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Some reasonably straightforward testing, perhaps using resistivity survey
or detailed soil analysis, might help to answer the question of garden
areas. As both involve further disturbance of the site, the work has not
been done.
8.2.7 Evidence of Economic and Recreational Activities
The historical record for Chinaman's Garden Well suggests the presence
there of several structures during the last decade of the 19th century.
Some of these can be identified in the archaeological record. These are
the cellar, perhaps the big house, two less substantial residential
structures and perhaps the bough shed. Of these the cellar and the boughshed
have an association with recreational activities. Unfortunately, the
cellar is also clearly associated with later use of the site, perhaps by the
Cox family.
A possible site for the bough shed is north and west of one of the identified
residential sites. Photograph 30 is of this area. The general locality is
indicated on the site plan for Chinaman's Garden Well. It is distinguished
by an area of more firmly packed ground, suggested by the relative
absence of vegetation, and by a number of rocks. This was also the
location of a bed iron, included in the 1988 site survey details, and parts of
a stoneware demi-john. It is also quite close to the quadrat in which the
complete opium tin was located. The bough-shed site is not clearly
associated with significant numbers of artefacts. A few items, including the
remains of a wax vesta tin, protruded from the surface nearby in 1988,
suggesting this part of the site has been buried by the deposition of a layer
of soil or flood debris. It is possible to speculate as to the reasons for this
deposition, when the main artefact scatter identified appears to have
remained exposed since abandonment. One possibility is the presence of
buried structural remnants on the western boundary of the surveyed area.
With the possible exception of the opium-related items and whisky bottles,
none of the surface artefacts from Chinaman's Garden Well have
associations with recreation. Similarly, with the exception of a number of
barrel-hoops which perhaps relate to the storage of water or organic refuse
used for fertiliser, few artefacts can be clearly related to economic
activities. Those which can, a tar ladle and the parts of a watering can,
being of questionable association with the Chinese occupation period.
8.2.8 Discussion of Specific Artefacts
8.2.8a Flatwares
Items 5, 47, 57, 96,115, 157, and 457 are all pieces from flatware which
was also found at Chinaman's Well, in this case the blue transfer-print on
white "Asiatic Pheasant" motif. No photograph has been supplied of these
items. The pieces all appear to be from one plate, while a further piece,