An archaeological example of Aboriginal management of a hydro-ecological system in the Murray River valley, South Australia

Abstract

Context A rare archaeological example of Aboriginal water management in a Murray River floodplain upstream of Renmark is described and contextualised. Aims Historical accounts, archaeological descriptions and hydrological modelling are used to propose a likely function of the site. Methods The site was documented through archaeological field recording, a digital elevation model (DEM) developed through a real-time kinematic (RTK) survey and flood inundation modelling (FIM), and is interpreted through a review of archival and documentary sources. Key results The site represents one of only a few extant physical examples of Aboriginal water management in the Riverland and greater Murray–Darling Basin. Conclusions Our assessment indicates that Aboriginal people had excavated an artifical channel within the Calperum floodplain in order to manipulate natural water connectivity, most likely as part of a fish trap or weir structure. Implications The site builds an appreciation of the complexity of Aboriginal land practices and supports the impression gained though historical accounts of a curated and managed riverscape.