http://hdl.handle.net/2123/5928 2013-06-19T09:39:13Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8893 Title: Bronze “Bathtub” Coffins In the Context of 8th-6th Century B.C.E. Babylonian, Assyrian and Elamite Funerary Practices Authors: Wicks, Yasmina Abstract: Central to this thesis are a small number of unique bronze “bathtub” coffins found in 8th–6th century B.C.E. Babylonian, Assyrian and Elamite burial contexts. These fascinating burial containers have not previously been subject to an in-depth analysis, but rather have been treated by archaeologists as little more than convenient receptacles for a body and numerous precious objects deemed more worthy of scholarly interest. This thesis takes the opportunity to narrow this gap in scholarship, by firstly drawing together the available evidence for the excavated coffins, investigating the method and place of their manufacture, and establishing a possible date range for their production and use. Then, to progress towards an understanding of the bronze “bathtub” coffin burials within the broader context of regional funerary practices, they are incorporated into an analysis of Neo-Babylonian, Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Elamite mortuary evidence, with a particular focus on burial typology, grave goods and burial location. The use of the bronze “bathtubs” as burial receptacles also demands that they be viewed in light of Mesopotamian and Elamite beliefs about what happens to people upon their death, and what the funerary ritual should involve. This thesis therefore explores the coffins in the context of these beliefs and then, building upon this analysis, considers possible ideological aspects of the coffins with emphasis on motifs, form and material, and why these may have been appropriate in a burial context. Underpinning this study is the principle that mortuary evidence is the product of intentional behaviour and that the bronze coffins, and indeed all burial containers, were not simply incidental to the funerary process. Instead they represent a deliberate choice by the burying group and each would have been the central feature of an emotionally and symbolically charged burial act. One feature of the bronze coffin burials that emerges throughout much of the analysis is their undeniable role in the expression, or even construction, of social rank. This role is consistent across all of the burials, which evidently belonged to individuals (or burying groups) of extremely high-status (measured by wealth). Based on the understanding that the bronze “bathtubs” were used in the construction and maintenance of socio-cultural ideology in Babylonia, Assyria and Elam, the known historical interaction between these three cultures is examined in the final section of the thesis, with a view to establishing the extent to which the coffins can be considered as belonging to a shared funerary practice. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8891 Title: An Insight into Life at Geometric Zagora Provided by the Animal Bones Authors: Alagich, Rudolph Abstract: This thesis is a study of the animal bone distribution at the Geometric period settlement of Zagora (ca. 850-700 BC), on the island of Andros. The animal bones were excavated during the 1967-74 University of Sydney excavations and analysed in 1977 by a specialist who compiled a report of her findings. The report is currently in preparation for publication and is the primary source for this thesis. The data it provided was limited but enough could be extracted to identify patterns that permitted a tentative reconstruction of social life and the economy at Zagora. There is a paucity of excavated settlements from the Greek EIA and few of these have published faunal material, an essential element in reconstructing past lifeways. Those preserved settlements from which animal bones have been published are not extensive with good domestic contexts but usually sites of minimal extent. Hence, it has not been possible to conduct an analysis of the spatial distribution of animal bones from such a settlement. Zagora, being an extensive settlement containing mainly domestic structures, is therefore unique and the animal bone report provided the opportunity for such a study to be undertaken. A number of analyses were performed using both statistical and non-statistical methods. Through these it was discovered that there is a relationship between the animal size and the size of the architectural unit within which it was found. Similarly, there appeared to be a relationship between larger architecture and the presence of fish, postulated as being a pelagic species. The patterns observed were interpreted as evidence of ‘special’ meals with a larger than usual number of diners in attendance and hence the need for a larger space to host them. Using the animal bones’ distribution and architectural evidence it is proposed that feasting was an important event at Zagora, conducted at the household level to possibly reinforce bonds of kinship and friendship. The evidence also suggests that the H area could have been inhabited by people of better means than elsewhere in the settlement, particularly by the hypaethral sanctuary. Ideally the animal bones would have been studied in conjunction with associated artefacts, but this was not possible and so this would be something desirable to be performed in the near future. With 21st century excavation techniques, the future Zagora excavations should provide greater granularity in the faunal information obtained from the settlement to allow better precision in subsequent analyses. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8713 Title: Stone Working Methods 6: Pressure Flaking Authors: Colley, Sarah; Kononenko, Nina Abstract: Dr Nina Kononenko demonstrates the refining process of flake production using the pressure flaking technique. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8712 Title: Stone Working Methods 5: Soft Hammer Percussion Authors: Colley, Sarah; Kononenko, Nina Abstract: Dr Nina Kononenko demonstrates the process of soft hammer percussion for working stone. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8711 Title: Stone Working Methods 4: Hard Hammer Percussion Authors: Colley, Sarah; Kononenko, Nina Abstract: Dr Nina Kononenko demonstrates the earliest and most basic stone working technique - hard hammer percussion. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8710 Title: Stone Working Methods 3: Removing the Cortex Authors: Colley, Sarah; Kononenko, Nina Abstract: Dr Nina Kononenko demonstrates how to remove the cortex from a large flake using the percussion technique. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8709 Title: Stone Working Methods 2: Bipolar Technique Authors: Colley, Sarah; Kononenko, Nina Abstract: Dr Nina Kononenko demonstrates how to work stone using the bipolar technique. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8708 Title: Stone Working Methods 1: Anvil Technique Authors: Colley, Sarah; Kononenko, Nina Abstract: Dr Nina Kononenko demonstrates the anvil stone working technique. This simple method produces stone flakes by hitting raw materials against a stone anvil. The size and shape of the flake can't be controlled. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8707 Title: Archaeological Methods: Set Up a 1m Grid Square Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: Dr Martin Gibbs explains how to set up a 1m grid square for an archaeological excavation using hand-tapes. This is a common and basic technique used in field archaeology that only needs simple equipment. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. Music by Rob Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8706 Title: Archaeological Methods: Baseline Offset Survey Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: Dr Martin Gibbs explains how to map archaeological features using the baseline offset survey method. Description: Video produced by Sarah Colley. Music by Rob Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8705 Title: Archaeological Methods: Dumpy 1 - Set Up Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: Dr Martin Gibbs explains how to set up a dumpy level before starting to survey. First video in a series on using dumpy survey equipment for archaeological fieldwork. Description: Video produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8704 Title: Archaeological Methods: Dumpy 2 - Levelling Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: Dr Martin Gibbs explains how to ensure the dumpy equipment is level before starting to take readings. Second video in a series on using a dumpy level for archaeological fieldwork. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8703 Title: Archaeological Methods: Dumpy 3 - Focusing Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: Dr Martin Gibbs explains how to focus the dumpy level on the staff for archaeological surveying. Third video in a series on using a dumpy level for archaeological fieldwork. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8702 Title: Archaeological Methods: Dumpy 4 - Read the Staff Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: Dr Martin Gibbs explains how to read the survey staff when using a dumpy level. This video is the fourth in a series on using a dumpy level for archaeological fieldwork. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8701 Title: Archaeological Methods: Reading a Compass Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: Dr Martin Gibbs demonstrates how to read a prismatic compass for use in archaeological field survey. Description: Produced by Sarah Colley. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8673 Title: Capturing Archaeological Performance on Digital Video: Implications for Teaching and Learning Archaeology Authors: Colley, Sarah; Gibbs, Martin Abstract: In 2009 we produced a series of edited video clips to demonstrate practical methods to archaeology students at the University of Sydney in Australia. The videos were made publicly accessible via YouTube and incorporated into teaching of an undergraduate archaeological field methods course in 2010 and 2011. Our paper outlines staff experiences of making and using the videos for teaching and discusses results of student questionnaire feedback about the videos and the course. The results provide insight into the effectiveness of different ways of teaching practical archaeology in a context of large class sizes and limited resources and the potential of using digital video technologies to communicate archaeology to students and other audiences. Description: Copies of the videos are on YouTube and are published by Alexander Street Press: Alexandria, VA in their Anthropology Online Collection. 2012-09-21T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8291 Title: The End of Angkor? The Modification and Re-use of Angkor Wat Authors: Brotherson, David John Abstract: Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, was built in the mid 12th century AD and has been continuously occupied ever since. Angkor Wat was the jewel in the crown of Greater Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire. Over 800 years have passed since its construction and during this long period the context of Angkor Wat and Greater Angkor has changed significantly. Once the capital of the Khmer Empire, in the 15th and 16th centuries as the apparatus of the state moved to the Southeast, Greater Angkor came to be on the periphery of the Khmer world. In a similar manner, as Khmer society changed, the originally Vaisnavite temple Angkor Wat came to be hallowed by Theravada Buddhist monks. Throughout these political and social changes Angkor Wat itself has changed – the temple features modifications which postdate the original construction phase. The fourth enclosure wall is one such component which has undergone several modifications. The wall, which clearly demonstrates more than one construction phase, is covered in several thousand postholes. The postholes, which are located along the upper part of the inside face and on top of the wall, have never been studied before. This thesis seeks to answer two questions: 1) What was the purpose of the postholes?, and 2) When were the postholes made? To answer these questions the postholes were surveyed. The results of a detailed survey show that the distribution of and relationship between the postholes is consistent over a considerable distance. The relationship between the postholes and the construction phases of the wall establishes a relative chronology. The nature of the modifications to the wall and the location of the postholes indicate that they were supports for the framework of a defensive platform and palisade. The absolute date of these defensive works is as yet unknown, however the likely historical context suggests they were installed sometime between the late 16th century and the early 17th century AD. 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7961 Title: STONE OR METAL? DIAGNOSING THE MATERIAL AGENT OF EARLY BRONZE AGE CUT MARKS FROM LERNA, GREECE Authors: Jones, Rebecca Abstract: This dissertation examines cut marks on animal bone from Early Bronze Age Lerna in Greece to determine the material agent; a stone or metal tool. An experimental group of cut marks was produced to compare to the Lerna material. Both materials were analysed using a method yet to be used for cut mark studies, Micro-CT. Micro-CT was assessed whether it is an appropriate method for diagnosing cut marks on bone by comparing the results to SEM and light microscopy. In diagnosing the cut mark it was hypothesised that the profile and surface features will be important factors based on previous research (Walker and Long, 1977, Potts and Shipman, 1981, Greenfield, 1999, 2002, 2006). This study found that Micro-CT is excellent for showing the profile of a cut mark but not detailed surface features. Micro-CT also portrayed how the profile could vary, even within a single cut. For these reasons it was found profile alone is not enough to diagnose a cut mark and surface features are equally important. It was also found that comparing SEM, light microscopy, and Micro-CT was extremely beneficial as each technique has strengths and weaknesses. In regard to the Lerna material, it was found that three cut marks are almost certainly from stone tools and two cut marks are probably from metal tools. The findings add to evidence for the Bronze Age being a transitory period between stone and metal technologies. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7959 Title: The Lydion: Revealing Connectivity across the Mediterranean in the Sixth Century B.C. Authors: Wrigley, Susan Abstract: The Archaic period was a period of great change around the Mediterranean: population growth, urbanization and colonization all contributed to the overturning of existing social and political structures. Growth in commercial trade, especially during the sixth century B.C., accompanied these changes. It is argued in this thesis that by mapping the production, distribution and consumption of a particular object, the ceramic unguent container called the lydion, we can follow some of the strands of connectivity and knowledge that linked many culturally diverse regions during the sixth century B.C. By using this information to write a social history of the lydion which describes the evolving social and the economic role of the vessel as it passed from hand to hand, we would be able to provide new evidence towards the ongoing debate about the form and scale of trade and exchange in the Archaic period. The lydion was a distinctively shaped vessel that was indigenous to Lydia in Asia Minor, and its use was largely restricted to the sixth century B.C., yet it was imported and then imitated at a range of culturally diverse sites. It had both a social role, as a luxury that was used as part of funerary and religious ritual, and an economic role, as the container for a commodity that was distributed and consumed across the Mediterranean. In order to establish the basis for this argument, the main themes of the debate about trade and exchange during the Archaic period are discussed. Past scholarship relating to the lydion is compared to the evidence, and it becomes clear that several oft repeated beliefs about where particular types of lydia were produced should be revisited. A new study must necessarily begin with a full mapping of distribution and the development of a typology and chronology for the lydion. Studies of the production and consumption of perfumes in the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age provide useful comparative evidence. Two case studies are presented here: Sardis in Lydia, where the lydion was first used, and Etruria, where the shape was imported and then imitated. These studies reveal that the lydion was used in different ways at each site: at Sardis it was found in both settlement and burial contexts, but Etruria it has been found in burials and in votive deposits. These regions share the banquet as the central theme of burial assemblages, complicating the interpretation of the role of the lydion. In order to understand the range of evidence available for such a study and to provide a resource for this thesis, a digital catalogue of lydia was created which can be queried according to the requirements of the user. The lydion is proven to be an ideal vehicle for the analysis of social and economic history; this thesis should be read as a prolegomenon to such a study. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7958 Title: THE SB-4-6 SHELL MIDDEN ASSEMBLAGE: A SHELL MIDDEN ANALYSIS FROM A LATE PREHISTORIC VILLAGE SITE AT PAMUA ON MAKIRA, SOUTHEAST SOLOMON ISLANDS Authors: Virgin, Karyn Abstract: This thesis details the methodology, results and interpretations of analysis that was conducted on a shell midden assemblage from Pamua on the island of Makira, Southeast Solomon Islands. This midden was excavated from site SB-4-6 also known as the Mwanihuki village site, on the north coast of Makira in 1975 as part of the Southeast Solomon Islands Culture History Project (SESP). This analysis was able to generate a large dataset, through which the temporal and spatial use of site SB-4-6 could be determined, with peak periods and areas of intensified use apparent. Additionally, the foraging behaviours and subsistence strategies behind the midden’s deposition were able to be interpreted as a distinct mixture of opportunistic and targeted foraging, which was largely dependent on the surrounding environment. The research presented in this thesis has therefore addressed a major gap in the archaeological record. The results of analysis that have been presented in this thesis are representative of the first comprehensive shell midden investigation to be undertaken at a late prehistoric site in the Southeast Solomon Islands. Consequently, this thesis and the results it presents can provide the starting point for future investigations of other midden assemblages within the study area. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7957 Title: The Foundations of Madness: The role of the built environment in the mental institutions of New South Wales Authors: Longhurst, Peta Abstract: Institutionalisation has been a widespread and accepted response to insanity since the eighteenth century. These institutions were highly ideological, and the psychiatric theory that informed them was inextricably bound up with notions of the ‘ideal’ built environment that they should inhabit. However, both psychiatric theory and government policy and legislation were constantly changing and evolving, calling into question the claim that the built environment truly reflected these social elements. Understanding the role of the built environment in the function and dysfunction of mental institutions is therefore the central concern of this dissertation. Comparative analysis of four New South Wales mental institutions, those located at Gladesville, Parramatta, Callan Park and Kenmore, has been undertaken. The juxtaposition of the development of these institutions with the development of psychiatric theory and mental health legislation reveals that the social and material components of the institutions did not correspond, causing dissonance. A theoretical framework for understanding this dissonance has been drawn from the work of Fletcher (1995, 2002, 2004) and Gieryn (2002) and characterises the built environment as an actor without intent. The built environment is shown to constrain both the function of the mental institution and the behaviour of its inhabitants. Examination of the data presented by the four case studies shows several responses to dissonance and its constraints. While the way these processes manifest at the four institutions varied, they were nevertheless the same processes. The institutions were modified both materially and discursively in order to allow them to function, albeit not in the way envisaged by psychiatric theory. However, as that theory continued to evolve, the resulting dissonance could no longer be mitigated against, leading to the eventual abandonment of the institutions. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7956 Title: Memorial Markings: A study of the change over time to fonts at the Manly Quarantine station and Rookwood Cemetery Authors: Andrews, Rebecca Abstract: This thesis analyses the changes in font styles used in the historical inscriptions at the Manly Quarantine Station and Rookwood Cemetery. The changes to the fonts used at each site will be compared to the changes to fonts in other areas of society, such as printed typography and handwriting. The analysis of this change is considered to be important as the changes in font can be linked to the changes in social values, aesthetic tastes and technological development. Despite the topics potential to yield this information, studies of font change are rarely the main topic of a study. Font change is usually used as a tool for other research or is only a very small section of a larger analysis. The methods used in this thesis are those which were first used on rock art assemblages, as change over time is an important topic of study in this area. These methods have since been used to study assemblages of historical inscriptions and graffiti. As the data from both sites had dates inscribed into the writing, a study of the change over time was possible with a reasonable degree of accuracy and ease. The data from the Manly Quarantine Station was collected from Wendy Thorp’s 1983 consultancy report cataloguing the inscriptions at the site. Only the inscriptions with dates which were legible to the decade were recorded, creating a sample of 164 inscriptions. The data from Rookwood Cemetery was collected for this study by a survey of the graveyard. A sample of ten gravestones from each decade between, and inclusive of, 1860 and 1970 was collected. The data from each site was then analysed individually. The results from each site were compared with each other and with the changes to the fonts in printed media and the preferred style of handwriting that was being taught over the same time period. There were changes identified at both sites. The attributes of the fonts which showed change at both sites included the use of serifs and the technique for the creation of the inscriptions. Each of these changes was different at both sites. The capitalisation of the inscriptions as a whole did not change over time at either site. The inscriptions at the Manly Quarantine Station had a positive correlation with both the changes to printed media and the changes to the methods and styles of handwriting which was being taught at schools. The inscriptions from Rookwood Cemetery have not linked with the changed to printed media or handwriting educational practice, meaning that other influences on font change are present at the site. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7955 Title: Housing the Worker Authors: Jones, Laura Abstract: The industrialization of Sydney and the increasing prevalence of factories in the city centre and outer suburbs from the mid-nineteenth century meant that worker housing was in high demand. The opportunity to capitalize on this need for housing was taken up by many entrepreneurs, known as speculators. The industrial landscapes, which were created, as a result were in no way planned, but a case of the material and social processes interacting. In the study area of the Balmain Peninsula in Sydney, the construction of worker housing was not under the control of one individual, in contrast to many company towns. The purpose of the thesis is to examine the relationship between social processes and the material by examining the extant houses on the Balmain Peninsula. The aims of this thesis are to examine the nature of piecemeal housing and the degree of standardization in worker housing. The changing building strategies used in order to capitalize on the demand for worker housing will also be considered. The results of the survey were compared to three equivalent urban areas of Sydney; The Rocks, Pyrmont and Haymarket. The results of the survey of worker housing on the Balmain Peninsula indicated very little standardization, which is a direct result of the degree of speculative building. The material of existing buildings and the landscape had a major influence on the direction of future development, which ultimately led to a piecemeal environment, as depicted by contrasting building phases built beside each other. There was an obvious change in the way worker housing was constructed from the mid nineteenth century to early twentieth century, as shown by the introduction of building strategies in order iii to build more densely. Industrial urban landscapes in Sydney were not planned and the intent of speculative builders was not aimed at a particular pattern of daily life. The creation of the urban landscapes was rather the product of a number of factors including the pursuit of capital investment, macro-economic processes and the constraints exerted by the material itself. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7954 Title: Aboriginal Glass Artefacts of the Sydney Region Authors: Goward, Tamika Abstract: Aboriginal glass artefacts (AGAs) have become the ‘type fossil’ for recognizing post-contact sites in countries with colonial pasts. Whether such reliance on AGAs is a valid development is contentious as the identification of these artefacts is ambiguous. This uncertainty is amplified in densely populated urban environments such as Sydney. This thesis addresses the identification of these artefacts within this region. Technological characteristics of Sydney’s AGAs and methodological issues in the recording of these artefacts have been analysed. A review of the patterns within this data has revealed how the identification issue has been managed in the past and how it may be improved. A review and evaluation of previous ‘criteria for identification’ has also revealed a refined approach to the identification and categorization of AGAs within Sydney and beyond. Also, cross-cultural interactions have been characterized as affected by the unique and diverse nature of the moving frontier in this region. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7953 Title: Material Matters: The Moral Imperative for a Large‐Scale Perspective within the Archaeology of the Contemporary Past. Authors: Dharmendra, Ben Abstract: Over the past decade, the archaeology of the contemporary past has become an established sub-field within archaeology. Yet, the overwhelming majority of research conducted within this sub-field is concerned with the study of immaterial social meanings that humans ascribe to materiality. The consequences of material as a physical entity are ignored. Although some contemporary archaeologists have sought to examine what the material does, they have been hindered by an emphasis on small-scale, synchronic approaches to research. The aim of this thesis is to argue that the archaeology of the contemporary past should incorporate an alternative approach to conducting investigations into contemporary materiality. I seek to show that the research of meta-categories of materiality, such as garbage, urbanism, weaponry and industry, fit within the current concern of contemporary archaeology to undertake a morally engaged archaeological practice. The moral imperative to investigate entire categories of materiality stems from the fact that the material component of community life generates its own outcomes. These outcomes are necessary for us to comprehend as fully as possible if we are to have any chance to avoid the negative consequences with which they are associated. Because of this large-scale investigations of contemporary are a necessary undertaking for contemporary archaeology. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2123/6253 Title: Archaeological Fish Bone Images Archive Tables Authors: Colley, Sarah M. Abstract: Tables (List of Fishes, Fish Taxon Names and Codes, Fish Anatomy Names and Codes and '1880s NSW Fisheries Commission Information'), data indexes and explanation of data relationships. Part of the 'Archaeological Fish-Bone Images' archive (http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/127)also registered with Research Data Australia (http://services.ands.org.au/home/orca/rda/view.php?key=102.100.100%2F134) and the on-line publication: Colley, S. and R. Brownlee 2010 'Archaeological Fish Bones On-Line: a digital archive of Sydney fishes' published in 'Internet Archaeology' Description: Reports research conducted by Sarah Colley for the Sydney Fish Project Stage 1. The content, coding and data structures are also useful for other researchers who wish to document and interpret fish remains from other comparable archaeological sites. Includes interpretation of Aboriginal and colonial fish and fishing in the Sydney region from before and after AD1788 based on archaeological, historical and environmental information. 2010-06-18T04:40:37Z