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Australian Nature conservation Agency, North Australia Research Unit. The Australian National University, Darwin. Smith, C.E. 2004. Country, Kin and Culture. Survival of an Australian Aboriginal Community. Wakefield Press, Adelaide.

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Attachment 1. Historic Heritage sites View of the old Frances Creek Village. Piles of concrete mark the locations of old buildings.

Swimming Pool, large shade tree, BBQ and burnt building. The pool is relatively intact, with at least 95% of tiles still present. The tree has survived recent fires and is in good health. The cement in the BBQ is eroding.

Septic/separator tank. Two three pit separator tanks are located in close proximity and connect with a excavated trench 1.5m deepx0.7m wide and approx. 20m long.

Car dump-contains 18 vehicle bodies all dating to the late 60’s and 70’s. All vehicles have been burnt.

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Frances Creek rail line cutting with signpost.

Sign on Frances Creek railway.

Metal Dump- Helene pit

Concrete foundation- Helene pit offices

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Loading equipment-Helene pit

Avery 60 ton scale

Loading area- Helene pit

Concrete foundation- Thelma 2 pit area

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Attachment 2. Aboriginal Site record forms Background Name Frances Creek 1 Property Ban Ban Springs/Frances Creek MLA GPS Location (GDA 94) e8087650n8493536 1:50K map sheet Union Reef Date recorded 17.10.2005/ 20.10.2005 Locator Tim Hill, Bessie Coleman Recorder Tim Hill Location description On Frances Creek mine road approx 600m

north of the old Frances Creek village- on the western side of the road between the road and old train line.

Context Vegetation type Open woodland Landscape setting Creek bank/lower slope Substrate Gravel and coarse sand Dominant species Eucalyptus Nearest water Channel running into Frances Creek-10 metres.

A soakage in the creek is located just south of Frances Creek Village.

Site description Site type Stone artefact scatter Site structure Surface deposit Dimensions 100m x 60m Condition Some sheet erosion in bottom section- top

section disturbed by earthworks associated to railway line. One metal pipe-end was located at the site indicate prior disturbance.

Artefact density (est.) 1 m2 Max artefact density 4 m2 Predominate type Flakes/formed blades Raw material type Fine grained silaceous (grey, black), Quartz Raw material source Local quartz- Mt. Porter

Sample of artifacts from Frances Creek 1

Frances Creek 1 showing eroding gravelly soils leading to creekbank

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Background Name Frances Creek 2 Property Ban Ban Springs/Frances Creek MLA GPS Location (GDA

94) e808219n8496880

1:50K map sheet Union Reef Date recorded 18.10.2005/ 20.10.2005 Locator Tim Hill, Bessie Coleman Recorder Tim Hill Location description On the main Frances Creek approximately 2.7km

past the first main pit (Helene5/6) on the western side of the road. The site is located on the north east bank of the creek at the confluence with a channel coming from the north. The site extends along the bank of the northern channel back to a low rocky outcrop to the north.

Context Vegetation type Open woodland Landscape setting Creek bank/lower slope Substrate Alluvial soil Dominant species Eucalyptus Nearest water Channel running into Frances Creek-2 metres. At

the time of recording just before wet season water was visible in the chanel where pigs had been digging.

Site description

Site type Stone artefact scatter

Site structure Surface deposit Dimensions 400m x 200m Condition Undamaged- some sheet erosion Artefact density (est.) 0.5 m2 Max artefact density 8 m2 Predominate type Flakes/formed blades Raw material type Fine grained silaceous (grey, black), Quartz

1 blade made from steel. Raw material source Local quartz- Mt. Porter

Frances Creek 2 showing flat alluvial area and creek in background

Steel blade at Frances Creek 2

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Background Name Frances Creek 3 Property Ban Ban Springs/Frances Creek MLA GPS Location (GDA 94) e808247n8498688 1:50K map sheet Union Reef Date recorded 19.10.2005/ 20.10.2005 Locator Tim Hill, Bessie Coleman Recorder Tim Hill Location description Take the track heading across the creek approx.

3.15km past the first main pit (Helene5/6) which links up to the original road. Take the second graded track to north (approx. 850m) and head up the hill approx. 700. The site is located on the top of the hill and on the bank of the creek below the hill (northeast).

Context Vegetation type Open woodland Landscape setting Creekbank/hilltop Substrate Small eroding gravels. Dominant species Eucalyptus Nearest water Channel running into Frances Creek-2 metres.

The chanel was completely dry at the time of recording.

Site description Site type Stone artefact scatter Site structure Surface deposit.

One main cluster of artefacts is obvious- artefacts are mainly formed blades and flakes with relatively little debitage.

Dimensions 250m x 200m Condition Top section damaged by exploration track.

Artefacts visible in grader soil dumps and on the graded track.

Artefact density (est.) 1 m2 Max artefact density 30 m2 Predominate type Flakes/formed blades Raw material type Fine grained silaceous (light grey, grey, black),

Quartz Appeared more diverse than other sites. Raw materials developed patina and white cortex not seen at other Frances Creek sites. One raw material was almost white with grey inclusions.

Raw material source Local quartz- Mt. Porter

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FC3 site on hilltop-car is parked on the exploration track.

Bessie Coleman at the main artefact scatter

Main artefact scatter showing concentration of artefacts.

Examples of flaked blades and patina on raw material (left flake)

Flaked artefact in graded soil on hilltop section

Flakes n graded soil on hilltop section.

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Background Name Frances Creek 4 Property Ban Ban Springs/Frances Creek MLA GPS Location (GDA

94) e808807n8498303

1:50K map sheet Union Reef Date recorded 20.10.2005 Locator Tim Hill, Bessie Coleman Recorder Tim Hill Location description Take the track heading across the creek approx.

3.15km past the first main pit (Helene5/6) which links up to the original road. Take the second graded track to north (approx. 850m) and head up the hill approx. 200. The site is most easily identified by a stand of cycads to the east and runs down the slope to the main road.

Context Vegetation type Open woodland Landscape setting lowerslope Substrate Small eroding gravels. Dominant species Eucalyptus Nearest water Chanel running into Frances Creek. The site is

located near a floodway. The chanel and floodway were completely dry at the time of recording.

Site description

Site type Stone artefact scatter

Site structure Surface deposit. Dimensions 170m x 50m Condition undamaged Artefact density (est.) 0.2 m2 Max artefact density 2 m2 Predominate type Flakes/formed blades Raw material type Fine grained silaceous (grey, black), Quartz. Raw material source Local quartz- Mt. Porter

Muhamed and Bessie at the Frances Creek 4 cycad stand. Artefact located with GPS & notebook

Flaked blade with distinctive patina.

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Background Name Frances Creek 5 Property Ban Ban Springs/Frances Creek MLA GPS Location (GDA 94) e808247n8498688 1:50K map sheet Union Reef Date recorded 19.10.2005/ 20.10.2005 Locator Tim Hill, Bessie Coleman Recorder Tim Hill Location description On the main Frances Creek mining road

approx. 3.25km past the first main pit (Helene5/6). The site is located on the northern side of the road below the rocky outcrop.

Context Vegetation type Open woodland Landscape setting Alluvial plain Substrate Alluvial soil Dominant species Eucalyptus Nearest water Channel running into Frances Creek-approx

10 metres. The chanel was completely dry at the time of recording and likely has been affected by the raised road/train line.

Site description Site type Stone artefact scatter Site structure Surface deposit.

One main cluster of artefacts is obvious- artefacts are mainly formed blades and flakes with relatively little debitage.

Dimensions 130m x 100m Condition Undamaged- one section may have been

eroded by changed chanel after the road was built.

Artefact density (est.) 0.5 m2 Max artefact density 3 m2 Predominate type Flakes/formed blades Raw material type Fine grained silaceous (light grey, grey,

black), Quartz Raw material source Local quartz- Mt. Porter

Frances Creek 5 site showing rocky outcrop, water channel and raised road in background.

Flaked blade typical of Frances Creek artefacts.