7.0 Excavation and archaeological investigation

​Many places on the Tasmanian Heritage Register are significant because of a potential to reveal new information about early life in Tasmania through archaeological investigation.

Where a place had been assessed as having significant archaeological value against criterion (c) - potential to yield information - or the place is otherwise known to have significant archaeological remains (ie: archaeological materials, inclusive of structures, relics or artefacts, deposits and residues), the Heritage Council may require the preparation of a Statement of Historical Archaeological Potential to ensure impacts to significant archaeological values are considered. The Statement should be completed in the planning phase and lodged with the development application. The Statement will inform the Heritage Council as to whether it is appropriate to require a Method Statement to lessen the impacts on the significant archaeological values. Further information can be found in the Heritage Council publication: Managing Historical Archaeological Significance in the Works Process.

7.1 Initial investigation

​​What is eligible for a certificate of exemption? 
(ie: work that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the significance of the place)
​When is a discretionary permit application required by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and what are appropriate outcomes?
​​Removing non-significant deposits (eg: recent soil deposits) where undertaken or supervised by a qualified archaeologist to test/confirm/refine an archaeological judgement and temporarily expose underlying deposits without disturbing them.​Ground disturbance in an area known to have significant archaeological values. 

Appropriate outcomes:​

The Heritage Council may require a Method Statement.

The Heritage Council may condition arrangements for the curation, storage or display of artefacts derived from an archaeological investigation.

Further information can be found in the Heritage Council publication 'Managing Historical Archaeological Significance in the Works Process'.

​​7.2 Excavation and ground disturbance

​​​What is eligible for a certificate of exemption? 
(ie: work that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the significance of the place)		​When is a discretionary permit application required by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and what are appropriate outcomes?
​​Works to areas of potentially no to low archaeological value.

Works where a qualified archaeologist has determined that there is a low risk of disturbing significant archaeological remains. 

Excavating identified non-significant deposits under the supervision of a qualified archaeologist to ensure works do not encroach on and disturb significant archaeological remains. 

Dealing with unanticipated finds after consultation with Heritage Tasmania.		​​Where proposed works will disturb areas of potentially medium to high archaeological value. 

Appropriate outcomes:​

In these circumstances, the Heritage Council may require:
  • a Statement of Archaeological Potential, and/or a Method Statement;
  • the design of the works to be amended; 
  • additional investigation or research undertaken;
  • A controlled archaeological investigation as a condition of the permit.
Further information can be found in the Heritage Council publication 'Managing Historical Archaeological Significance in the Works Process'.

Case Study (Significant landscapes and landforms): Probation Station, Tasman Peninsula
During the 1840s, numerous probation stations were built in Tasmania as a unique experiment in convict management and reform.

One such probation station was established on the Tasman Peninsula for the growing of food. Over the coming years, the station expanded to house up to 500 prisoners. The station took advantage of, and modified the natural topography. A causeway was built into the bay, roads were cut to link sites, and a substantial complex of buildings were erected.

Today, the probation station consists of standing brick buildings, ruins, surface and subsurface archaeological remains and modified landforms.

The social division between the convicts and those in charge was clearly demonstrated in how the station was arranged. Whilst the convicts were housed and worked on the low lying areas, the officers and officials lived in separate quarters, elevated above the prisoners. This can be seen in the photograph of the former catechist's house, built on top of the hill and orientated to overlook the site. Lower down, building platforms were cut into the side of the hill.

The heritage values of the probation station are varied and complex. It not only includes the sites of existing or former buildings, but also how the site was purposely arranged and developed for convict management and reform.

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