The Broadj^cir Aboriginal Burial Ground

The Aboriginal burial ground at Broad-beach, Queensland was accidentally dis-covered in 1963 by local soil contractors who were removing soil for sale as lawn top-dressing without the knowledge of the owner of the land. They were also digging up human bones, which fact was reported to the police. The dislodgments of burials in subsequent police investiga-tions, damage to the site by vandals, the lack of legislation to protect Aboriginal antiquities, the difficulty of keeping secret the location of the site, and the increasing deterioration of the fragile burials all made crucial the setting up of a rescue operation. The account of the difficulties of the work makes a graphic prologue to the description of the excava-tion. The need for action was urgent, but the task took over four years to complete. This book describes in detail all material recovered from Broadbeach burial ground. The skeletal material is described mainly from an archaeological point of view. The physical anthropologist has not yet com-pleted the anatomical studies. Remains of about 150 persons were excavated. They had been buried during the last thousand years, the last individuals after European settlement. There was evidence of marked continuity of tradition but great possibility of variation within this. Most burial ceremonies took place in stages and were elaborate, involving patterns of re-assembling the bones, use of red ochre, fire, and funeral meals. This meant a great amount of associated food debris and artifacts. Written accounts and anthropological studies relevant to the area have been used extensively, sometimes illuminating the archaeological evidence, sometimes con-trasting with this and raising important problems. The book is profusely illustrated and details are given also of techniques used during the excavation. This is the first detailed report of this kind in Australia. (continued on back flap) An archaeological analysi