Lyndhurst (Salvage Excavation)

Large-scale industrial developments in Lyndhurst, Victoria have led to a number of cultural heritage investigations since 2009. Lyndhurst is located within the Cranbourne Sands along the edges of the Carrum Swamp, an area of high significance for Aboriginal sites. A programme of salvage excavations, which combined manual and mechanical techniques, documented an extensive deposit of cultural features and lithic artefacts on a sandy rise.

Recorded features include a network of hearths. These appear to be associated with the production of stone tools, which were concentrated on the perimeter of the hearths. Many of the artefacts show signs of having been heat treated for the purpose of improving the flaking quality of the raw materials.

More than 50,000 stone artefacts have been recorded, which include a variety of silcrete, quartz, hornfels, crystal quartz and quartzite. Forms represented include ground stone axes, blades and bladelets, geometric micoliths and scrapers. Also present are numerous ochre fragments which come in a range of colours, some evidently having been heat treated to improve the colour and quality for use as a pigment. Radiocarbon dates show that Lyndhurst has been utilised by Aboriginal people for at least 4500-5000 years prior to European settlement.

 

Project Managers:	Racheal Minos and Kym Oataway
Project Type:	Salvage Excavations
Activity:	Industrial hub
Client:	Salta Properties
Date:	2014-15

References:
Oataway, K. and R. Minos, 2015. Lyndhurst Inland Port and Industrial Hub: Stage 1.  Report for Salta Properties.

Minos, R. and K. Oataway, in prep.  Lyndhurst Inland Port and Industrial Hub: Stage 2. Report for Salta Properties.