Preserving the past for the future generations of Australians
The Cania Gorge Regional Archaeological ProjectCania Gorge is an extensive system of low, dissected sandstone plateaux, in the upper Burnett River basin, southeast Queensland, exhibiting a rich Aboriginal and European occupation record. Field surveys have documented numerous archaeological deposits in rockshelters at the base of the escarpments forming the gorge, some including rock art sites. Archaeological excavations at 10 rockshelter sites within a 15km2 area at the southern end of the gorge have revealed evidence for Aboriginal occupation extending up to 18,000 years ago to the European contact period. Archaeological deposits extend up to 4.5m deep in some sites, with thousands of stone artefacts and faunal remains recovered. These archaeological assemblages provide a key data set in testing models of Holocene Aboriginal cultural change in Australia.
References
Eales, T., C. Westcott, I. Lilley, S. Ulm, D. Brian and C. Clarkson 1999 Roof Fall Cave, Cania Gorge: Site report. Queensland Archaeological Research 11:29-42.
Westcott, C., I. Lilley, S. Ulm, C. Clarkson and D. Brian 1999b Big Foot Art Site, Cania Gorge: Site report. Queensland Archaeological Research 11:43-58.