Industrial Ipswich: Archaeology of a boiling down works, Town Marie
Abstract
Everick Foundation has been teaching an archaeological field school at the historic site of Town Marie in Karalee, Ipswich since 2021. The site was established in 1848 and operated until 1880. The primary industry was a boiling down works to recover the tallow from sheep and cattle carcasses. These sites are largely known from historic resources but this presentation will highlight the results from archaeological excavations that include over 30 kilograms (!) of primarily sheep bones, ceramics, brick and glass fragments, and architectural features. Built on the banks of the Bremer River, traces of the old pier are also still visible at low tide. This little unassuming site has an interesting story to tell about a forgotten aspect of Queensland’s industrial past.
About the presenter
Dr Serena Love is the Principal Research Archaeologist of Everick Foundation. She has an extensive research profile focused in geoarchaeology and sacred landscapes. Serena earned a PhD from Stanford University where she analysed the mudbrick architecture from the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey. Serena has lectured internationally and taught archaeology at Stanford, Brown University and University of Queensland, and held a Senior Fellowship at Koç University in Istanbul in 2016. Serena is committed to science communication and community-led research and has spent the past 7 years working with Aboriginal communities in Queensland with grant writing, capacity building and developing curriculum aligned, archaeology themed teaching materials for Australian classrooms. Serena uses archaeology to connect the people of today with the people of the past and she is driven to constantly explore, learn and share the subject wherever possible.
About Archaeology Working Papers
The Working Papers in Archaeology seminar series provides a forum for dissemination of archaeological research and ideas amongst UQ archaeology students and staff. All students are invited to attend the series and postgraduate students, from honours upwards, are invited to present their research. The aim is to provide opportunities for students, staff and those from outside UQ, to present and discuss their work in an informal environment. It is hoped that anyone interested in current archaeological directions, both within and outside the School and University, will be able to attend and contribute to the series.
