Detail of the footing trench (31) for the sandstone boundary wall (12), and the sandstone filled feature (24) within it. Pollen samples were taken from either side of the partition wall (9), from a vertical section beneath its footings, thereby providing a context sealed by the wall (9). (Scale 1 metre, with 0.5 metre division. Small scale 0.20 metres long with 0.10 metre division. Photograph: E. Higginbotham).

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Figure 3. 7. Detail view of the comerofthe room (17), showing the partition wall (9), and the boundary wall (12), with the mortar floor (26) abutting both. The wall plaster was finished after the laying of the mortar floor. (Scale 1 metre, with 0.5 metre division. Photograph: E. Higginbotham).

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Figure 3.8. Detail view of the comer of the room (J 7), showing the partition wall (9), and the boundary wall (l 2), after the excavation of all floor deposits to bedrock, and the removal of wall plaster. (Scale 1 metre, with 0.5 metre division. Photograph: E. Higginbotham).

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Figure 3.9. General view of the excavation of the well under salvage conditions. The waterlogged materials were sieved in aI1ifact trays in the garbage bins full of water from the well. They were sorted into main categories on site, and all organic materials were placed in polythene bags to prevent drying out. The remaining cataloguing and conservation was completed off site. While demolition of neighbouring buildings was temporarily halted during the archaeological investigation, the resulting rubble surrounded the working space. (Photograph: E. Higginbotham).

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4. ARTIFACT ANALYSIS.

The cataloguing of artifacts from an archaeological excavation has two principal

purposes, first the dating of the artifacts, and second their functional analysis. The

dating of the artifacts is always an important consideration, so that the chronological

sequence of the site may be determined in relation to the stratigraphic evidence. Once

this has been achieved the functional analysis of the site can proceed.

The artifacts were divided up into the following categories for cataloguing purposes:

Artifact categories. Status.

1. Aboriginal artifacts. none.

2. Bone unworked. catalogued.

3. Building materials. catalogued.

4. Ceramics. catalogued.

5. Glass. catalogued.

6. Kaolin catalogued.

7. Metals. catalogued.

8.1. Miscellaneous-coins. catalogued.

8.1. Miscellaneous-other. catalogued.

9. Organics. catalogued

10. Samples. catalogued.

11. Shell unworked. catalogued.

12. Stone. catalogued.

13. Synthetics. catalogued.

4. 1. Analysis of the site.

There are various procedures common to the dating and functional analysis of a site.

The archaeological contexts were grouped into a number of phases in accordance with

stratigraphic, chronological and other comparative evidence. The identification of

phases is in fact a significant simplification of the function of the "Harris Matrix', but

achieves the same result. The phases are listed and described below:

Phase

1

2

Dating

Pre 1830s

Description.

Natural soils.

Construction of the Service Wing.

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3 - 6

7 - 10

11.

1800s - 1850s

to 1870s

1850 - 1860.

4.2. Dating of the artifacts.

Occupation of Service Wing.

Demolition of Service Wing.

Well.

Four categories of artifacts were catalogued and used for the purpose of dating the site.

These were ceramics, glass, kaolin or clay tobacco pipes, and miscellaneous - coins.

For each artifact type it was possible to list the frequency of fragments or whole pieces,

together with the dates of production. These dates were listed as follows:

'From' records the date production commenced.

'T 0' records the date production ceased.

Artifact frequency was calculated on total number of pieces found, not on any

calculation of the actual number of complete artifacts that might be represented by the

total number of pieces. Because of the small quantities of datable artifacts from both the

kaolin and miscellaneous categories, they were not included in the statistical analysis

for dating purposes, but were nonetheless found to be consistent with the results

obtained.

4.3. Dating of phases.

The following pages are devoted to the analysis and interpretation of a number of

graphs indicating the frequency of artifacts against the date of production from or

production to, as defined above. For this purpose, the archaeological contexts were

grouped into the phases also described above.

23



~O~--------------------------------------------------------

200

3. Production from • Ceramics

BI Glass

400~--------------------------------------------------------~

~o

200

100

3. Production to

• Ceramics

III Glass

I •

Figures 4.1 and 4.2. Dates of production from and to for ceramics and glass in Phase

3, namely the occupation of the Service Wing. The graphs indicate frequency of

artifacts against date.

24

I I I I I I I I I I I -I I I I I I I I I I


Phase number: 3

Phase description: Occupation of the Service Wing.

Size of sample: Medium

Reliability of sample: Reliable.

Interpretation of sample: artifacts within this phase represent the construction and

occupation of the Service Wing, between 1820s and 1850s.

Phases 2 and 3 are combined in the above analysis, since phase 2 was too small a

sample to be datable. Phase 2, the construction of the Service Wing, suggested a date

prior to 1830s, but was contaminated by later material. The date of 1803 to 1810 for the

completion of the house and outbuildings, provided by historical documentation, is in

this instance more precise than the archaeological evidence.!

! T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', p. 6, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and -Wa1ker, Sydney, 1988.

25



OOO~------------------------------------------------------~

500

400

300

200

100

4. Production from

• Ceramics

IJ Glass

800~------------------------------------------------------~

400

4. Production to

• Ceramics

a Glass

Figures 4.3 and 4.4. Dates of production from and to for ceramics and glass in Phase

4, namely the occupation of the Service Wing. The graphs indicate frequency of

artifacts against date.

26



Phase number: 4

Phase description: Occupation of the Service Wing.

Size of sample: Medium

Reliability of sample: Reliable.

Interpretation of sample: artifacts within this phase represent underfloor deposits

in the Service Wing, dated between 1800s and 1850s.

Remaining phases relating to the occupation of the Service Wing were analysed, but in

each case the samples were too small for reliable use. Each phase did provide a date

range consistent with Phases 3 and 4. For this reason the graphs have not been

included. During the functional analysis stage, Phases 2 to 6 were placed together to

give an overall picture of the Service WiIlg.

The graphs for Phases 7 to 10, the-demolition of the Service Wing, have also been

excluded here for similar reasons, namely that the dating is consistent with Phases 2 to

6, but the samples are too small for reliability. The historical date for the demolition of

the House and Service Wing, namely 1882 to 1883, provides a more precise date than

the archaeological evidence.2


27

I I I I I I I I I I ·1 I I I I I 1 I I I I


3Ooor------------------------------------------------------.

2000

Phase 11. Production from • Ceramics

11 Glass

3Ooor------------------------------------------------------.

2000

1000

Phase 11. Production to • Ceramics

III Glass

Figures 4.5 and 4.6. Dates of production from and to for ceramics and gJass in Phase

11, namely the back/Wing of the well. The graphs indicate frequency of artifacts against

date.

28



Phase number: 11

Phase description: Backfilling of the well (41).

Size of sample: Large.

Reliability of sample: Reliable. The Well was not completely excavated, but it is

believed that the 8926 artifacts recovered should fonn a representative sample.

Interpretation of sample: artifacts within this phase represent the backfilling of the

well (41), dated between 1850 and 1860, now refined to 1855 to 1860.

The consistent recovery of white porcelain with purple moulded flowers (types 224 to

228,253,256,287,291), dated from 1855 to 1880, from throughout the well profile

indicates that this date range may be further reduced to a five year bracket, namely 1855

to 1860. On the other hand, certain glass articles were originally dated with production

dates commencing in the 1860s and 1870s. It is considered that the conservative dating

of the glass may contribute to these late dates, or that in some cases insufficient

infonnation was available for an earlier date at the time of analysis. 3

4.4. Functional analysis of the artifacts.

The cataloguing of the each artifact included a brief description or object name, a

function and key function, in accordance with general practice in archaeology. The

following key functions were used in the analysis of the Service Wing and Well:

3 Dr. Jim Boow and Mrs Jean Smith have indicated that they have applied dates on a very conservative basis, often allowing for ten years after production commencement until an article may arrive in Australia.

29



Key Function.

Alcohol.

Barrels.

Building.

Cleaning.

Clothing.

Clothing or footwear.

Containers.

Currency.

Drink (non-alcoholic).

Food.

Footwear.

Furnishings.

Games.

Haberdashery.

Horticulture.

Jewellery.

4.5. Depositional Theory.

Key Function.

Kitchenware.

Kitchenware or toilet.

Laundry.

Leatherworking.

Matches.

medicine or toilet.

Smoking.

Tableware.

Toilet.

Toilet or cosmetic.

Tools.

Toys.

Unidentified.

Writing.

Writing or toilet.

The graphs summarising the functional analysis of the Service Wing and Well are the

key to a mass of archaeological inforrilation and interpretation (Figures 4.7 and 4.8). In

general it may be stated that the samples for Phases 2 to 6, the Service Wing, and for

Phase 11, the Well, are large and therefore probably statistically reliable. However even

a casual inspection of the information will reveal that the graphs do not indicate a direct

relationship with the activities that have taken place on site. 'Depositional or Post-

depositional Theory' has been developed by archaeologists to cope with this and similar

situations.4 While it is not intended to discuss this theory at length, nonetheless

sufficient will be included in the interpretive discussion to indicate that:

1. those functions which are represented by only small numbers of

artifacts are probably under-represented, and

4 D. L. Clarke, ed., Models in Archaeology, Methuen, London, 1972, passim.

30

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1-

I


2. other activities not represented at all in the functional analysis, could

have taken place on site.

The following equation has been used in the study of trade networks in archaeology:

Value = Distance

Mass

where the distance over which objects are traded is' related to the value and mass of the

objects. This equation can also be adapted to the disposal of objects, as follows:

Value = Disposal.

Mass

In this case disposal may mean a whole range of outcomes, from burning and

dumping, to reuse or recycling. Functions where materials are predominantly reused or

recycled are likely to be under-represeQ.ted in the archaeological record.

While the above equation may determine the introduction of materials into the

archaeological record, the survival of those materials in th~ archaeological context is

also the result of several factors, one of the most important of which is the destruction

of organic materials in all but anaerobi{: or anhydrous conditions. This site is significant

in that the well is one such anaerobic environment, where most organic materials can be

shown to have survived.

While this discussion has concentrated on the artifact and its introduction and survival

in the archaeological record, there are other factors which stand between the activities

themselves and the interpretation of the archaeologist. These include the equation of the

activity to the artifact, and the ability of the archaeologist to recognise, recover and

interpret the evidence.

The above equation and other comments will be used in the following text to assist in

the interpretation of the site.

31


Archaeological excavati

---------------- - - - --s· ~ .... I\) .... C!. ~. 0 0

I\) B gj gs 0 ~ ~ 0 8 Q' ':'I (") 0 0 0 0

(:b &Ij

~ ~ .g ~ t:: § g Q.. ~ ~ Clothing Cleaning >-Cl ?o Clothing or footwear (i ......

~ Clothing ::r'

tu Containers I'll ~ :::s Currency

!'1> 0

~ f") a ::::-. Drink f") g ~, &i Food S· tu ("')

"-Footwear

e. g I:U (1) ~ Furnishings Furnishings "

x 9. "- ("') ";;l Games c I'll

I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I


2000r-------------------------------------------------------Functional analysis of Well, excluding organic materials

'u 15 ::J !5 CD



Dry Store, or could have been reused after its demolition in 1814.5 The remaining items

listed under this key function included a number of nails, screws, nuts, other metal off-

cuts and window glass, and m~y best be interpreted as repairs additions or alterations.

Cleaning. The key function of cleaning was given to lout of 2942 artifacts, or 0.03

% of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It is represented by a single fragment of a

stoneware bottle originally containing blacking for stoves and the like. It is believed that

most items related to cleaning would have not survived in the archaeological record, so

that this key function may be under-represented in the assemblage.

Clothing. The key function of clothing was given to 19 out of2942 artifacts, or 0.65

% of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It included a range of buttons, studs,

clothing hooks, and eyelets. It is comparable with the key function of haberdashery

which in this context was represented by pins alone. Taken together these two key

functions could be interpreted in a range of ways, including ad hoc repairs to clothing,

tailoring or dressmaking. It is considered that the location and range of artifacts is more

consistent with the former interpretation.

Drink. The key function of drink was given to 6 out of 2942 artifacts, or 0.20 % of

the assemblage in the Service Wing. This key function included the consumption of all

non-alcoholic beverages. In this case it·was represented by one stoneware ginger beer

bottle, and five other glass bottle fragments for aerated waters.

Food. The key function of food was given to 870 out ofa total of2942 artifacts, or

29.57 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It consisted wholly of shell and bone,

categorised generally as food debris. These remains were subject to a specialist report

on dietary preferences, to be summarised in section 4.7 below. 6

Furnishings. The key function of furnishings was given to 2 out of2942 artifacts, or

0.07 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It is represented by a single fragment of

a gilded porcelain ornament, and one bronze alloy fragment of floral tracery. It is

suggested that furnishings would have been under-represented in the archaeological

record, because of the extent of reuse of furniture and furnishings in general.

5 E. Higginbotham. Report on archaeological watching brief, Gateway Plaza, Circular Quay, Sydney N.S.W. Gateway Plaza Pty Ltd. 1986. 6 Specialist reports on shell and bone were prepared by Dominic Stee1e, and have been placed in the site records.

35

I I I I I I I I I I I,

I I . 1 I I I I I I I


Haberdashery. The key function of haberdashery was given to 215 out of 2942

artifacts, or 7.31 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It comprised solely of pins.

These could have be~n used in a variety of ways as described above under the key

function of clothing, but could also have been used in office work. In view of the range

and location of artifacts in the key functions of clothing and haberdashery in the Service

Wing, the interpretation of ad hoc repairs to clothing was the preferred interpretation.

Horticulture. The key function of horticulture was given to 279 out of2942 artifacts,

or 9.48 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It comprised a range of earthenware

basins and jars, some of which may have been used for storage in the kitchen, rather

than horticultural usage. Included also were a number of glazed and unglazed body

fragments of earthenware. They may be interpreted as kitchenware, or as evidence of

vegetable or garden propagation. Further evidence of cultivation in the locality is

summarised in section 4.8 on pollen analysis.

Jewellery. The key function of jewellery was given to 4 out of 2942 artifacts, or

0.14 % of the assemplage in the Service Wing. It is represented by one cut glass jewel

and three copper alloy earrings or other costume jewellery. These items of personal

adormnent would not have been of any great value.

Kitchenware. The key function of kitchenware was given to 41 out of 2942

artifacts, or 1.39 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It is represented by glass

bottles containing oils, pickles,. 'chutneys and other foods, by earthenware jars and

bowls, and by two knives .

Medicine or toilet, toilet, and toilet or cosmetic. The key functions of

medicine or toilet, toilet, and toilet or cosmetic were given to 17 out of 2942 artifacts,

or 0.58 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It is represented by fragments of

glass bottles that may have contained medicine, products for personal toilet, or

cosmetics.

Smoking. The key function of smoking was given to 54 out of 2942 artifacts, or

1.84 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It is represented solely by pieces of

kaolin or clay pipes for tobacco smoking.

Tableware. The key function of tableware was given to 300 out of 2942 artifacts, or

10.2 % of the assemblage in the Service Wing. It is represented by a wide range of

earthenwares and porcelain, predominantly items belonging to dinner sets, including

36

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------~

I I I

I I 'I I I I I-

I I I

I


cups, saucers, plates, bowls, and jars, but also by glass carafes, stemmed glasses and

tumblers.

Toilet. See Medicine above.

Toilet or cosmetic. See Medicine above.

Toys. The key function of toys was given to lout of2942 artifacts, or 0.03 % of the

assemblage in the Service Wing. It was represented by a single glass marble.

Unidentified. The remaining 842 out of2942 artifacts were unidentified, or 28.61 %

of the assemblage in the Service Wing.

4.6.2. The Well.

The interpretation of the archaeological evidence may best be described by an ,analysis

of each function. The Well was not completely excavated, but it is believed that the

8926 artifacts recovered should form a representative sample. In the Well the following

key functions were recognised:

Alcohol. The key function of alcohol was given to 1948 out of 8926 artifacts, or

2~.82 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is principally represented by

glass bottles containing alcohol, a small proportion of which can be identified

specifically as beer, gin or wine bottles. A small number of stoneware alcohol bottles

are present, as well as foil bottle seals and cork or wood stoppers.

Barrels. The key function of barrels was given to 27 out of 8926 artifacts, or 0.30 %

of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by barrel hoops, but also

by one wooden barrel peg or stopper. Barrels of different sizes were used for a variety

of storage and packaging purposes including alcoholic liquors and salt meats in brine.

They could also be used as water butts and the like. It will be suggested in section 4.9

that this evidence, together with the historical documentation, is indicative of the use of

the site as a hotel.

Building. The key function of building was given to 154 out of 8926 artifacts, or

1. 73 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. This key function implies

construction, repair, additions and alterations to structures. It comprised a number of

37

I I I I I I I I I 'I I I

I:

I I I I


sandstock roofing tiles of a type used in the late 18th and early 19th century on

government buildings like the neighbouring Dry Store on Macquarie Place, constructed

in 1791. These tiles may have found their way on to this site merely because of

proximity to the Dry Store, or could have been reused after its demolition in 1814.7 The

remaining items listed under this key function included a number of nails, spikes,

hinges, keys, a lock, escutcheon plates, springs, washers, lead off-cuts and window

glass. In addition, organic materials, including wooden off-cuts, shingles, and planks,

were found. All these materials may best be interpreted as repairs, additions or

alterations.

Cleaning. The key function of cleaning was given to 12 out of 8926 artifacts, or 0.13

% of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by a number of

stoneware blacking bottles, and at least two brushes.

Clothing. The key function of Clothing was given to 105 out of 8926 artifacts, or

1.18 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. This key. function is closely related

to those of clothing or footwear, footwear, haberdashery and leatherworking. Taken

together, these key functions indicate the presence of adult male and female, and

children's clothing, as well as ad hoc repairs to clothing, and possibly leatherworking.

The key function of clothing is represented by buttons, eyelets, and clothing hooks, but

also by belts, belt buckles, leather pouches, wallets, stitched fabric and other leather

and material off-cuts, elasticised garters, parasols, and possible wooden staves for a

woman's girdle.

Clothing or footwear. The key function of clothing or footwear was given to 13

out of8926 artifacts, or 0.15 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. This key

function is closely related to those of clothing, footwear, haberdashery and

leatherworking. Taken together, these key functions indicate the presence of adult male

and female, and children's clothing, ad hoc repairs to clothing, and possibly

leatherworking. It is represented by a number of small leather scraps which could be

articles of clothing, accessories or footwear.

Containers. The key function of containers was given to 67 out of 8926 artifacts, or

0.75 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is predominantly represented by

cannister fragments of tin / iron, but includes possible dishes and handles, or lids of the

7 E. Higginbotham. Report on archaeological watching brief, Gateway Plaza, Circular Quay, Sydney N.S.W. Gateway Plaza Pty Ltd. 1986.

38

I I I. I I I I I I 'I ·1 I I' I I I,

I I I I 'I


same metal. This key function has been used where the contents of the container is

unknown.

Currency. The key function of currency has been given to 3 out of 8926 artifacts, or

0.03 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by two tokens,

and one other metal token or disc. The latter is perhaps a gaming piece.

Drink. The key function of drink was given to 344 out of8926 artifacts, or 3.85 % of

the assemblage from the Well. It is represented by stoneware ginger beer bottles, and

glass bottles for aerated waters.

Food. The key function of food was given to 1581 out of a total of 8926 artifacts, or

17.71 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It consisted mostly of shell and

bone, categorised generally as food debris. These remains were subject to a specialist

report on dietary preferences, to be summarised in section 4.7 below.8 In addition

there were a number of eggshell fragments, stone fruits (apricot, peach and others),

hazelnuts and coconuts.

Footwear. The key function of footwear was given to 393 out of 8926 artifacts, or

4.4 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. This key function is closely related

to those of clothing, clothing or footwear, haberdashery and leatherworking. Taken

together, these key functions indicate the presence of adult male and female, and

chil.dren's clothing, ad hoc repairs to clothing, and possibly leatherworking. It i?'

predominantly represented by leather off-cuts, shoe fragments or whole shoes, ranging

from children's sizes to adult male and female examples. Some shoes include fabric,

and may have been slippers or other similar shoes. There are a number of rubber

overshoes.

Furnishings. The key function of furnishings was given to 17 out of 8926 artifacts,

or 0.19 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by mirror glass,

pieces of wooden furniture, an annrest, and part of a chair back, as well as a caster and

handle. It is likely that this key function is under-represented, because of the e~tent to

which furnishings may have been reused.

Games. The key function of games was given to lout of 8926 artifacts, or 0.01 % of

the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is a ceramic disc of black transfer print,

8 Specialist reports on shell and bone were prepared by Dominic Steele, and have been placed in the site records.

39

-~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I' t I I I'

Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, SydI,ley, NSW, 1988.

shaved off into a circular shape. Another possible gaming piece was placed in the key

function' of currency. All the currency items may in fact have been used in games.

Haberdashery. The key function of haberdashery was given to 68 out of 8926

artifacts, or 0.76 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. This key function is

closely related to those of clothing, clothing or footwear, footwear and leatherworking.

Taken together, these key functions indicate the presence of adult male and female, and

children's clothing, ad hoc repairs to clothing, and possibly leatherworking. It is

predominantly represented by wool or felt off-cuts, cotton reels, pins, scissors and

thimbles.

Horticulture. The key function of horticulture is represented by lout of 8926

artifacts, or 0.01 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by one

sickle blade. Further evidence of cultivation in the locality is summarised in section 4.8

on pollen analysis.

Kitchenware. The key function of kitchenware was given to 527 out of 8926

artifacts, or 5.9 % of the assemblage' recovered from the Well. It is represented by glass

bottles for oil, vinegar, pickle, chutney, sauces, and other preserves, by earthenware

jars, by an iron / tin jug, dish, flour sifter, kettle, saucepan and flour / sugar sprinkler,

and by other articles including knives, teaspoons, and a wooden rolling pin.

Kitchenware or toilet. The key function ofkitche~ware or toilet was given to 18

out of 8926 artifacts, or 0.21 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is

represented solely by whit glazed lidded jars, which may have contained products used

in the kitchen, or in personal toilet.

Laundry. The key function oflaundry was given to 3 out of 8926 artifacts, or 0.03 %

of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented solely by three

fragmentary clothes pegs. It is likely that this function is under-represented on the site,

because the majority of items associated with laundry would not have survived in the

archaeological record or would have been reused or recycled.

Leatherworking, and leatherworking or transport. The key functions of

leatherworking and leatherworking or transport were given to 39 out of 8926 artifacts,

or 0.44 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. The key function of

leatherworking is closely related to those of clothing, clothing or footwear, footwear

and haberdashery. Taken together, these key functions indicate the presence of adult

40

I

'I I I I I I I :1 I I I. t I I I I I I


male and female, and children's clothing, ad hoc repairs to clothing, and possibly

leatherworking. The key functions of leatherworking and leatherworking or transport

are predominantly represented by off-cuts, strap segments, a possible martingale, and

part of a saddle.

Within these key functions, the evidence for leatherworking is provided by numerous

off-cuts. This interpretation requires close scrutiny. One of the features of the

leatherwork is that the thread has not survived, although other textiles are present. This

may have increased the frequency of the interpretation of off-cuts. The characteristics of

the leather reveal that the leatherworking is predominantly at the tertiary level of

production, that is of manufactured goods. There is no evidence of primary production

(cattle, carcass butchery, hides), nor secondary production (tanning ofleather, tanned

hides). Indeed the leather appears mostly of a thin or fine nature, suitable for the

production or repair of shoes and other accessories. One argument against the

interpretation ofleatherworking on site is the absence of waste leather from cutting out

soles and other components. On this basis the interpretation ofleatherworking can only

be doubtful. Initial cataloguing of the leather was only possible within the bounds of

this study, and it should be.made part of a detailed study to resolve this issue.

There is some evidence for the presence of saddlery and other harness for horse

transport ..

Matches. The key function of matches was given to 10 out of8926 artifacts, or 0.11

% of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is believed that only a small proportion

of the matches were recovered in the sieving process, due to the time restraints imposed

on the salvage excavation. Therefore it may be under-represented on the site. It consists

solely of wooden matches and cylindrical wooden containers for them. The key

function was not combined with smoking, because matches could have been used for

other purposes. It is possible that the cannisters may have contained tooth picks, but

none were found in the archaeological record.

Medicine, medicine or toilet, toilet, and toiJet or cosmetic. The key

functions of medicine, medicine or toilet, toilet, and toilet or cosmetic were given to

135 out of 8926 artifacts, or 1.51 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. They

are represented by glass bottles containing medicines or toiletries, by hairpins, and by

ceramic pots or jars containing toiletries or cosmetics.

41

I ,I I I I' t I I 'I I I I I I 'I I I ,I

I I I


Smoking. The key function of smoking was given to 107 out of 8926 artifacts, or

1.19 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented solely by pieces of

kaolin or clay pipes for tobacco smoking.

Tableware. The key function of tableware was given to 1480 out of 8926 artifacts,

or 16.58 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by a wide

range of earthenwares and porcelain, predominantly items belonging to dinner sets,

including cups, saucers, plates, bowls, jars, meat platters, other platters, serving

platters and bowls, but also by glass carafes, stemmed glasses, tumblers, condiments,

vases and stoneware demijohns.

Toilet. See Medicine above.

Toilet or cosmetic. See Medicine above.

Tools. The key function of tools was given to 2 out of 8926 artifacts, or 0.02 % of the

assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by an axe head and an awl,

complete with wooden handle.

Toys. The key function of toys waS given to 7 outof8926 artifacts, or 0.08 % of the

assemblage recovered from the Well. It is represented by marble and glass marbles.

Unidentified. The key function of unidentified was given by default to 1860 out of

8926 artifacts, or 20.83 % of the assemblage recovered from the Well.

Writing and writing or toilet. The key functions of writing and writing or toilet

were given to 4 out of 8926 artifacts, or 0.04 % of the assemblage recovered from the

Well.

4.7. Analysis of shell and bone.

The analysis of all unworked shell and bone was undertaken as part of a specialist

report into dietary preferences, environmental factors and living conditions.9 The main

points of this report will be summarised below.

9 Specialist reports on shell and bone were prepared by Dominic Steele, and have been placed in the site records.

42

I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I


Shell. The majority of edible shell species recovered from the site were of the Sydney

Rock Oyster (79.7 %), while a smaller proportion were of Mud Oyster ( 12. 9 %),

cockle (3.73 %), and whelk ( 0.67 %). The non-edible species comprised only a few

examples (1.52 %), including stromb, cowry and sundial. The latter may have been

collected as souvenirs by sailors and others in various parts of the World.

The Rock Oysters were found not to have been cultivated, because of the frequent

occurrence of shells with other oysters attached, being also of varying age. All the food

species would have been available in estuarine localities near Sydney. It was suggested

that the lower frequency of Mud Oysters in later contexts (the Service Wing as opposed

to the Well) may reflect the destruction of its natural mud habitat by the spread of

human population as well as by navigation.

Bone. The following species were recovered from the site:

Species. Frequency.

Bat/Flying Fox 5

Bird/Fowl 142

Chicken 95

Cattle 52

Duck 5

Fish 115

Pig 48

Rodent 75

Sheep 181

Turkey 14

Unidentified 1234

The 75 rodent specimens recovered from both the Service Wing and Well indicate an

infestation of rats for the whole period of occupation indicated by the archaeological

evidence, namely 1800s to 1870s. Their role in the spread of bubonic plague in The

Rocks in the early 20th Century is weli known. Their presence on a site historically

occupied by those with wide ranging access to goods and services is indicative that the

threat to sanitation could not be avoided by any persons in the urban area so close to the

harbour.

The bone is consistent with activities carried out in the domestic kitchen context.

Mutton, lamb and poultry played a major dietary role, with pork, beef and fish being

43

/

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I,

I' I I I I I I


supplementary. A soup and stew mode of cuisine was predominant with an

improvement in the range and quality of cuts over time. The relative absence of native

food sources, and the predominance of pre-dressed cuts of meat indicate a well

developed urban context, where meat was obtained indirectly from its source through

marketing, butchers and other traders.

4.8. Pollen analysis.

Seven pollen samples were taken from a layer (38) sealed beneath the partition wall (9)

in the Service Wing. Stratigraphically this layer was the earliest on the site, being part

of the backfill of the trench (31) for the sandstone boundary wall (12). Historically this

layer may be dated to 1803 to 1810.10 However the archaeological evidence suggests

that the layer may be contaminated by later disturbance, dated between 1830 and

1850.1 1

Another sample was taken of the mortar in the sandstone boundary wall (12), again to

obtain material dated historically between 1803 and 1810.12

Samples were not taken from other sources to determine changes to the environment at

a later period, for a variety of reasons including their unspecific dating, extent of

available historical documentation, funding availability, and salvage conditions of

excavation.

The results of the analysis of the eight pollen samples were presented as a specialist

report by Dr. Michael Macphail, and only a summary will be presented here.!3 In his

conclusion, it was stated that the study raised more questions than it answered,

probably an indication that pollen analysis for the early period of European settlement

10 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', p. 6, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988. 11 A single fragment of earthenware green transfer print was found in this context, which otherwise has a production from date of between 1700 and 1790. 12 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', p. 6, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988. 13 M. Macphail. Palynological analysis of eight early colonial period samples from Macquarie Place, Sydney Cove. Consultant Archaeological Services. 1989.

44



has few comparative studies to draw upon. However the results were compared with

those from the Water Police Court, Phillip Street, Sydney.l4

The results confirmed the immediate pre-European flora ofEucalyptus-Casuarina open

sc1erophyll forest with grass rather than shrub ground-cover. It pointed to the

continuation of this ecosystem well into the European period, and questioned not only

the range of interpretations of the pollen samples, but also the reliability of the historical

documentation for ecosystem reconstruction. The abundance of charcoal in the samples

was interpreted as evidence of clearance, bush fire regimes, and also domestic activity.

Exotic species identified included cereal, dandelion, other weeds of cultivation, and tree

ferns. The former were interpreted as evidence of cultivation nearby, or of cereal

grasses thriving on waste or untended ground. The dandelion and other weed species

also point to the latter interpretation. The tree ferns were regarded as exotic to the

locality, since the species are naturally restricted to wet gullies and rainforest margins.

Their presence along the Tank Stream was seen as a possibility, perhaps confirmed by

their continuing presence today in similar, but less developed situations around Port

Jackson.

The report on the pollen samples gives a strong impression not only of the survival of

"the Eucalyptus-Casuarina ecosystem into the European period, but also of the invasive

persistence of cereal and-other grasses, and agricultural weeds in the settlement. It is a

picture which is contrary to historical documentation and its inherent bias. The early

artists may have tried to impress by artistic licence to show the pushing back of the

Bush, and the population in general may have ignored the extent of waste ground or

poor quality pasture, and certainly may not have considered it worthy of comment. The

pollen samples provide scientific and statistical evidence which indicates that the

European settlement lived within a tenacious, but changing ecosystem, which in spite

of attitudes towards it, coul~ not be easily controlled.

4.9. General comments and conclusions.

One of the most important issues which can only be partially resolved here, is whether

or not the assemblages from the Service Wing and the Well are representative of the site

as a whole, or only part of it. This question was introduced in Section 4.6, and may be

approached by comparing the historical and archaeological evidence.

14 E. Higginbotham, M. Macphail, B. Davey, ' The soil and pollen analysis of the gardens of First Government House, Sydney', AJHA, Sydney, Vol. 6, pp. 49-56.

45



It has been shown that the assemblage from the Service Wing represents occupation on

the site from 1800s to 1850s, while that from the Well is restricted to the period 1855

to 1860.

The historical documentation gives the sequence of occupation over this time span: 15

Date.

c1800 d 1813.

1813 - 1817.

1817 -1822.

1822 -

1826 d 1828

c1828 - 1837.

1837 - 1839.

Name. Predominant function.

Thomas and Mary Reibey. Residence and centre of

mercantile affairs.

Robert J enkins. Residence and centre of

mercantile affairs.

Bank of New South Wales Financial centre.

Mary Reibey and family,

when not otherwise

tenanted.

Australian Agricultural

Residence and centre of

mercantile affairs.

Centre of pastoral

Company. enterprise.

Church and School Land Government

Corporation.

Colonial Treasury and

Auditor General.

administration.

Government

administration.

With the building of a second house on Reiby Place in 1839 to 1840, the occupation

sequence of the part of the sub-divided allotment fronting Macquarie Place is alone

followed:

15 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place', pp. 5 - 10, in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988.

46


Date.

1840 Q 1842.

1843 Q 1845.

1850 - 1851.

1851

1853 - 1868.

1868 - 1875?

1875 - 1881.


Name.

The Exchange.

Australian Subscription

Library.

Andrew Torning, ship

painter and decorator.

Henry Barnett.

William Pilford.

Christopher Stahmer.

Government Shipping

Master.

Predominant function.

Financial centre.

Centre of learning.

Residence and Tradesman.

Residence.


Inn'.


Inn'.

Government

administration.

The assemblage from the Service Wing, dating from the 1800s to 1850s, should

therefore represent the functions of residence, mercantile interests, administration of

fmancial, government and other affairs, a centre oflearning, and tradesmen. Clearly the

key functions identified archaeologically do not directly indicate this range of activities.

The Service Wing only directly indicates key functions that may be associated with

domestic activity. Other functions indicated by historical documentation are not

archaeological present. Without entering into lengthy discussion, it may be the case that

only a few artifacts could be equated with these other functions, and they would

certainly be under-represented or absent archaeologically.

Without the direct evidence for these functions, there are hypotheses that can be

developed to indicate them indirectly. For example, the absence of evidence for

primary, secondary and tertiary levels of production on the site indicates a range of

possibilities about the livelihood of the owners and occupants of the allotment:

47



1. income was obtained from production, trade, marketing or other

source, not associated with the site, suggesting an hierarchy of

settlement or site types.

2. income was obtained on the site by means of administration and

management of business affairs, suggesting associated activities off-

site, but not substantially changing the essentially domestic character. of

the archaeological assemblage.

3. income was obtained on site by activities that would leave

archaeological evidence, little different from domestic activity,

suggesting lodgings, boarding houses, or hotels.

The absence of the three levels of production in the assemblage from the Service Wing

indicates the developed or specialised nature of the occupation, divorced from the need

to obtain food by primary production. It indicates an hierarchical society, the site being

near the apex of development and associated with urban development.

.The assemblage from the Well provides a varying set of circumstances, which allow the

archaeological evidence to be taken further. The Well is dated to a very short time

bracket of 1855 to 1860, and is therefore historically associated with the Royal Admiral

Inn or Hotel. Contrasts between the assemblages from the Service Wing and the Well

may highlight the characteristics of the key functions which best represent this site

usage. The comparisons of the assemblages is listed below:

48

I I Archaeological excavations in Macquarie Place, Sydney, NSW, 1988.

I Key function. % Service Wing. % Well.

I Alcohol 6.42 21.82

Barrels 0.30

I Building 3.46 1. 72

Cleaning 0.03 0.13

Clothing 0.64 1.17

I Clothing or footwear * 0.14 Containers 0.75

I Currency 0.03 Drink 0.20 3.85 I Food

29.57 17.71

Footwear * 4.40

I Fu~ishings 0.06 0.19

Games 0.11

Haberdashery 7.30 0.76

I Horticulture 9.48 0.01 Jewellery 0.13

I Kitchenware 1.39 5.90 Kitchenware or toilet 0.20 I Laundry *

0.03

Leatherworking * 0.40

I Leatherworking, transport* 0.03

Matches * 0.11

Medicine 0.05

I Medicine or toilet 0.17 1.08 Smoking 1.83 1.19

I Tableware 10.19 16.58 Toilet 0.03 0.12 I Toilet or cosmetic 0.37 0.24 Tools 0.02 I

Toys 0.03 0.07

Unidentified 28.61 20.83

Writing 0.03

I Writing or toilet 0.01

I While the depositional variation in the above list cannot be eliminated, the post-depositional variation in the survival of the evidence may be corrected by removing I

49

I

I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I


organic materials from the discussion, since they would have survived only in the well:

the key functions involved are indicated by an asterisk (*). Assuming that variation of

over 5 % is significant, then the first point to be made is the similarity between the

assemblages, except in a minority of key functions. The point has been made above that

domestic occupation may leave similar assemblages to lodgings, boarding houses, or

hotels, so this similarity may not be totally unexpected. Most of the points of variation

are difficult to explain, excepting the obvious discrepancy in alcohol consumption and

the almost meaningless variation in the percentage of unidentified artifacts. The

evidence is somewhat contradictory, since food, kitchenware and tableware might be

expected all to show greater presence in a hotel.

On balance therefore the assemblages from the Service Wing and Well are

representative of the functions of the site for the period represented by each

assemblage, in so far as those activities may be represented archaeologically. It still

does not resolve the difficulty ~n establishing whether or not the assemblages in the

Service Wing and Well are representative of the site as a whole or only part of it, a

'question that may only have been fully assessed had other parts of the building

survived.

The above equation of the historical and archaeological evidence for the general usage

of the site is useful in that it illustrates the nature of the archaeological. evidence', and

forms a basis for prediction on other sites where the historical documentation is absent.

If that was the sole contribution of the archaeological evidence then one may question

the worth of excavating the site at great expense. However it should be realised that the

historical sequence of occupation listed above and the historical documentation

researched before the archaeological excavation is in most respects the extent of

historical evidence available for the site.l6

The bare facts of the case are that the only historical evidence for the occupation of the

site between 1853 and 1868 indicates that William Pilford was the licensee of the

'Royal Admiral Inn'. The artifactual evidence from the Well builds on this basis to

indicate in some detail the conditions of life between 1855 and 1860. The domestic

emphasis of the assemblage has already been discussed in outline, but the specific

details are more revealing. The drudgery of cleaning and laundry is indicated by the

16 T. Kass, 'Historical analysis of a site bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin place', in E. Higginbotham, Historical and archaeological analysis of the development site, bounded by Macquarie Place, Reiby Place, and Bulletin Place, Sydney, Peddle Thorp and Walker, Sydney, 1988.

50



brushes for scrubbing and sweeping, by the blacking for stoves, and the pegs for

hanging out the washing. The ever present need for the preparation of meals, work in

the kitchen, the laying of the dinner table for meals and the cleaning and dish washing

after, are all activities indicated by the archaeological evidence. Attention to personal

health, cleanliness and beauty are demonstrated, as well as fashions in footwear and

clothing. Thimbles, pins, and cotton reels witness the need to maintain and mend

clothing. Leisure activities are documented in the numerous bottles discarded from

alcohol consumption, the tobacco pipes, match cannisters, and gaming pieces.

The assemblage also indicates occupation by persons with a broad ranging access to

goods and services, able to afford well made furniture, an extensive range of the

tablewares, kitchenwares, glasswares, and other consumables common in the colony.

Ceramics and glass gave no definite indication of socio-economic status, being a wide

range of the wares commonly available at the time.!7 The food consumed on the site

showed an improvement over time, with a proportion of the meat corpprising more

expensive cuts. In addition there is some indication of the ownership or use of horse

transport.

The size and layout of the establishment, together 'Yith the artifacts, also implies the

presence of servants and family groups, males, females and children. However many

. of the work activities represented are traditional female roles, which allows the

archaeological evidence to restore balance to some of the bias in the historical

documentation. Clothing indicates the presence of both sexes, adult and child. Children

are also indicated by marbles, and possibly by slate pencils.

The complete absence of production on site, with the tentative exception of

leatherworking, and the nature and extent of the predominantly domestic or hotel

assemblage from the Well, give a consistent picture ofa prosperous urban household or

clientele in the 1855 to 1860 period. This prosperity is also consistent with the Service

Wing for the period l800s to 1850s

The assemblages from the Service Wing and the Well also demonstrate the international

trading network on New South Wales through the first half of the 19th Century, relying

predominantly on British products. The notable exception is the Chinese porcelain

17 The specialist report on ceramics was prepared by Leah MacKenzie, and has been placed with the site records.

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i I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I


obtained in the 1790s to 1820s from Canton, or indirectly via India. 18 Local

production is indicated by some of the coarse earthenwares, building materials, and

food debris.1 9 Certain shell species found on site could only have been obtained in

tropical waters.20

18 D.R.Hainsworth, The Sydney Traders} Simeon Lord and his contemporaries} 1788 to 1821, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1981. 19 E. Higginbotham, 'The excavation of buildings in the early township ofParramatta, New South Wales, 1790 - 1820s', AJHA., Vol. 5,1987, pp. 3 - 20. 20 Specialist reports on shell and bone were prepared by Dominic Steele, and have been placed in the site records.

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

°1 I I I I


5. CONCLUSIONS.

The excavat

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