Artefact of the Month

ARTEFACT OF THE MONTH: Miss Australian Air League 1950 Badges

These thin, plastic discs were recovered from a yard context in Lot 61 during the 2016 excavation of the old CUB complex, near the corner of Swanston and Queensberry streets, Melbourne. The above image shows record CUB2 11317 (scale in cm). Tentatively interpreted as being promotional material (possibly badge blanks, based on size and shape), […]

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ARTEFACT OF THE MONTH: F-52 Camera Lens, NT

The bombing of Darwin in February 1942 resulted in the establishment of 10 main airbases with two additional satellite bases for each main base in Australia’s Northern Territory. Coomalie was one of Batchelor’s satellite airbases and was home to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadrons 31 and 87 (87 was born from No. 1 Photo

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ARTEFACT OF THE MONTH: French Fire Bricks

The bricks in the images above and below were recovered from the southern end of Lot 67 in the 2016 excavation of the old CUB complex, near the corner of Swanston and Queensberry streets, Melbourne. This excavation was undertaken by Alpha Archaeology for Scape. Chosen for their rarity (an unusual find in Australia, and perhaps

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ARTEFACT OF THE MONTH: Christchurch Ceramics edition

Angel Trendafilov, of Underground Overground Archaeology, has been monitoring the bulk out of the new Convention Centre in Christchurch with the assistance of Kirsa Webb, Tristan Wadsworth, Teri Anderson, Hamish Williams and Peter Mitchell. The site, which was home to a variety of commercial, professional and residential activities in the 19th century, has yielded a

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ARTEFACT OF THE MONTH: Pentridge Prison Fork

This cutlery fork that was recovered from excavations of a large rubbish pit at Pentridge Prison, located to the north of Melbourne. The assemblage is thought to date to the mid-nineteenth century and this particular artefact was chosen as a representative example of the many cutlery items recovered during the excavations. It is a utilitarian

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ARTEFACT OF THE MONTH: Kirin Beer Bottle

Written by Melissa Dunk Atherton Chinatown is arguably one of the most thoroughly researched Chinese sites in North Queensland. The strong Chinese presence at Atherton was mainly within the designated area outside of the main township and over time, has not been subject to development. Several archaeological studies have been conducted in the Atherton Chinatown

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ARTEFACT OF THE MONTH: Bullseye! Pontilled Window Glass

The fragment of glass illustrated in the images below was found in the 1988 excavation season of Melbourne’s Little Lon district. This area was reported to be a slum, with a mixed use of domestic and light industrial lots. Crown glass window pane fragment. LL71844 Historical Archaeology Collection, Museums Victoria. Images: Bronwyn Woff The glass

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