The historical archaeology of the Chinese in Far North Queensland

Abstract

The first Overseas Chinese immigrants to Far North Queensland (FNQ) arrived in 1868 and within 20 years had established a wide range of settlements keyed directly into Chinese merchant supply networks. Historical archaeology on some of these sites has been carried out since the mid-1980s, but has largely been consultancy-driven, creating data that are patchy, skewed towards urban centres and often non-comparable. Such comparisons as can be drawn relating to dining and drinking behaviours, however, show assemblages dominated by traditional ceramic bowls and a high proportion of plain celadon and Four Seasons decorated wares, but an early and decided preference for European alcohols. Continued adherence to Chinese cultural preferences relating to food but not to alcohol suggests that concepts of identity and the construction of the self may have been constructed differently in each arena. While limited in depth, the archaeology of the Overseas Chinese in FNQ highlights critical gaps and provides a preliminary platform from which to identify future research directions, particularly a need to supplement impact assessment-related studies with detailed surface recording and/or carefully targeted open area excavations in order to advance knowledge beyond basic presence/absence questions.

Digging deeper: The archaeology of gold mining in Queensland

“…Quirk's (2007Quirk's ( , 2008 work on gentility at Paradise has demonstrated how topics such as class, status and gender can elucidate our understanding of the past and Mate's (2010Mate's ( , 2013 work on the landscape of Mount Shamrock shows how deeper understandings of social construction of space and changing social identity can be drawn from the archaeological record. The recent synthesis of the historical archaeology of the Chinese in Far North Queensland by Burke and Grimwade (2013) similarly demonstrates how archaeological investigations can address deeper insights into ethnicity and its influences on settlements, material culture and community. As has been demonstrated in a range of studies, particularly from the US (e.g.…”

Digging For Success: A proposed strategic plan for Overseas Chinese archaeological research in Australia

“…(Burke and Grimwade, 2013:125). Burke and Grimwade (2013) commented that there were only six dedicated archaeological research projects on the Chinese across the entire Far North…”

“…Most of the archaeological research has been driven by opportunistic studies more than theoretical approaches. Burke and Grimwade (2013) note there are inconsistent and inaccurate sources of previous data and material culture requiring re-analysis. Future research on the archaeology of the Overseas Chinese could benefit from a consistent methodology and a more consolidated approach.…”

“…As mentioned previously in Chapter 2, pig ovens were identified across the North American landscape (Woolen Mills Chinatown and Lower Salmon River, Idaho). Pig ovens were also identified at Chinese sites across Far North Queensland (Burke and Grimwade, 2013;Grimwade, 1998). Grimwade (2011) observes the challenges with recording and documenting the few physical remains across the landscape of the illegal overland migration of the Chinese migrants.…”

“…Grimwade, 1992Grimwade, , 2003Grimwade, , 2007. Burke and Grimwade (2013) found that research on Chinese material culture required reanalysis using a consistent methodology so that studies could be consolidated, in the hopes of addressing research questions on race, class and social identity. This opinion is also shared by Voss (2015:9) from the outcomes of a workshop whose participants believe in the importance of analysing existing and understudied collections.…”