RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: deeiluka on Friday 23 May 08 13:41 BST (UK)
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Today I had an an amazing experience, and I just want to share it. My daughter in law (who is an archeologist) took me onto an archeological dig site in the area known as The Rocks by Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was one of the first places settled by Europeans in the 1780 and 1790s, and an the history of an entire community has been uncovered.
To see the remains of the early houses, hotels, lanes, wells etc and talk about all the information that has been discovered about this community was amazing. It was a small area in which over 300 people lived, and the names of quite a few of them are known, and family links have been traced down to present day people.
I couldn't help but imagine how it would feel to suddenly be presented with this kind of information and experience, and to be able to stand and gaze and even walk into the remains of the tiny dwelling place that your ancestors......many of them of convict origins......would have lived in.
I took some photographs......in the one I am posting the excavation in the foreground on the right was an old hotel.....you can see the steps going down into the cellar.
Lots of information about it can be found at
http://sydneyharbouryha.com.au/site_history/
......dee
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Archeology is so interesting, a great site for the information on it in Sydney as well.
It's a wonder that the UK 'Time Team' aren't involved at some point, they have just been to take a hand in the Liverpool excavations, and that was a really good programme.
I wonder if anyone is taking footage of the excavations to show you at a later stage how it all started, and took shape.
sound great.
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It was certainly the most interesting experience, Silvery.
One of the two lanes through the site has featured in many a novel written about life back then, so that in itself was amazing to see. Quite a lot of the cobblestones were still quite clear to see.....
......dee
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That fine china and stuff could have belonged to Captain Bligh. I wonder where he lived.
There was a programme on the tv here many years ago (about 20) about the first settlers in Sydney, and I loved it. Can't remember it's name now. It seemed very authentic, although what did I know???? Capt Bligh did feature in it though.
His house was on the site where the museum now stands, apparently.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03gp/
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What a wonderful experience, something I have always wanted to do and the other is go on a dig, perhaps even find something, Yipee, but I dont think my knees would let me do it now ;D Congrats
Goldi
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Here's another picture.....of tenement house foundations with the fireplace supports. Imagine having a large family in one of those rooms...... :o :-\
.......dee
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What a marvellous experience for you Dee. Archaeology has always been an interes of mine and the article in the paper made interesting reading.
Thank you for sharing
Joy