Shipwreck cargo

This book chapter considers some of the significant artifact studies that have been conducted in Australian maritime archaeology over the last two decades. It will examine what has been learnt from the detailed study of artifacts from Royal Navy vessels as well as cargo material, personal objects and so-called "collected" items found on shipwreck sites as well as artifact studies associated with jetty sites. It will briefly explore the relationship between artifacts from wrecks and similar artifacts found on terrestrial historical archaeological sites primarily by considering the meanings of these objects. It will suggest some ways that artifact studies can contribute to our understandings of trade, colonial societies and even site formation processes.

The William Salthouse was the first merchant vessel to sail with a cargo of merchandise from the British Dominion of Canada to the newly established colonies of Australia. The vessel was lost on 27 November 1841 while attempting to enter Port Phillip Heads during a voyage from Montreal and Quebec to Melbourne. Historical and archaeological research has revealed that much of the cargo of salted meats and fish was contained in casks (or barrels) which were the most common containers for shipment of bulk commodities during the first half of the nineteenth century. Many of the casks were marked with information about their origin, weight and contents. Other components of the cargo included alcohol in bottles and casks. This paper discusses aspects of the cargo in light of the social and economic context for trade between Canada and Australia at the time.

"What has been learned from the detailed study of cargo material found on merchant shipwreck sites in Australia? Some extensive collections of shipwreck cargo material have resulted from archaeological excavations by maritime archaeologists over the past 30 years or so. Other collections have been created by SCUBA divers, primarily before the introduction of the Commonwealth (Federal) Historic Shipwrecks Act in 1976. Many of these have now been documented as a result of the 1993 amnesty. The relationship between cargo artifacts from archaeologically excavated shipwrecks and similar artifacts found on terrestrial historical archaeological sites is explored through a consideration of the meanings attached to these objects, suggesting ways that artifact studies focused on shipwreck cargo material can contribute to understandings of colonial societies, the nature of capitalism, and the rise of consumerism.

This journal article argues that successful colonial settlement was only possible where there was a regular supply of suitable consumer goods for the newly arrived colonists."