The Archaeology of Cania Gorge: An Overview

Abstract

This paper presents a general overview of archaeological investigations in the Cania Gorge region, located on the western margin of the Gooreng Gooreng Cultural Heritage Project study area. It includes a physical description of the region and a brief outline of the cultural setting, before presenting a summary of archaeological investigations undertaken in the area.

Coastal Themes: An Archaeology of the Southern Curtis Coast, Queensland : An Archaeology of the Southern Curtis Coast, Queensland

“…Archaeological investigations in other parts of southeast and central Queensland have revealed similar patterns, in what Lourandos (1997:161) described as 'a more specialised and broad-based coastal emphasis in the economy of the most recent phase' (see also Barker 1995;McNiven 1999;Morwood 1987;Rowland 1982;Ulm 1995;Ulm and Hall 1996;Walters 1989;Westcott et al 1999a). Overall, these patterns point to a restructuring of land-use over the last 1,500 years towards more systematic and permanent coastal occupation with relatively low levels of residential mobility.…”

“…To date, the archaeological component of the Gooreng Gooreng Cultural Heritage Project has concentrated on the Cania Gorge area as an inland component of the study, where Aboriginal occupation has been dated to the early Holocene (Chapman 1999(Chapman , 2002Eales 1998;Eales et al 1999;Lilley et al 1998;Westcott 1997;Westcott et al 1999a;Westcott et al 1999b), and the southern Curtis Coast, centred on the Town of Seventeen Seventy, as a coastal component and subject of the present study.…”

“…The project was initiated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit at the University of Queensland in collaboration with Aboriginal people from the study area. The broader project includes studies in archaeology, history, contemporary social landscapes and linguistics in a region which coincides with the area broadly identified as the country of Gooreng Gooreng speakers at the time of European invasion (see Clarkson et al n.d.;Jolly 1994;Lilley et al 1998;Lilley and Ulm 1995;Lilley et al 1996;Ulm 2002bUlm , 2002cUlm et al 1999a.To date, the archaeological component of the Gooreng Gooreng Cultural Heritage Project has concentrated on the Cania Gorge area as an inland component of the study, where Aboriginal occupation has been dated to the early Holocene (Chapman 1999(Chapman , 2002Eales 1998;Eales et al 1999;Lilley et al 1998;Westcott 1997;Westcott et al 1999a;Westcott et al 1999b), and the southern Curtis Coast, centred on the Town of Seventeen Seventy, as a coastal component and subject of the present study. …”

Index of Dates from Archaeological Sites in Queensland

“…Talgai Skull R2526/33 Calibrated: 12790(11061,11016,11009,10955,10952,10943,10840,10831,10784) Morwood ( :148, 1981 reports as 2800±400 Chapman 1999Lilley et al 1997Lilley et al 1998Westcott 1997Westcott 1999Westcott et al 1999aWestcott et al 1999b Big Sandhills Beach Rowland 1980Rowland 1982bRowland 1992 Bishop's Peak Edmonds 1986 Boonah Shelter Morwood 1987Ulm 1995Ulm & Hall 1996 Booral Homestead Midden Bowen 1998Frankland 1990 Booral Shell Mound Bowen 1998…”

“…Border Island 1 Barker 1995Barker 1996Barker & Schon 1994 Boulder 1 Lilley et al 1997Lilley et al 1998Westcott et al 1999a Bramston Beach Midden Rowland 1984 Bartholomai 1965Beaton 1991bClegg 1965Clegg 1977Goddard 1940-1941Mitchell 1940-1941Quinnell 1975Quinnell 1976Quinnell 1977Webb 1992 Chillagoe Site 55 Rock Art Armitage et al 2000 Chillagoe Site 62 Rock Art Armitage et al 2000Armitage et al 1998David et al 1994 Chillagoe Site 75 Rock Art Armitage et al 2000Armitage et al 1998David et al 1994 Christmas Border 1999…”