Convict workshops to be unearthed

A TEAM of archaeologists yesterday began excavating the site of former convictperiod workshops next to the penitentiary at the Port Arthur Historic Site.

The dig is part of a project between the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority and Richard Tuffin, postdoctoral research fellow from the University of New England.

“These workshops were integral to the operation of the Port Arthur penal station,” Dr Tuffin said.

“Over the years since the site was given up as a penal station in 1877, there has been a lot of activity that has impacted the integrity of the convict-period structures and deposits. Everything from salvage to bushfires and the erection of new buildings have all had an impact.”

The first stage of the project will involve the use of an excavator to carefully remove the upper layer of topsoil to expose the features and deposits beneath. After that, we use hand tools for the rest of the excavation.”

The investigations will continue until November and are the latest in a suite of archaeological activities in and around the Penitentiary.

The Port Arthur dig follows another at the former Picton Rd station in the Southern Midlands, which recently uncovered hundreds of artefacts, including alcohol bottles. The station and cells housed convicts who built the road between Launceston and Hobart.

PAHSMA Archaeology Manager Dr David Roe said previous excavations at the Port Arthur site had revealed new things about how the site evolved, how convicts were managed and how they reacted to that management.

“We’re sure that this new investigation of the workshops will add to this new knowledge,” Dr Roe said.