Warkworth Sands Archaeological Project

Archaeological excavations were undertaken between May, July, and in December 2008, and in February 2009, by Scarp Archaeology at Warkworth Sands, a large body of apparently windblown sand approximately 500m (north-south) x 200m (east west) and up to about 4m deep. The sand sheet is located along Sandy Hollow creek and its alignment indicated to previous researchers (AMBS 2002) that it derived from Wollombi Brook (3.5km away). Luminescence dates suggested accumulation of sand since at least 50,000 years ago. Test pitting in a previous study (AMBS 2002) identified that stone artefacts were associated with OSL (multiple and single aliquot) age determinations of at least 14,000 years and possibly more than 45,000 years in one of 10 excavated Test Pits (each 0.5m x 2m). A primary aim of the more recent excavations by Scarp Archaeology was to evaluate these results, and secondly to determine the frequency, stratigraphic integrity and antiquity of stone artefacts particularly those lying just above the clay horizon. ...
Report prepared for RTCA By Scarp Archaeology