The Old Mitcham Police Station - Flinders University · stands as six rooms, ... boards of the Old...

Old Mitcham Police Station- Archaeological Artefact Analysis

Hayley Heffernan 1

The Old Mitcham Police Station: An Archaeological Artefact Analysis.

Hayley Heffernan

June 2009

This report has been produced as a part of the assessment for ARCH 8508 Directed Study in

Archaeology, a graduate topic in the Department of Archaeology, Flinders University.


Hayley Heffernan 2

Executive Summary

This report is an archaeological analysis of the artefacts excavated from under the

floors of the Old Mitcham Police Station, Mitcham, South Australia. The

excavations were undertaken in May of 2008, at the request of the Mitcham

Heritage Council, and were directed by Dr. Heather Burke, with volunteer staff and

students from the Department of Archaeology, Flinders University, South Australia.

Mitcham Heritage Council is an association focused on the identification, research

and protection of historical buildings and places in the City of Mitcham. As part of

the development of a new cultural hub designed to “promote wider civic

engagement in arts, historical and other cultural activities” (Burke 2008:1) within

the City of Mitcham the Mitcham Heritage Centre decided to relocate to the Old

Police Station. The Police Station along with a collection of surrounding buildings

will house a number of existing community groups, including the Mitcham Heritage

Centre. It will form the centre of a hub incorporating a Heritage Research Centre,

Village Institute and Arts and Crafts Centre. Thus in the spirit of heritage and

community the council proposed excavations be done under the floor boards, to

learn more about the historical building soon to become a centre for research in

Mitcham. The purpose of the excavations was to recover any artefacts which may

have been deposited during the construction or occupation of the police station.

These finds may reveal details of both domestic and police duties within the

building between 1892- 1967. Between1967-2000 when the building was used by

the Metro South: South Australian Emergency Service. The building has since

been heritage listed, and is part of the historical Mitcham Village (Linke 2008:3).

During its 108 years of use, the building functioned both as a police station and a

domestic dwelling, often simultaneously. The original four-roomed building now

stands as six rooms, with the back veranda enclosed and turned into additional

room for toilets. The building was constructed according to the original building

instructions using traditional techniques of the time by Farr and Co Contractors in

1892, (Farr and Co Contractors 1891).


Hayley Heffernan 3

The excavation and analysis were aimed at addressing the following research

questions; evidence for past standards of living in Mitcham, police activities and

procedures, information relating to the activities of prisoners, domestic

arrangements and standards in the household, evidence of women and children

living in the house and what this can reveal about gender and childhood, and

evidence for occupation and function of the various rooms within the Police Station

(Burke, 2008:2).

Fifty-six point two percent of the artefacts recovered from the 2008 MPS

excavation were metallic, twelve percent wood, three point one percent glass, two

point six percent ceramic, fifteen point one percent miscellaneous, seven point two

percent faunal/floral and three point eight percent were paper (Table 4-1). The

majority of the artefacts were recovered from room one. The next highest

concentration was in the cells followed by rooms three then two (Table 4-2). There

were four items recovered from the site with no indication as to where they were

recovered from. These include two glass bottles, one of which is broken, but

otherwise all pieces are present, a wood plain with the metal shaving portion

missing and a wooden dolly peg, likely to have been used for hanging washing.


Hayley Heffernan 4

Table of Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………ii

Contents……………………………………………………………………….......iv

1.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………...-1- 1.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………….-1-

1.2 Project Aim…………………………………………………………….-2-

1.3 Legislation and Regulations…………………………………………-3-

1.4 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………..-4-

2.0 Literature Review……………………………………………………………-4-

2.1 Historical Background………………………………………………..-4-

2.2 Related Studies……………………………………………………….-6-

3.0 Methodology…………………………………………………………………-6- 3.1 Heritage Victoria’s Function Key Word List………………………..-8-

4.0 Results………………………………………………………………………...-8- 4.1 Room One……………………………………………………….......-13-

4.2 Room Two……………………………………………………………-16-

4.3 Room Three………………………………………………………….-16-

4.4 Cells…………………………………………………………………..-17-

5.0 Discussion…………………………………………………………………..-19- 5.1 Room One……………………………………………………………-21-

5.2 Room Two……………………………………………………………-22-

5.3 Room Three………………………………………………………….-22-

5.4 Cells…………………………………………………………………..-23-

5.5 Response to Research Questions…………………………………-24-

5.6 Problems and Limitations…………………………………………..-26-

6.0 Conclusions………………………………………………………………...-27-

6.1 Recommendations………………………………………………….-28-

6.2 Further Research……………………………………………………-28-


Hayley Heffernan 5

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Introduction This project was designed to analyse the archaeological artefacts recovered from

the Mitcham Police Station excavations undertaken in May 2008. The project was

conducted at the request of the Mitcham Heritage Centre and incorporated into

National Archaeology Week 2008. Excavations were undertaken by students and

staff of Flinders University Archaeology Department (FUAD) and the project was

directed by Dr Heather Burke. The Old Police station is to become the new

headquarters of the Mitcham Heritage Centre. The Centre decided to use this

opportunity to learn more about this historic building and the City of Mitcham in

past eras. Hence they invited Heather Burke and FUAD to excavate under the

floorboards of the old building, which revealed a collection of interesting and

intriguing artefacts.

The original four-roomed police station, located at 103 Princes Road, Mitcham,

Adelaide, South Australia, was built by Farr and Co in 1892 (Linke 2008:2). Later

additions included two more rooms, and a bathroom in 1917, and a single prisoner

cell in the back yard, approximately 10-15 metres from the rear of the building,

which in 1921 was converted into a double (Linke 2008:2-3) (see Appendix One).

Excavations were undertaken in three of the six internal rooms and the external

cells; a total of four trenches. All of the artefacts excavated were placed into bags

according to room number and context, then into a box before being stored in the

Flinders University Archaeology Laboratory. This report will outline the process of

artefact analysis, the results, and discuss what they mean in the context of the

project’s aims. As part of the excavation permit issued by the Department of

Environment and Heritage, South Australia, it is mandatory that the analytical

recording process follows Heritage Victoria’s Guidelines, all data will be entered

into a Historic Artefacts Database, and that a printed report outlining all of the

results will be submitted upon completion of the project.


Hayley Heffernan 6

Mitcham Heritage Centre is an association focused on the identification, research

and protection of historical buildings and places in the City of Mitcham. As part of

the development of a new cultural hub incorporating a Heritage Research Centre,

Village Institute and Arts and Crafts Centre within the City of Mitcham, the Mitcham

Heritage Centre is being relocate to the Old Police Station. The Police Station

along with a collection of surrounding buildings, will house a number of existing

community groups, including the Mitcham Heritage Centre.

1.2 Project Aim The aim of this project is to analyse the material excavated from under the floor

boards of the Old Mitcham Police Station, Mitcham, South Australia, (MPS) in May

of 2008. By analysing the artefacts resulting from excavations "we may reveal the

nature of domestic and professional police life in Mitcham from 1891-2000” (Burke,

2008:2). The research questions are as follows:

• Is there any evidence for the standard of living in Mitcham, in the late

19th and early 20th centuries?

• What evidence is there for police activities or procedures in the late

nineteenth/early 20th centuries?

• Do the cells contain information relating to the activities of prisoners?

• How does this compare/contrast to domestic arrangements and

standards in the domestic household?

• What evidence is there for women and children living in the house?

What does this tell us about gender or childhood in Mitcham in the late

nineteenth/early 20th centuries?

• What evidence is there for the occupation and function of the various

rooms within the Police Station? Did these uses remain constant

throughout the regular changes of occupants, or can changes in the

use of various parts of the building be discerned through the

archaeology? What can this tell us about the changing nature of

policing as an activity in Mitcham throughout the 20th century? (Burke,

2008:2)


Hayley Heffernan 7

Following analysis of the artefacts, recommendations for the long term storage or

reburial of the collection and/or items are proposed. The recommendations are

based upon a significance assessment of individual items and of the collection as a

whole, and their ability to contribute towards knowledge of past human behavior

within the Police Station. The level of significance was assessed according to

Heritage Victoria’s Archaeological Artefacts Management Guidelines to ensure

consistency (see Appendix Two).

1.3 Legislation and Regulations It is a condition of the excavation permit, number 0004/08, issued by the

Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia, that a full report be

made on all excavations done on the site. This includes a detailed artefact analysis

and construction of an artefact database modelled on Heritage Victoria’s guidelines.

The relevant act associated with the excavation and treatment of the building is the

Heritage Places Act 1993. Relevance is recognised under sections (see Appendix

Three);

Part 5- Special Protection

Division 1- Places or Objects of Particular Significance

25- Places of geological, palaeontological or speleological significance

26- Places of archaeological significance

27- Protection of archaeological artefacts

28- Damage or disposal of objects

29- Permits

Part five implies the need for a permit to excavate or disturb places or objects of

archaeological significance. It also prohibits the disposal or destruction of

archaeological artefacts without a permit, as well as advises on the conditions

under which a permit may be granted by the appropriate authorities.

Part 7- Miscellaneous

36- Damage or neglect


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Part seven refers directly to the damage or neglect of a State Heritage Place in

order to reduce or destroy its heritage significance. It is prohibited under the act to

intentionally or recklessly damage or to fail to take reasonable care, being either

protection or repair, of a State Heritage Place.

1.4 Acknowledgements Mitcham Heritage Centre: for the opportunity to undertake such a project and for

the initial research into the Mitcham Police Station.

Maggy Ragless: for coordinating the volunteers and facilitating the excavation.

Dr Heather Burke: for the project guidance and assistance with research.

The students and other volunteers: for working on the site.

2.0 Background

2.1 The Building’s Construction

Opened in 1892, the Mitcham Police Station functioned both as a police station

and as a residential space simultaneously. The original four roomed building was

built by Farr and Co Contractors. The external walls were built from “Mitcham

freestone, of the best quality” (Farr and Co Contractors 1891:7), a building material

commonly used in the area. No stone was to be more that eight inches in height. It

was also specified that the “external work was to be pointed with ruled sunk joints

carefully joined on with thick oil paint”. The chimney shafts, quoins, dressings to

doors and windows and plinths were made from “the best approved hand, burnt,

evenly sharp, uniformly coloured sandstocks from Threadgold’s kilns at Marion”

(Farr and Co Contractors 1891: 7). The external arches to doors and windows are

described as being fourteen inches straight, cut, subbed and finished with a putty

joint. The internal arch openings were 14 inch herring bone arches with no wooden

lintels. The arch to the kitchen fireplace was three feet, nine inches, wide (Farr and

Co Contractors 1891: 8).

The internal fittings of the building were clearly specified by Farr and Co

Contractors. These include the manner in which walls were finished. Fourteen inch


Hayley Heffernan 9

iron hoop straps were to serve as door frame supports, with two foot long ones

used as wall supports. Iron brackets were to be used in the kitchen and bedrooms

as supports for mantel shelves. Iron straps and bolts were recommended to secure

veranda posts. Slate was set upon solid brick in three fire places as well as in the

doorways and steps. All the mortar was made with freshly burnt lime and ‘clean,

sharp, round sand’ (one part lime and two and a half parts sand). It was specified

that all timber used in the construction of the building must be of the best “well

seasoned yellow Baltic and free from sap, shakes, large or loose knots or other

imperfections” (Farr and Co Contractors 1891:13). All external carpentry joints

were to be coated in thick white lead paint. King rods, queen rods, nuts, washers

and heel bolts were all used to secure the rafters and roof to pre-agreed

specifications. Builder’s details go on to include the veranda construction, mantel

piece, cupboard and shelving, as well as specifications for the glazier and painters

and down pipe installation (Farr and Co Contractors 1891).

Later alterations were made to the building and property. These included piped gas

in November 1892. In 1903 a portion of the back veranda was converted into a

bathroom, and a new kitchen and bathroom added in 1917. The single cell located

in the back yard was converted into a double one in 1921. Then, in 1924 internal

renovations were carried out which included the installation of electric lights in the

office (Linke 2008:2-3).

2.2 Staff History

When it opened in 1892, Police Constable William Henry Osborn was stationed at

Mitcham from September (Linke 2008:3). There are no specifications as to when

his service ended, but Osborn did received an honourable mention in July of 1896

and was promoted to Corporal in May 1898 (Linke 2008:3), suggesting he was still

in service at the Police Station at least until this time. Five other foot constables are

known to have served at Mitcham Police Station, including Steinely, between

March 1921-September 1929, Emery, between February 1923-October 1929, and

Milburn, between August 1950-August 1953 (Linke 2008:4). Constables by the

name of Spiers and Trotman are also known to have served at the same time as

Milburn, although precise dates of service are unknown.


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The Mitcham Police Station was closed on the 30th of August 1967, and the work

was distributed between Unley and Myrtle Bank (Linke 2008:3). The building was

then used by the Metro South State Emergency Services until 2000. It is locally

heritage listed and now forms part of the Historical Mitcham Village.

2.3 Related Studies There have been no previous studies on the Mitcham Police Station. As a

consequence little is known. What is known is that Unley Police Station, at 81

Edmund Avenue, was the third police station erected in Unley and opened in1925,

after the local council put pressure on the state Government for better facilities.

The court house, located at 83 Edmund Avenue, was also erected in 1925,

alongside (Unley Museum 2001: 16-17).

3.0 Methodology

3.1 Initial Method Overview Four trenches were opened during the 2008 MPS excavation. Three of these were

located inside the building in Rooms One, Two and Three, and the fourth in the

Cells, located approximately 10-15 metres from the rear of the building (see

Appendix One). The floor boards in Room One were easily enough removed and

therefore 100% of the room was excavated. The removal of floor boards from

Room One posed no immediate health and safety risks for visitors, as the room

was located to the side and was not needed to gain access to other areas of the

building. However, in order to access the sub-floor areas in Rooms Two and Three

holes needed to be cut into the floor boards. The entirety of the floor boards could

not be removed due to access and safety issues. Due to limited access, only

approximately 10% of Room Two and 5.8 % of Room Three were excavated (see

Appendix One). The easternmost cell was also excavated via access through a

removed section of floor boards. Approximately 11.5% of the area of the Cell was

excavated.


Hayley Heffernan 11

The number of contexts varied over the site due to varying depths of deposits.

Room Two had only one context and Room Three had two contexts. The Cells,

however, had five contexts. This was due to a lack of stratigraphy and therefore

the opportunity for excavators to removed spits of arbitrarily, two centimetres at a

time. Hence, the deposits in the Cells are possibly only as deep as those in Rooms

Two and Three, yet were removed in arbitrary spits rather than by stratigraphic

layers. Room One contained seven contexts and was governed by stratigraphy.

During the excavation most of the items recovered were bagged on site and

labelled with the room number and context from which they came. Some items

were sorted and placed into individual bags, others were grouped according to

room and context and placed in the same bags. The glass bottles were cleaned

with water and a brush to remove the majority of dirt. From here all the artefacts

were placed into a box and a basic inventory was created by the Mitcham Heritage

Centre.

3.2 Laboratory Methods All of the artefacts from the 2008 MPS excavation were identified and catalogued.

The artefacts were sorted and cleaned lightly and carefully using a soft toothbrush

and water (on plastic items only), then placed into individual sealable bags,

labelled, using a fine permanent marker, with the site code and date of excavation,

the room they were excavated from and the context in which they were found. It

was mandatory that all artefacts were numbered according to Heritage Victoria’s

guidelines. This requires a unique site code be used. In this case the site code is

‘MPS’ followed by the room number and context from which it came. A unique, five

digit sequential number, eg. ‘00001, 00002’ was then given to all of the items. It is

essential that all artefacts were uniquely numbered and that the same numbers

were not used in different areas of the site. Exceptions did apply when dealing with

a group of shards found in the same area, in the same context. These were

grouped, placed in a single bag and given a collective identification number.

Following this, the artefacts were sorted according to material type. This included

the categories metal, wood, glass and ceramic. In the case of the MPS excavation,

the variety of items found meant other categories were also required, including


Hayley Heffernan 12

‘faunal and floral’ to cover animal bones and seeds, and ‘miscellaneous’ to include

modern rubbish, plastics, hair, and anything else which did not fall into a standard

category. Paper, primarily newspaper, was collected in the deposits and was

placed into its own category, to comply with cataloguing standards.

Next the artefacts were labelled using archivally-stable Tyvek labels. These labels

are of archival quality and waterproof. A black waterproof/ lightfast/ dry-safe pigma-

pen was used to write on the labels. Artefacts were then identified according to

function, following the Heritage Victoria system, and weighed, measured,

described and dated.

Artefacts were weighed using electronic scales (Adam Equipment, Model Q.T. 600,

600g-0.1g). As some artefacts were too large to be measured using callipers and

therefore a scale ruler was substituted and all artefacts were measured in

millimetres, as per length, width and depth. Length was identified as the maximum

dimension, width was measured 90° to the length, and depth/thickness. In cases

where the depth/thickness of an object changed over its length the widest and

narrowest widths were recorded. For the majority of cases height was also

measured as length. For example the length and height of a piece of string was

considered the same. This data was then recorded directly into appropriate cells in

the blank spreadsheet. Colour was also recorded. In many cases the artefact was

too degraded to identify the original colour, hence the term Not Applicable (N/A)

was entered. N/A was also used in reference to ‘completeness’ where things such

as wood shavings and their ‘completeness’, cannot be recognised as relevant. It

was also used in measurement fields where the length, width and depth of such

items as wood shavings, newspaper scraps or hair was irrelevant and/or difficult to

obtain.

The next step was to identify and date the artefacts. Manufacturing information

was obtained wherever possible. Some of the artefacts were either too degraded

or broken, hence their functions were not identifiable. A descriptive and statistical

analysis of the results follows and includes an interpretation of the artefacts as

individuals, as well as within the site as a whole. It also includes hypothesis for

possible depositional processes. The significance of each artefact was assessed in


Hayley Heffernan 13

terms of how it contributed to the understanding of past human behaviour and

activity on the site. Based on these assessments artefacts were identified in terms

of weather they could form part of a representative and interpretive collection or

should be reburied on the site (see Appendix Two for guidelines).

The final stage of the project was the production of digital photographs. Using

appropriate photographic techniques and scales, photographs were taken of

selected diagnostic and significant artefacts. A complete list of all digital

photographs taken can be found in Appendix Four.

3.3 Heritage Victoria Function Key Word List

The Heritage Victoria Function Keyword List was established in conjunction with

the database. It acts as an addition to the database, providing users with a list of

standard terminologies to apply when cataloguing historical archaeological

collections. The keyword list is based on the Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT)

produced by the Getty Research Institute in the USA. The keywords chosen most

commonly represent materials and functions found in Heritage Victoria’s collection.

“The use of standard fields and terminologies will ensure that collections are

recorded in a regular and consistent way, and are searchable” (Heritage Victoria

2004:3).

Heritage Victoria identifies and uses eight primary functions to define artefacts

found on historic sites. These include architecture, domestic, personal, recreation,

societal/religious, tools/equipment, miscellaneous and maritime. Each function

category is subsequently divided into further functions which can better define the

artefacts (see Appendix Five). Due to the nature of the MPS collection the key

word function list was easily applied and successfully defined the artefacts. This

was due to its flexibility in applying the term ‘miscellaneous’ to objects which

remained unidentified. It also provided the ability to make definitions between

domestic, personal and recreation forming a major component in the discussion

and identification of the occupants of the building.


Hayley Heffernan 14

4.0 Results

4.1 Results Overview

A total of 422 artefacts were recovered from the site. Room One contained 47.9%

(Table 4-1) of the items recovered and included artefacts of varied functionality

(Table 4-2). The Cells revealed the next highest concentration of artefacts, at 40%

of the total collection, these, too, were representative of various functions but were

concentrated heavily on architecture. Room Two contained 4.8% of the total

collection, and Room Three contained 6.7%. The majority of the items recovered

from Rooms Two and Three were also architecturally related. Context four of

Room One yielded the highest concentration of artefacts in total (Table 4-3),

followed by context two in the Cells. Across the site context one contained the

majority of the artefacts.

Table 4-1 MPS Artefact Category Totals, According to Room

Number of Artefacts

Category Rm1 Rm2 Rm3 Cells Unidentified MNI % Weight

(g) Metallic 86 14 18 114 0 232 55 800.1 Wood 41 3 3 2 1 50 11.8 >614.1 Glass 3 0 0 9 2 14 3.3 >1403.1 Ceramic 0 0 1 3 0 4 0.9 4.9 Miscellaneous 46 1 2 26 0 75 17.8 328.6 Faunal/Floral 12 2 2 14 0 30 7.1 39.2 Paper 14 0 2 1 0 17 4.1 0.0 TOTALS 202 20 28 169 3 422 100.0 3190.0

Table 4-2 Total Primary Function Distribution for the Site

Function Rm1 Rm2 Rm3 Cells Unidentified MNI % Architecture 89 13 20 90 0 212 50.2 Tools/Equipment 11 0 0 34 0 45 10.7 Societal/Religious 2 0 0 1 0 3 0.7 Personal 21 1 1 1 0 24 5.7 Domestic 64 4 7 21 3 99 23.4 Recreation 2 0 0 0 0 2 0.5 Organic 2 0 0 0 0 2 0.5 Miscellaneous 4 1 1 13 0 19 4.5 Unidentified 5 1 1 9 0 16 3.8 TOTALS 200 20 30 169 3 422 100


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Table 4-3 Total Distribution According to Context

Number of Artefacts Context Rm1 Rm2 Rm3 Cells Unidentified MNI %

1 22 20 28 35 0 105 24.9 2 0 0 0 87 0 87 20.6 3 50 0 0 38 0 88 20.9 4 93 0 0 5 0 98 23.2 5 13 0 0 4 0 17 4 6 23 0 0 0 0 23 5.5

Unidentified 1 0 0 0 3 4 0.9 TOTALS 202 20 28 169 3 422 100

Metallic artefacts represented the greatest portion of any single material collected

from the site, a total of 55% (Table 4-1). The majority of metallic artefacts were

located in the Cells (Table 4-1). ‘Fastenings’ represented 72.8% of the architectural

material recovered (Table 4-4), ie. nails, bolts, screws and other architectural

fastenings used for construction purposes. Room One contributed 37% of the

metallic artefact collection and revealed fewer artefacts which were, however,

weightier (Table 4-5). The rest of the metallic collection appears to have been

spread relatively evenly across Room Two and Room Three.

Table 4-4 Metallic Artefact Primary Functions

Function MNI % Architecture 171 73.7 Tools/Equipment 44 19 Societal/Religious 3 1.3 Personal 8 3.4 Miscellaneous 5 2.2 Unidentified 1 0.4 TOTALS 232 100

Table 4-5 Metallic Artefact Distribution Across the Site by Room and Context

Metallic Artefacts

Cxt 1

Cxt 2

Cxt 3

Cxt 4

Cxt 5

Cxt 6 Unidentified MNI %

Weight (g)

Rm1 8 0 25 41 5 7 0 86 37.0 319.7 Rm2 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 6.1 55.3 Rm3 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 7.8 87.9 Cells 28 57 22 4 3 0 0 114 49.1 210.7 Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 68 57 47 45 8 7 0 232 100.0 673.6

In total 50 wooden artefacts were recovered from the excavation, representing

11.8% of the total collection (Table 4-1). Architecture and domestic artefacts


Hayley Heffernan 16

represented 92% of the wooden collection (Table 4-6) and were concentrated in

contexts three and four in Room One (Table 4-7).

Table 4-6 Wooden Artefact Primary Functions

Function MNI % Architecture 26 52.0 Domestic 20 40.0 Tools/equipment 1 2.0 Miscellaneous 2 4.0 Unidentified 1 2.0 TOTALS 50 100.0

Table 4-7 Wooden Artefact Distribution Across the Site by Room and Context

Wooden Artefacts

Cxt 1

Cxt 2

Cxt 3

Cxt 4

Cxt 5


Weight (g)

Rm1 1 0 14 19 1 5 0 40 80.0 >907.9 Rm2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6.0 3.7 Rm3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6.0 0.6 Cells 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4.0 0.2 Unidentified 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 4.0 9.6 TOTALS 9 1 14 19 1 5 1 50 100.0 >921.1

Fourteen glass items were recovered, representing 3.3% of the total collection.

Even though only a small proportion of glass artefacts were found, their total

weight is >1403.1 grams (Table 4-1), greater than any other category in the

collection. This is due to the small complete bottle and two complete liquor bottles

found. The Cells contained 69.2% (Table 4-8) of the total glass artefacts collected.

This is interesting in light of the fact that 78.6% of the glass collection is domestic

in nature (Table 4-9) and one would expect to find it closer to the dwelling.

Table 4-8 Glass Artefact Distribution Across the Site by Room and Context

Glass Artefacts

Cxt 1

Cxt 2

Cxt 3

Cxt 4

Cxt 5

Cxt 6 Unidentified MNI % Weight (g)

Rm1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 3 15.4 2.1 Rm2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rm3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cells 2 3 4 0 0 0 0 9 69.2 201 Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 15.4 >1200 TOTALS 2 3 5 1 0 1 2 14 100 >1403.1


Hayley Heffernan 17

Table 4-9 Glass Artefact Primary Functions

Function MNI % Recreation 1 7.2 Personal 2 14.2 Domestic 11 78.6 TOTALS 14 100

Ceramic finds contributed only 1.06% of the total collection, by far the smallest

portion (Table 4-1). Ceramics were recovered from the Cells, Room One and

Room Three (Table 4-10). The majority of the ceramic concentration was found in

the Cells, in context two (Table 4-11).

Table 4-10 Ceramic Artefact Distribution Across the Site by Room and Context

Ceramic Artefacts

Cxt 1

Cxt 2

Cxt 3

Cxt 4

Cxt 5


Rm1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rm2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 Rm3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 25 4.4 Cells 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 75 0.5 Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TOTALS 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 100 5.9

Table 4-11 Ceramic Artefact Primary Functions

Function MNI % Architecture 4 100 TOTALS 4 100

Miscellaneous artefacts constituted 17.8% of the collection (Table 4-1) and are

concentrated mainly in Room One and the Cells (Table 4-12). This portion of the

collection consists of items made from plastic, such as buttons, rubber and natural

fibres, such as rope and string. Their distribution varied across context (Table 4-

12), as did their function (Table 4-13).

Table 4-12 Miscellaneous Artefact Distribution Across the Site by Room and Context

Miscellaneous

Cxt 1

Cxt 2

Cxt 3

Cxt 4

Cxt 5


Rm1 10 0 8 21 4 3 0 46 60 >912.5 Rm2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1.3 0.9 Rm3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2.7 0.6 Cells 3 12 10 1 0 0 0 26 34.7 12.4 Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 16 12 18 22 4 3 0 75 100 >926.4


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Table 4-13 Miscellaneous Artefact Primary Functions

Functions MNI % Architecture 13 16 Personal 33 44 Domestic 15 20 Recreation 1 1.3 Organic 2 2.7 Unidentified 11 14.7 TOTALS 75 100

The faunal/floral artefacts consisted mainly of skeletal remains belonging to

rodents and chickens. This made up 7.1% of the collection (Table 4-1), and was

located in the shallow contexts of the Cells and deeper contexts of Room One

(Table 4-14). The notably domestic portion of the assemblage constituted 60% and

the remaining 40% was miscellaneous, referring to wildlife such as rodents and

birds (Table 4-15).

Table 4-14 Faunal/Floral Artefact Distribution Across the Site by Room and Context

Faunal/Floral

Cxt 1

Cxt 2

Cxt 3

Cxt 4

Cxt 5


Rm1 1 0 1 6 1 3 0 12 40 19.8 Rm2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6.7 1.3 Rm3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6.7 0.3 Cells 1 10 2 0 1 0 0 14 46.6 17.8 Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 6 10 3 6 2 3 0 30 100 39.2

Table 4-15 Faunal/Floral Artefact Primary Functions

Functions MNI % Domestic 18 60 Miscellaneous 11 36.7 Unidentified 1 3.3 TOTALS 30 100

Paper constituted 4.1% of the assemblage (Table 4-1) and was one hundred

percent domestic in nature. The majority of it was newspaper, some of which

yielded dates. From the deeper contexts of Room One 82.3% of the paper was

recovered, while the remainder came from Room Three and the Cells (Table 4-16).


Hayley Heffernan 19

Table 4-16 Paper Artefact Distribution Across the Site by Room and Context

Paper Artefacts

Cxt 1

Cxt 2

Cxt 3

Cxt 4

Cxt 5


Rm1 3 0 0 5 2 4 0 14 82.3 Rm2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rm3 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 11.8 Cells 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5.9 Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 3 1 2 5 2 4 0 17 100

4.2 Room One

The entire area of Room One, 3.36x4 m², was excavated and contained 47.9% of

the total artefact distribution (Table 4-1). A total of seven contexts were removed

to an unknown depth (see Appendix Six). However, the contexts in Room One

were not excavated and labelled systematically. Initially Room One was divided

into two trenches, east and west. They were divided by means of a low brick

support wall. Context one of the eastern side consisted of surface scatter, no

depths were recorded for this context. Eastern context two lay below context one

and above context three but had no depths recorded. Eastern context three had

deposit depths of approximately three to four centimetres and lay below context

five. Deposit depths of 2.3 cm were recorded for context five which lay below

context six. The western side of Room One had seven recorded contexts. Context

one consisted of surface scatter, no depths were recorded for this context. Context

two lay below context one, above context three and four. No depths were recorded

for it. There is no record for western context three. Western context four lays below

context two, is the same as context three and lay above context five. It was

decided at this stage that the entire room would be excavated as a single trench

and therefore have the same contexts, hence context five lay below eastern

context three and western contexts three, four and above context six. Context six

had deposits of approximately four to five centimetres deep before reaching a

compact natural surface with paving slate in the north-eastern corner. Context

seven cut into the eastern side of context six. It consisted of a post hole 55 cms

deep,17x14 cms round and positioned in, but on the edge of, a 28 cm square hole.


Hayley Heffernan 20

Diagram 4-1 Harris Matrix of Room One Contexts

Metallic

Eighty six of the 202 artefacts from Room One were metallic and architectural in

nature (Table 4-2). The majority of these were various types of nails, including 14

rose-headed wire nails (1870-1893), 30 wrought, forged or cuts nails (1870) and

23 Eubanks wrought nails (1869-1870) (Varman 1980:104-109). The remaining

metallic artefacts included personal items, such as one hat pin, three bobby pins

and three buttons. Metallic tools/equipment recovered included one small broken

saw blade which appeared to be post 1950, a pencil lead, a paper clip (also

appearing to be modern), a small staple and three safety pins of varying sizes.

Two coins were recovered in context four dating to 1950 and 1966. Miscellaneous

artefacts recovered included a hinged ring, possibly a curtain ring, a small piece of

soft pliable metal likely to be zinc and a tiny spherical pellet, primarily silver in

colour. Metallic artefacts were found in all contexts.


Hayley Heffernan 21

Wood

Forty-one wooden artefacts were recovered from Room One (Table 4-1). Over half

of these were architectural in nature and consisted of wood off-cuts and shavings.

Domestic artefacts included seven burnt matches, two dolly or clothes pegs, and

four coloured pencils, including one labelled "W_T_PU500T 159 Payneham Rd.

PHONE" and another with the end shaved away and labelled using a pen,

“SAWYER”.

Fig 4-1 Pencils and Pencil Fragments

Miscellaneous items consisted of one piece of peach-painted chipboard, possibly

from a piece of furniture. The wood plane was not excavated from under any floor,

and originated from Room One. It indicates that wood construction was taking

place on the site.

Glass

Only three glass artefacts were recovered from Room One. These consisted of

one small round white bead with green residue, one pink faceted bead, and one

small chip from a blue marble. These items contribute to the personal and

recreational understandings of the collection.

Ceramic

Four items were recovered. Three of these were located in the Cells and appear to

be framents of broken flooring tiles.

Miscellaneous


Hayley Heffernan 22

Miscellaneous artefacts are those for which no primary material could be identified.

The majority of the miscellaneous items recovered from Room One were made of

plastic and represent 60.2% of the total miscellaneous artefacts collected from the

site (Table 4-12). Personal items consisted of one pair of men’s brown leather

boots, a pink plastic hair comb, five plastic buttons of varying colours, sizes and

shapes, two mother-of-pearl buttons of different sizes, and what appeared to be a

plastic decorative piece from a hair clip with the metal clasp portion missing. The

domestic artefacts consisted of various lengths and widths of string and rope, a

cork from a bottle and a small rubber band. A red plastic circular disk was also

recovered. Embossed with a World War Two solider it could be a gaming disk or

token. Two locks of hair were recovered, one brown and one blonde. It is possible

these could either be human hair or hair from a child’s doll. Three items were

seemingly unidentifiable; a tapered leather tube in very poor condition, possibly the

limb of a child’s stuffed doll or animal; an unevenly and jaggedly cut strip of soft

black rubber; and a small round plastic lug or stopper.

Faunal/Floral

All of the faunal/floral remains recovered from Room One were domestic in nature.

Forty percent of the total faunal collection were recovered from Room One (Table

4-9). Eleven bone fragments were recovered. Some showed signs of butchering

and gnawing. The later of which was probably related to rodents. No analysis was

done on the bones to identify the animals to which they belonged. Other bones

recovered are likely to belong to birds and/rodents. Two small seeds were

recovered, these are circular and textured and have part of an outer casing present.

Paper

All of the paper-based artefacts recovered from Room One were domestic in

nature. They consisted of one Wrigley’s chewing gum wrapper, two puzzles pieces

with no image or print, one piece of sandpaper and various scraps of newspaper

ranging in date from 1891 to 1892, the years of construction.


Hayley Heffernan 23

4.3 Room Two Room Two contained only 4.7% of the total artefacts recovered from the site

(Table 4-1), a total of 20 individual items. A single context was excavated from a

1.7 x 0.8 metre square trench in Room Two, representing only 10% of the total

area. Deposits were approximately five centimetres deep.

Metallic

Only 6.1% of the total collection of metallic artefacts was recovered from Room

Two. This comprised 14 items, 13 of which held architectural traits. Eleven nails

were recovered and consisted of five rose-headed wire nails, which were dated to

1870-1893, three wrought, forged or cuts nails, dated to 1870 and three Eubanks

wrought nails, dated to 1869-1870 (Varman 1980:104-109). There was also a

single washer and one piece of scrap metal, possibly a construction off-cut. A

single bobby pin was recovered from Room Two.

Wood

Three wooden items were recovered from Room Two. These consisted of two

which were domestic in nature, a single burnt match and a damaged, but complete

matchbox. The matchbox had a label, now damaged, pasted on one side reading

"K___O OR BLUE RATED 'HAVELOCK' ADE IN __EDEN". This could either be

labelling for the matchbox or an advertisement for Havelock tobacco, or both. A

single miscellaneous object was recovered, a piece of chipboard, possibly broken

from a larger piece of furniture.

Miscellaneous

A single miscellaneous artefact was recovered: a reddish-orange rectangular piece

of plastic, with a hole melted in the centre.

Faunal/Floral

Two domestic bone fragments were recovered from Room Two.


Hayley Heffernan 24

4.4 Room Three Room Three yielded 6.7% of the artefacts, a total of only 28 individual items. A

1.5x0.75 m trench was excavated in Room Three, representing only 5.8% of the

room. Three contexts were excavated. Context one consisted of surface scatter.

Context two lay below context one and on top of contexts 3/1 and 3/2 which cut

into context two. Context 3/1 consisted of a 30x30 cm three centimetre deep test

pit cut into context two. Context 3/2 consisted of a 40x40 cm circular test pit cut

into context two. Like Room One excavation stopped when the natural surface was

reached, depths are unknown.

Diagram 4-2 Harris Matrix of Room Three Contexts

Metallic

Eighteen architectural items were recovered, including 17 nails and one tack.

Seven of the nails were Eubanks wrought nails, (1869-1870), three were case nails

and seven wrought, forged or cut nails (1870).


Hayley Heffernan 25

Wood

Room Three yielded only three wooden items, two domestic and one architectural.

A chipboard fragment was recovered, possibly from a piece of furniture. Two burnt

matches were also recovered, one of which was pink in colour and therefore from

a different pack, or perhaps a different brand, from the others found on the site.

Ceramic

Three red brick chips were recovered, similar in colour and texture to those used to

build the fireplace.

Miscellaneous

One article of domestic rubbish was recovered: used sticky-tape, and one single

dark grey plastic button.

Faunal/Floral

A single domestic bone, possibly deposited by rodents, and half a small bi-valve

shell were removed from Room Three.

Paper

Two pieces of newspaper were removed from Room Three, one of which was

dated to 1890, before the construction of the building. It could have possibly been

buried on the site before construction started, transported by rodents, or have been

used in the construction process.

4.5 Cells The Cells yielded 40% of the total artefacts recovered a total of 169 items. Five

contexts were excavated from a 1.3x0.92 cm trench, representing 11.4% of the

total area of the Cells. Context one consisted of surface scatter and debris to a

depth of two centimetres. Context two lay below context one and on top of context

three and was too excavated to a depth of two centimetres. Contexts three, four

and five were all excavated sequentially, although no depths were recorded.


Hayley Heffernan 26

Metallic

Ninety of the artefacts were architectural and included fastenings, such as nails

and tacks. These ranged from 18 bullet-headed wire nails, two flathead wire nails,

one brad, two jolthead nails, four bolts and one bolt nut, all of varying sizes, 10

wrought, forged or cut nails with a date of 1870, two cast nails, one case nail, two

tacks, three washers, all of varying size and shape, three flathead tacks, one small

nail, 12 screws and one hook. A number of nail heads were also collected but were

too degraded to establish a positive type. Thirty-two artefacts relating to

tools/equipment were recovered, these included one large staple used in

construction or for packing, 22 fencing staples, two sewing pins, one lugnut, one

thumb tack and one spring washer, which looked modern. The two miscellaneous

items included a piece of scrap metal and a foil top, possibly from a milk or other

bottle. A single coin was recovered dating to 1982. Two unidentified objects were

also recovered, one was possibly used in construction or carpentry and appeared

to be two washers joined with a band, the other was a thin elongated item tapering

to a point, possibly used for piercing.

Fig 4-2 Possibly an Unused Rivett

Wood

Two wooden items were recovered from the Cells: a single burnt match, and part

of a small and flat, fragmented wooden ring with thin metal bands.


Hayley Heffernan 27

Glass

Nine domestic glass artefacts were recovered from the Cells. These included thin,

approximately one- two millimetre, fragments of glass, possibly from seven

different vessels or items. All of the fragments were tiny and consisted of clear

glass although there were two dark green fragments and one amber fragment.

Also recovered was the corner/base of a clear container and a small complete

bottle, with a rounded lip and no lid or stopper.

Ceramic

Three architectural ceramic black floor tile chips were recovered in the Cells,

although the pieces are small and difficult to analyse.

Miscellaneous

Twenty-six miscellaneous items were recovered from the Cells, these included a

variety of items and functions. Architectural items accounted for 11 of the 26 in

total and consisted of assorted pieces of plastic wire casings, some of which had

copper wire inside. There were seven domestic items, one of which was a leather

off-cut, perhaps indicating leather-working on the site. Three were assorted thin flat

plastic shards, as if broken from a bucket or similar item. The others were pieces of

plaster. One round brown button was recovered, along with three unidentified

items. These included a cream plastic piece with "6.T&E" "15" embossed on both

sides, a soft plastic circular punch-out like for the eyelet of a tarpaulin and a thick

black rubber fragment, possibly a belt from some form of machinery.

Faunal/Floral

Fourteen faunal/floral artefacts were recovered from the Cells. Charcoal was

placed in this category for lack of a more suitable one. Ten miscellaneous bone

fragments were recovered, possibly from rodents and birds, including a complete

bird skull. One piece of bone, possibly from a cow or sheep, was recovered and is

a possible indication of diet, along with two small round seeds and a small pip from

an apricot or likewise, as well as parts of a husk/shell.


Hayley Heffernan 28

Fig 4-3 Seed Husk/Pip

Paper

Only one paper item was recovered from the Cells, and is modern rubbish, as it is

the adhesive backing from dymo tape.

5.0 Discussion

5.1 Discussion Overview Architectural traits were attributed to 50.2% of the artefacts recovered from the

MPS excavations. A further 10.7% were tools/equipment and would therefore be

more likely to have been related to the construction of the building rather than its

habitation. Only 23.4% of the artefacts were of domestic significance which,

combined with societal/ religious, personal and recreation, leaves only 30.3% of

the total assemblage that can be attributed to domestic and daily life within the

police station.

The majority of the artefacts were concentrated in context one across the entire

site, contexts two and three in the Cells and context four in Room One. Room One

held 47.9% of the total number of artefacts, followed by the Cells, with 40%. The

remainder was spread relatively evenly through context one of Room Two and

Room Three. Three artefacts, however, had no indication as to which room or

context they were excavated from. These included two glass bottles, (which make

up the majority, by weight, of the glass artefact assemblage) and one wooden dolly

peg.


Hayley Heffernan 29

Fig 5-1 Bottles and Jar

One of the two glass bottles, artefact number 00144 has been identified as a single

collar, ring seal champagne style bottle. Dark green in colour, it lacks any visible

seams and was therefore produced in a turn mould, or paste-mould, and is dated

to 1890-1915 (Lindsey 2006:11). It is also possible that the bottle could have been

machine made and would therefore date to the mid 1910s (Lindsey 2006:17).

Machine made bottles are recognisable by the polished sheen of the surface, as is

present on artefact 00144. Champagne was one of the more common alcoholic

beverages of the mid 19th to early 20th century, although the recognisable

champagne-style bottle was also used to bottle other products, such as sparkling

wines (Lindsey 2006:15).

Artefact 00145, the second dark green glass bottle, is broken, although all pieces

appeared to be present. The bottle shape suggests it contained stout, but it could

also have carried other liquor or mineral water. The wavy, uneven glass and

presence of air bubbles suggests it could also be a beer or ale bottle (Lindsey

2006:8). Mould seams suggest it was produced in a three piece ‘post-bottom’ or

‘Ricketts mould’, manufactured between 1820-1920 (Lindsey 2006:6). It has been

embossed with the words “JOHNSON LIVERPOOL TRADE MARKS

REGISTERED” and an iconic compass.


Hayley Heffernan 30

Fig 5-2 Assortment of Nails from Across the Site

Nails dated to 1870 were recovered across all contexts in Room One. Nails

recovered in higher contexts were possibly deposited when the floor boards were

removed immediately prior to the excavation. Trampling during excavation

distributed the nails both vertically and horizontally throughout the room and would

have had a similar effect on all of the deposits recovered (Nielson:2001 483-489).

This means that dates identified for any of the recovered artefacts do not

necessarily apply to the deposit from which they were recovered. For example,

Room One context four yielded two coins dating to 1950 and 1966, as well as nails

dated to 1869-1870.

Fig 5-3 Three Coins collected from Room One and the Cells

Clean, new modern screws were also recovered from this same context. There is

no way that these artefacts were deposited at the same time, causing doubt in the

chronology of Room One. As a second example of typhonic movement, weathered

safety pins and bobby pins were recovered from context three, and were clearly


Hayley Heffernan 31

older than the screws recovered from context four beneath them, further

supporting a disturbance in the stratigraphy relating to the deposition of artefacts.

Fig 5-4 A Hat Pin and Four Bobby Pins Collected from Across the Site

5.2 Room One Not surprisingly, many of the artefacts recovered from MPS were located in Room

One. Room One is positioned off the kitchen (and as the kitchen was traditionally

the centre, or hub of the house, Room One could possibly have incorporated some

of the over flow, depending on its original use). It contained artefacts deposited

before its construction in 1917, as well as when it was being used as a domestic

residence. Context seven incorporated a post hole, indicating that the area had an

outdoor use prior to the construction of the room.

A lot of the architectural artefacts, including scrap metal, and nails were possibly

deposited during the construction of the original police station in 1892 or during the

construction of the 1917 extension. These items are larger, bulkier and also

include a cork, dolly pegs and a pair of men’s boots, and would therefore not have

fallen through the floor boards, meaning that they pre-date 1917 and the

construction of phase two (see Appendix One).


Hayley Heffernan 32

Fig 5-5 Dolly Pegs

Fig 5-6 Boots Uncovered from Room One

The boots appeared to have been placed carefully rather than thrown into the

south-eastern corner of Room One, just next to the doorway. It has been

suggested that the presence and placement of the boots could be related to the

concept of ‘ritual objects’, which was still present in early 20th C Australia. Shoes

are considered the most common of these ritual objects and were placed in

chimneys, and roof and floor cavities as a response to folk magic and a fear of

witchcraft (Evans 2009:8-9). Nails found in Room One, and in other areas of the

site, date to 1870 a long time before the construction, and therefore indicate reuse.

Domestic and personal items recovered indicate habitation of the building by men,

women and children. The majority of these items are small and used in everyday

domestic life and could have been deposited either before or after the construction

of the room.


Hayley Heffernan 33

Fig 5-7 Three Safety Pins and Two Sewing Pins

Fig 5-8 Buttons, Beads and a Gaming Disk Collected from Across the Site

Newspapers dating to 1891 and 1892 could have either been deposited before

construction of Room One or after its construction, as a result of rodent activity.

Bones recovered were domestic in nature, and had evidence of gnawing

suggesting they were transported by rodents.


Hayley Heffernan 34

Fig 5-9 Faunal Remains



No significant glass or ceramic artefacts were recovered from Room One. This

suggests that outside the original kitchen door was not the place for rubbish

disposal, or that the area may have been dugout and flattened off during the

second phase of construction. In this case the ceramic and glass deposits may


Hayley Heffernan 35

have been moved to another location. Unfortunately the area around the police

station has now been bitumized and any ceramic or glass left from the period of

occupation will have been buried.

5.3 Room Two Room Two contained very few artefacts, the majority of which were architectural

and included scrap metal and nails dated to 1869-1870, the same date range as

the nails recovered from Room One. As only a single context in Room Two was

excavated, all of the items recovered were from context one, suggesting little to no

disturbance of this area of the site.

A single bobby pin was recovered and suggests, like Room One, the presence of

at least one female in the building. A match and match box coincide with the

presence of a fire place. Although the matchbox is squashed, it is relatively intact

which would suggest that, if it was deposited through the floor boards, it was done

so deliberately.

Fig 5-12 Wooden Matchbox and Matches Recovered from Room Two

5.4 Room Three

Like Room Two, Room Three yielded very few artefacts, the majority of which were

nails. All but the paper were recovered from context one. The newspaper was

recovered from context three and revealed a date of 1890. This was found under

nails found in higher contexts which were dated to 1870. This, again, supports a

theory of nail reuse, but also raises questions about the presence of newspaper


Hayley Heffernan 36

that predates the construction. As the newspaper was recovered from deeper

deposits, it is likely that it was on site before the construction of the Police Station.

Matches recovered are relevant in relation to the fire place and, along with the

recovery of a button, indicate domestic activity. Domestic bone was recovered and,

like that uncovered in Room One and Room Two, some of which was possibly

transported by rodents. A small bi-valve shell recovered would most probably have

been transported to the site in the sand used to create the mortar.

5.5 Cells Like the internal rooms, the majority of the material recovered from the Cells was

architectural in nature, and included various types of nails, bolts and screws, with a

common date of 1870 (Varman 1980:104). One jolthead nail, however, has a post

1925 date in New Zealand, suggesting it was used in Australia around the same

time, and could be related to the 1921 extension of the building. The variety of

nails, bolts and screws recovered from the cells suggests they may have been

used for storage after the police station closed in 1967, after the cells were no

longer used to hold inmates.

Evidence of post depositional disturbance can be seen. A coin dated to 1982 was

recovered from context two (See Fig 5-3), however the post 1925 jolthead nail and

others from 1870 were excavated from context one. This suggests either

disturbance, or a redeposition of earlier artefacts at a later date. Rodent bones and

gnawing of domestic bones indicate the presence of rodent activity within the Cells.

Such activity could have contributed to the post depositional disturbance of the

material under the floor.

A single burnt match was recovered from the Cells. This would coincide with the

lack of electricity and perhaps the use of gas or oil lamps for light. Other

possibilities for its deposition are related to the presence of small glass shards.

The Cells are located down hill from the main building. The movement or flow of

water as a result of rain could have washed the small fragments of glass under the

Cells where they collected. It is also possible that such fragments were deposited

before the Cells were built. The small glass bottle recovered from the Cells was in

good condition and showed no signs of damage or wear, suggesting deliberate


Hayley Heffernan 37

placement in relation to storage rather than disposal. A single button recovered

suggests human presence, but isn’t very enlightening in terms of activities within

the Cells.

5.6 Response to Research Questions

Research Question One

Is there any evidence for the standard of living in Mitcham in the late 19th and early

20th centuries?

Faunal remains excavated from the MSP site in 2008 contained bone as a result of

domestic discard. Some bone showed evidence of butchery and therefore cuts of

meat could possibly be identified as a result. There was very little glass or ceramic

recovered from the site, none of which was identifiable. Personal items, such as

buttons, were mostly made of plastic and therefore hold little indication of status or

class.

Research Question Two

What evidence is there for police activities or procedures in the late 19th/early 20th

centuries?

No evidence of policing activities could be identified from the artefact collection of

MPS.

Research Question Three

Do the cells contain information relating to the activities of prisoners?

The Cells contained no direct information relating to the prisoners and there was a

lack of relevant personal or domestic items. Lack of personal items could be

interpreted as a lack of activity within the cells, but it unknown as to how often the

cells were used. It is more likely that the design of the floor boards, tongue-in-

groove, meant few items could slip through.

Research Question Four


Hayley Heffernan 38

How does this compare/contrast to domestic arrangements and standards in the

domestic household?

There was a much greater variety of personal items recovered from the domestic

dwelling. This is not surprising when contrasted with the cells. The Police Station

would have been occupied nearly all of the time and housed a variety of activities

and people. The presence of more people produces more artefacts, with more

chances of something being lost and falling between the floor boards.

Research Question Five

What evidence is there for women and children living in the house? What does

this tell us about gender or childhood in Mitcham in the late nineteenth/early 20th

centuries?

There is a lot of evidence suggesting women and children lived in the police station.

A single hat or shawl pin was recovered, along with many hair/bobby pins. This

suggests the presence of at least one woman in the house. Smaller decorative

buttons, including two made of mother-of-pearl, indicate the presence of women

and/or children. A chip from a blue marble was recovered, along with a red circular

disk, possibly a gaming piece, several coloured pencils, two puzzle pieces and a

possible limb from a stuffed doll or animal. These toys or ‘play things’ suggest the

presence of children, or at least one child. The toy fragments recovered suggest a

boy was present, yet a lack of more gender-specific play things could mean it was

a small girl who simply enjoyed playing marbles. The presence of a girl would also

coincide with the recovery of bobby pins and more decorative buttons. Three

safety pins were recovered, all of various sizes. It is possible that at least the larger

of the three was used as a nappy pin, as it appears too large to be used for

anything more practical. Thus, the possible presence of a baby or small child in

nappies is noted. This could be the same child who later played marbles and used

the coloured pencils. Yet nothing is known of the specifications (size or

composition), the family/families, or their length of habitation within the Police

Station. The exact number of women and children is unknown. The artefacts,

however, do not reveal anything specific about gender roles or childhood activities

in late 19th/ early 20th century Mitcham.


Hayley Heffernan 39

Research Question Six

What evidence is there for the occupation and function of the various rooms within

the Police Station? Did these uses remain constant throughout the regular

changes of occupants, or can changes in the use of various parts of the building be

discerned through the archaeology? What can this tell us about the changing

nature of policing as an activity in Mitcham throughout the 20th century?

Evidence for the occupation of various rooms within the Police Station is

represented by the number of artefacts recovered in each of the rooms. Room One

yielded the highest percentage of items in the entire site, as well as the highest

percentages of personal and domestic items. This suggests that Room One

contained the majority of activities relating to domestic use. Although it is not clear

that these items belong to the occupation of Room One, they could pre-date its

construction. Room Two and Room Three had very few artefacts and the majority

of them consisted of burnt matches and architectural items, such as nails. The

architectural items can provide no information regarding the use of the rooms.

Matches, however, are associated with the fire place and suggest the rooms were

used but there is no indication of what they were used for. Due to the disturbance

of materials in Room One and the lack of materials in Rooms Two and Three,

along with the absence of glass and ceramic artefacts, it is impossible to comment

on how the use of the rooms might have changed with the occupants. The lack of

datable artefacts makes it impossible to comment on the changing nature of

policing in Mitcham.

5.7 Problems and Limitations Various problems and constraints arose during the cataloguing and research

elements of this report. Some of these may, or may not, have affected the outcome

and results and should therefore be mentioned in detail.

The first problem was identified when it was discovered that the artefacts had not

been cleaned, bagged or labelled correctly, as indicated in the excavation proposal.

In some cases dates and relevant room/trench numbers were missing. The lack of

trench number caused problems when identifying where on the site exactly specific

artefacts were found. The two main mistakes were the indication of the east and

west sides in Room One and the east and west sides in the cells. Fortunately


Hayley Heffernan 40

Rm1S and Rm1N are only two side of the same room, therefore, as long as Rm1

was indicated on the bags locality, then some sort of relative positioning was

obtainable. Likewise, in the case of the cells. Three of the significant artefacts

collected on the site, including two glass bottles and a dolly peg, had no labels to

indicate where or when they were found.

The lack of cleaning and bagging onsite created more work in the lab. Dirty objects

had made bags dirty and therefore artefacts needed to be transferred into clean

bags after having been brushed clean. According to Heritage Victoria items such

as metals, leather, textiles, wood, weathered glass, bone, ivory and mother of pearl

should not be washed (Heritage Victoria 2004:12). Brushing clean the dry dusty

objects caused issues in relation to health hazards. Lack of windows and

ventilation in the lab made it unpleasant to work there.

Some of the artefacts were too light to be weighed using the electronic scales. The

minimum weight for the scales was 0.1g. Hence the items consisting of two

matches, several locks of human hair and a small rubber band were prescribed a

weight value of <0.1g. The opposite was also the case. Three items, including two

glass bottles and a pair of men’s boots, were too heavy for the scales, at a

maximum loading of 600g; these items were weighed using the electronic scales

with weights of >600g.

Lack of appropriate comparative sources made it increasingly difficult to date

accurately many of the artefacts. Some sources on 19th century nail production

allowed for some of the nails to be dated, and two bottles were dated using a

comprehensive web site outlining manufacturing techniques by analysing mould

seams. Coins have manufacturing dates printed upon them and therefore provide

a maximum date for deposition, as do newspapers. Yet many nails, bolts and

screws were not datable due to a lack of comparative sources. A lack of credible

sources made it difficult to date the matchbox brand let alone the production of the

box itself. The pair of men’s boots requires comparative sources to establish an

exact date.


Hayley Heffernan 41

6.0 Conclusions

The 2008 MPS excavation, surprisingly, revealed very little about the occupation

and use of the Police Station. Although both domestic and personal items were

uncovered, the majority of the artefacts were architecturally-based and tell us

nothing of the occupation of the building only of its construction. However scant the

evidence, there is the suggestion of the presence of women and children, although

the lack of any ceramic or substantial glass artefacts hindered the ability to

recognise the class or status of the occupants. The limited area for excavations in

the Cells revealed very little in relation to the activities or treatment of inmates.

The presence of the men’s boots raised questions about whether or not these were

purposefully deposited and what this could mean in relation to the previous

occupants. The concept of folk magic is certainly a possibility, since boots, articles

of clothing, children’s toys, books and dead cats are often associated with floor and

roof cavities and fire places (Evans 2009:8). The use of ‘ritual objects’ as a way of

warding off evil spirits was a response to fears of witchcraft still present in the early

20th century. Although only a recent idea in Australia, this avenue could potentially

provide insight into the daily lives and understanding of the Police Station

occupants and society in late 19th/early 20th century Mitcham.

Limited access to the subfloor areas of the Cells, Room Two and Room Three is

reflected in the small number and limited range of artefacts recovered from these

areas, which is evident when compared to the much larger and more varied

collection from Room One. However, tongue in groove floor boards in the Cells

would have prevented objects from falling between them, resulting in a lack of finds.

The three other internal rooms were not open to excavation. Furthermore, the

bitumizing of the area surrounding the building meant that no trenches could be

placed externally in order to search for a rubbish dump. These limitations resulted

in the exploration of only a small proportion of the Police Station, hindering results

and therefore the ability fully to know and understand the past occupational history

of the building.


Hayley Heffernan 42

6.1 Recommendations Recommendations for the long term storage of the artefacts were outlined in the

project proposal and are as follows; “any artefacts with the potential to tell a story

of the old Mitcham Police Station will be curated locally and stored for interpretive

display by the Mitcham Heritage Centre and Mitcham City Council. All artefacts

without long term interpretive potential will be reburied on site. The location for

any reburied material will be noted in the final site report" (Burke 2008:5).

Appendix Seven lists 70 proposed artefacts which are representative of the total

collection recovered from the site. For conservation reasons these artefacts

should be kept in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight and only handled when

necessary. Such conditions prevent further deterioration.

6.2 Further Research

Suggestions for further research include;

-Special analysis of the domestic faunal remains in order to establish meat cuts

and possibly status;

-Further analysis of selected artefacts could produce manufacturing dates and

therefore contribute to possible depositional processes on the site;

-The location of the external rubbish dump in the car park of the police station

would yield more artefacts and a greater understanding of domestic life in early

20th C Mitcham.


Hayley Heffernan 43

References

Burke, H. 2008 Mitcham Research Design. Unpublished proposal to the

Department of Environment and Heritage and the Mitcham City Council.

Evans, I. 2009 Old Houses Harbor Secrets of Mystical Past. In Heritage Matters,

Heritage Council of Western Australia, 28:8-9.

Farr and Co Contractors 1891 Specification of work to be done in building a Police

Station at Mitcham. Office of the Superintendent of Public Buildings, Mitcham

Heritage Centre, Adelaide, Australia.

Heritage Victoria. 2004 Archaeological Artefacts Management Guidelines, Version

2. Heritage Victoria, Melbourne.

Lindsey, B 2006 Historic Glass Bottle Identification and Information Website

Retrieved 2009 from http://www.sha.org/bottles/index.htm. Bureau of Land

Management- Klamath Falls Resource Area, Oregon.

Linke, V. 2008 Chronology: Mitcham Police Station. Unpublished manuscript

Mitcham Local History Service and Heritage Research Centre. Mitcham, Australia.

Mitcham City Council 2009 City of Mitcham Website Retrieved 27th March from

http://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=230

Nielson, A.E. 1991 Trampling the archaeological record: an experimental study. American

Antiquity 56(3):483-503.

South Australian Heritage Council 2003 Heritage Places Act, South Australia.

Unley Museum 2001 Pathways to the Past, Unley Museum, South Australia.


Hayley Heffernan 44

Varman, R.V.J. 1980 The Nail as a Criterion for the Dating of Building and Building

Sites (Late 18th Century to 1900). In Birmingham, J and D. Bairstow (eds), Papers

in Australian Historical Archaeology, pp.104-112. The Australian Society for

Historical Archaeology, Sydney.


Hayley Heffernan 45

Appendix One. Old Mitcham Police Station, 103 Princes Rd, Mitcham. Plan showing phases of construction and approximate trench location. (Not to Scale).


Hayley Heffernan 46

Appendix Two. SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT Heritage Victoria - Artefact Management Guidelines.

CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE. (Criteria adopted by the Heritage Council on 6 March 1997 pursuant to Sections 8(c) and 8(2) of the Heritage Act 1995) CRITERION A. The historical importance, association with or relationship to Victoria's history of the place or object. CRITERION B. The importance of a place or object in demonstrating rarity or uniqueness. CRITERION C. The place or object’s potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigation in relation to Victoria's cultural heritage. CRITERION D. The importance of a place or object in exhibiting the principal characteristics or the representative nature of a place or object as part of a class or type of places or objects. CRITERION E. The importance of the place or object in exhibiting good design or aesthetic characteristics and/or in exhibiting a richness, diversity or unusual integration of features CRITERION F. The importance of the place or object in demonstrating or being associated with scientific or technical innovations or achievements. CRITERION G. The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural associations. CRITERION H. Any other matter which the Council considers relevant to the determination of cultural heritage significance.


Hayley Heffernan 47

Appendix Three.

South Australia

Heritage Places Act 1993

An Act to make provision for the identification, recording and conservation of places and objects of non-Aboriginal heritage significance; to establish the South Australian Heritage Council; and for other purposes.

Part 5—Special protection

Division 1—Places or objects of particular significance 25—Places of geological, palaeontological or speleological

significance A person must not, without a permit from the Council—

(a) excavate or disturb a State Heritage Place designated as a place of geological, palaeontological or speleological significance; or

(b) remove geological, palaeontological or speleological specimens from such a place.

Maximum penalty: $75 000.

26—Places of archaeological significance A person must not, without a permit from the Council—

(a) excavate or disturb a State Heritage Place designated as a place of archaeological significance; or

(b) remove archaeological artefacts from such a place. Maximum penalty: $75 000.

27—Protection of archaeological artefacts (1) A person must not, without a permit from the Council—

(a) excavate or disturb any land (not designated as a place of archaeological significance) for the purpose of searching for or recovering archaeological artefacts of heritage significance; or


Hayley Heffernan 48

(b) excavate or disturb any land (not designated as a place of archaeological significance) knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect that the excavation or disturbance will or is likely to result in an archaeological artefact of heritage significance being discovered, exposed, moved, damaged or destroyed.


28—Damage to or disposal of objects (1) A person must not, without a permit from the Council, damage, destroy or

dispose of—

(a) a geological, palaeontological or speleological specimen removed from a State Heritage Place designated as a place of geological, palaeontological or speleological significance (whether removed before or after the entry of that place in the Register); or

(b) an archaeological artefact removed from a State Heritage Place designated as a place of archaeological significance (whether removed before or after the entry of that place in the Register).


(2) A person must not, without a permit from the Council, damage, destroy or dispose of an object entered in the Register (either as a provisional or confirmed entry) under section 14(2)(b). Maximum penalty: $75 000.

29—Permits (1) A permit may be granted on such conditions as the Council thinks fit and those

conditions may, for example—

(a) require that the operations to be carried out in pursuance of the permit be supervised by a person with appropriate professional qualifications and experience specified in the permit;

(b) provide for the notification of the discovery or recovery of any specified classes of specimens, artefacts or other objects under the permit;

(c) provide that geological, palaeontological or speleological specimens, archaeological artefacts or other objects recovered or removed in the course of the operations are to belong to the Crown;

(d) make provision for the protection and curation of any such specimens, artefacts or other objects.

Part 7—Miscellaneous 36—Damage or neglect (1) A person who—

(a) intentionally or recklessly damages a State Heritage Place; or

(b) engages in conduct knowing that it will or might, or being recklessly indifferent as to whether it will or might, destroy or reduce the heritage significance of a State Heritage Place,


Hayley Heffernan 49

is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty: $120 000.

(2) A person who undertakes any action that—

(a) damages a State Heritage Place; or

(b) destroys or reduces the heritage significance of a State Heritage Place,


(3) A person who—

(a) fails to take reasonable care of a State Heritage Place; or

(b) fails to comply with any prescribed requirement concerning—

(i) the protection of a State Heritage Place; or

(ii) the state of repair of a State Heritage Place,



Hayley Heffernan 50

Appendix Four. MPS Photographs Date: 05/06/2009 Site SSS142 Flinders University Camera: Nikon DX Photographer Hayley Heffernan Photo No. Artefact No. Description

HH050609001 00063,00071,00066,00008, 00068, 00011, 00104 Assorted nails

HH050609002 00063,00071,00066,00008, 00068, 00011, 00104 Assorted nails

HH050609003 00117, 00119, 00129 Wooden dolly pegs HH050609004 00117, 00119, 00129 Wooden dolly pegs HH050609005 00117, 00119, 00129 Wooden dolly pegs HH050609006 00133, Matchbox HH050609007 00133, Matchbox

HH050609008 00133, 00127, 00131, 00132, 00134 Matchbox and matches

HH050609009 00133, 00127, 00131, 00132, 00134 Matchbox and matches

HH050609010 00121, 00122, 00120, 00128 Pencils HH050609011 00040, 00041, 00098 Coins, front HH050609012 00040, 00041, 00098 Coins, back HH050609013 00001, 00057, 00004, 00030 Hat/shawl pin, hair/bobby pins HH050609014 00001, 00057, 00004, 00030 Hat/shawl pin, hair/bobby pins HH050609015 00118, Paintbrush/quill HH050609016 00155, Tapered leather tube/nozzle HH050609017 00155, Tapered leather tube/nozzle HH050609018 00003, 00005, 00006, 00091 Safety pins, sewing pins HH050609019 00003, 00005, 00006, 00091 Safety pins, sewing pins

HH050609020 00147, 00168, 00024 Unknown long, thin ceramic and metallic objects

HH050609021 00217, Unknown metal pointed object

HH050609022

00160, 00159, 00167, 00162, 00163, 00157, 00158, 00184, 00038, 00170, 00039, 00051, 00161, 00169, 00139, 00137 Plastic gaming disk, buttons, beads

HH050609023

00160, 00159, 00167, 00162, 00163, 00157, 00158, 00184, 00038, 00170, 00039, 00051, 00161, 00169, 00139, 00137 Plastic gaming disk, buttons, beads

HH050609024 00213, 00202 Seeds, pip HH050609025 00207, 00214 Bone HH050609026 00207, 00214 Bone HH050609027 00200, 00204, 00206 Bone HH050609028 00200, 00204, 00206 Bone HH050609029 00201, 00205, 00209 Bone HH050609030 00201, 00205, 00209 Bone HH050609031 00203, Bone HH050609032 00203, Bone HH050609033 00208, Bone HH050609034 00208, Bone


Hayley Heffernan 51

HH050609035 00215, Bird skull HH050609036 00211, 00214 Bone HH050609037 00211, 00214 Bone HH050609038 00143, 00144, 00145 x2 bottles, jar HH050609039 00143, 00144, 00145 x2 bottles, jar HH050909040 00231, Wood plane HH050609041 00231, Wood plane HH050609042 00154, Boots HH050609043 00154, Boots HH050609044 00154, Boots


Hayley Heffernan 52

Appendix Five. Heritage Victoria Function Key Word List


Hayley Heffernan 53

Heritage Victoria Function Key Word List


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Appendix Six. List of context sheets for MPS site. Rooms Context Rm1 East Rm1 West Rm2 Rm3 Cells East Cells West

1 Missing Missing Present, inc depths

Present, no depths

Present, inc depths

Present, no depths

2 Missing Missing Missing Present, no depths

Present, inc depths Missing

3 Present, inc depths Missing N/A

Present, inc depths Missing Missing

4 Present, no depths Missing N/A N/A Missing Missing

5 Present, inc depths Missing N/A N/A Missing Missing

6 Missing Present, inc depths N/A N/A N/A N/A

7 N/A Present, inc depths N/A N/A N/A N/A

Notes

2 sheets present for context 5

Another unlabelled context sheet present


Hayley Heffernan 59

Appendix Seven List of Artefacts for preservation

Artefact N

o.

Square/Trench

Context

Activity

Function 1

Function 2

Significance

Condition

MN

I General Description

Date/

Date range

00001 Rm 1 1 Hat pin Personal Costume High Good 1 Plain, undecorated hat or shawl pin

00003 Rm 1 3 Safety Pin Tools/equipment Sewing High Weathered 1 Safety pin, Embossed text 'FLIAMLE'

00004 Rm 1 3 Bobby pins Personal Grooming High Poor 2 Bobby pins (x2) used for hair

00005 Rm 1 3 Safety Pin Tools/equipment Sewing High Weathered 1 Safety pin, possibly for sewing or

baby nappies

00006 Rm 1 3 Safety Pin Tools/equipment Sewing High Good 1 Safety pin, possibly for sewing or

baby nappies

00030 Rm1 4 Bobby pin Personal Grooming High Poor 1 Bobby pin, used for hair

00038 Rm1 4 Button Personal Costume High Poor 1 Button, shank missing

00039 Rm 1 4 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Button, used on clothing

00040 Rm 1 4 Coin Societal/ religious Money High Good 1 One Cent Australian piece 1966

00041 Rm 1 4 Coin Societal/ religious Money High Good 1 Three Pence, Australian piece 1950

00046 Rm 1 5 Spherical

pellet Miscellaneous Miscellaneous High Weathered 1 Unknown artefact

00051 Rm 1 6 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Button, embossed with '*THE

CLIMAX*'

00057 Rm 2 1 Bobby pin Personal Grooming High Poor 1 Bobby pin, used for hair

00079 Cells 1 Staple Tools/equipment Miscellaneous Medium Poor 1 Staple, use for construction or

packaging

00080 Cells 1 Staples Tools/equipment Fastenings Medium Good 3 Fencing staple

00091 Cells 2 Pins Tools/equipment Sewing High Poor 2 Pins, used for sewing

00098 Cells 2 Coin Societal/ religious Money High Good 1 1 cent Australian piece 1982

00117 UK UK Dolly peg Domestic Utensils High Good 1 Wooden dolly peg

00118 Rm1 1 Paint

brush/quill Domestic Utensils High Poor 1 Paint brush/quill

00119 Rm1 3 Dolly peg Domestic Utensils High Good 1 Wooden dolly peg

00120 Rm1 3 Pencil Domestic Utensils High Poor 1 Partial pencil "W_T_PU500T 159

Payneham Rd. PHONE"

00121 Rm1 3 Pencil Domestic Utensils High Poor 1 Pencil

00122 Rm1 3 Pencil Domestic Utensils High Weathered 1

Partial red coloured pencil "Sovereign" Labelled with biro "?

SAWYER"

00127 Rm1 4 Matches Domestic Utensils Medium Poor 3 Burnt matches

00128 Rm1 4 Pencil Domestic Utensils High Poor 1 Partial pencil, painted red

00129 Rm1 5 Dolly peg Domestic Utensils High Good 1 Wooden dolly peg

00131 Rm1 6 Matches Domestic Utensils Medium Poor 4 Burnt matches

00132 Rm2 1 Matches Domestic Utensils Medium Poor 1 Burnt match

00133 Rm2 1 Match box Domestic Utensils High Poor 1

Match box "K___O OR BLUE RATED 'HAVELOCK' ADE IN

__EDEN"

00134 Rm3 1 Matches Domestic Utensils Medium Poor 2 Burnt Matches

00136 Cells 1 Match Domestic Utensils Medium Poor 1 Burnt match

00137 Rm1 3 Bead Personal Costume High Good 1 Facetted bead with hole for stringing

00138 Rm1 4 Marble

chip Recreation Play Medium Poor 1 Chip off of glass marble

00139 Rm1 6 Bead Personal Costume High Good 1 Spherical bead with hole for stringing, wear around hole

00143 Cells 1

Small glass bottle Domestic Container High Good 1 Small glass bottle

00144 N/A N/A Glass bottle Domestic Container High Good 1

Glass bottle embossed on bottom "955"


Hayley Heffernan 60

00145 N/A N/A Glass bottle Domestic Container High Good 1

Glass bottle embossed: "Johnson Liverpool Trade Marks (compass)

Registered"

00147 Rm1 4 Slate pencil Domestic unknown Medium Poor 1 Slate pencil

00154 Rm1 1 Pair of boots Personal Costume High Poor 2

Pair of men’s leather boots, with sole and laces partially intact

00155 Rm1 1

Tapered leather

tube Unknown Unknown Medium Poor 1 Tapered leather tube, with stitching,

possible toy arm/limb?

00156 Rm1 1 Comb Personal Grooming Medium Weathered 1 Plastic hair comb, with reddish-brown

residue

00157 Rm1 1 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Mother of peal, circular, two hole

button

00158 Rm1 1 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Grey, circular, plastic, four hold

button

00159 Rm1 1 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Blue, circular, plastic, two hole button

00160 Rm1 1 Gaming

disk Recreation Play High Good 1 Red, circular, plastic, embossed with

WW2 solider

00161 Rm1 1 Button Personal Costume High Good 1

Red (with gold paint residue), circular, plastic, shanked button,

textured pattern

00162 Rm1 1 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Brown, circular, plastic, four hole

button

00163 Rm1 3 Button Personal Costume High Good 1

Brown, circular, plastic, two hole button, browny-orange thread still

attached

00168 Rm1 3 Slate pencil Domestic Unknown Medium Poor 1 Slate pencil

00169 Rm1 4 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Sliver, circular, mother of pearl, four

hole button

00170 Rm1 4 Button Personal Costume High Poor 1 Fabric covered, circular button,

shank missing

00176 Rm1 5 piece of hair clip Personal Costume Medium Poor 1

Possible decorative piece from a hair clip

00178 Rm1 6 Cork Domestic Beverage Medium Good 1 Cork from bottle with mortar attached

00184 Rm3 1 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Dark grey, circular, plastic, four hole

button

00187 Cells 1 Button Personal Costume High Good 1 Brown, circular, plastic four hole

button

00217 Cells 2 Rivet Tool/equipment Fastening High Poor 1 Unused rivet

00221 Rm1 4 puzzle piece Domestic Toy High Weathered 1 Puzzle piece, no picture/print

00226 Rm1 6 puzzle piece Domestic Toy High Poor 1 Puzzle piece, no picture/print

00231 N/A N/A wood plane Tool/equipment Hardware High Weathered 1

Wood plane, metal shaving base/blade missing

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