“ ‘Dig with us’: A public participation model for the Harrietville Chinese Mining Village Project in northeastern Victoria”, by Melissa Dunk and Paul Macgregor, published in Caroline Spry et al (eds), Excavations, Surveys and Heritage Management in Victoria, Vol. 7, 2018, pp. 79-83.
This article about the first season of excavation at Harrietville, in October 2017, is based on a paper presented by Melissa Dunk and Paul Macgregor at the Victorian Archaeology Colloquium 2018, held at La Trobe University on 2 February 2018.
Article outline
In October 2017, The Uncovered Past Institute conducted archaeological investigations at the Harrietville Chinese Mining Village in Victoria. The fieldwork was based on a public participation funding model, whereby members of the public paid to assist with the investigations as an experience. This model requires a balance between meeting the operational requirements of an archaeological dig and providing a one-of-a-kind experience for participants. Participants ranged from people fulfilling a lifelong dream, with a general interest in archaeology or of Chinese-Australian ancestry to students looking for field experience. Overall, the investigations were a success in facilitating meaningful and substantial participation in archaeological practice. This article presents an overview of the project, the first field season and the funding model, and highlights the project’s success in generating useful information about the site while providing members of the public an opportunity to engage with archaeology.
Excavation sites: (1) Stone Feature 1, at early stage of excavation; (2) Water Race 1; (3) West Camp 1; (4) Stone Feature 1, at full extent of excavation; (5) Sieving.
Object processing: (1) Cataloguing workstations in Harrietville Hall; (2) First-stage processing on-site; (3) Sorting prior to cataloguing; (4) Conjoin analysis of bottle; (5) Technical illustration; (6) Conservation cleaning