Historic archaeology - about
What is historical archaeology?
Historical archaeology relates to all non-Indigenous archaeological sites. It is the study of the past through a combination of physical evidence including artefacts, places and landscapes, and the use of historical sources. Types of physical evidence may include ruinous buildings, deposits of artefacts, and other remains associated with human activity.
Archaeological sites and their associated artefacts do not exist in isolation from their broader cultural and natural environment. For this reason, historical archaeology also relies on other fields including history, anthropology, geography and geology, to help develop an understanding of a place's history.
Archaeological sites are important because they help us increase our knowledge about past places and activities.
Archaeological sites and the Heritage Inventory
All known non-Indigenous archaeological sites in Victoria can be searched online through the Heritage Inventory (HI) through the Victorian Heritage Database.
The Heritage Inventory contains site descriptions, plans, locations, and preliminary assessments of the importance of each site. Heritage objects and artefacts which have been found and recorded in Victoria are also listed. These may range from pieces of machinery to a scatter of crockery and glass.
Other Legislation
In Victoria, Indigenous archaeological sites are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, which is administered by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.
Places under Commonwealth ownership are protected through the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Burra Charter is a nationally accepted standard for the conservation of cultural heritage, including archaeological sites, in Australia and is administered by Australia ICOMOS. While not a statutory regulation, it outlines an acceptable code of practice and provides guidance relating to the management of cultural heritage places.
Prior to the Heritage Act 1995, historical archaeological sites were protected under the Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972. The AARP, which has been superseded by the Heritage Act 1995, functioned to control activities occurring at most archaeological sites rather than preserving and conserving sites.