A group of 12 university students are spending this week literally digging up the past to try and get a better understanding of what farm life was like in the late 1800s.
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The ruins of an old house and surrounding buildings at the historic pastoral property Narmbool – set on 2,000 acres, and located just near Elaine – is the subject of the archaeological dig.
The house being uncovered was occupied by the Bowers Family from the 1870s to 1970s and is now owned by the Sovereign Hill Museums Association.
DIG International director Adam Ford is the leading archaeologist of the project, which includes students from La Trobe, Melbourne and Deakin Universities.
Mr Ford said the purpose of the dig was to help add to the story of Narmbool.
“There is only so much you get from the documentary evidence, because people only record what they believe is of importance at the time,” he said.
“We want to enrich the story.
“What we'll be finding is a window into the humble lives of the people who lived and worked here.
“One of the guys today found the base of a glass perfume bottle, so already we are building a picture.
“These people were living half a world away from where they came from. Out here they are a long way from the finery of Collins Street or even Ballarat and yet here they are making a fist of it and trying to make a life.
“Where ever they possibly could they would keep the fine China, those luxury things that would have made their life feel a little bit better and have a bit of status.
“We are trying to provide information that you can't get from anywhere else. It is physical evidence you can pick up and hold. That's a lot more powerful than words or photos from the time.”
Mr Ford said it was possible that any key artifacts uncovered in the archaeological study could be placed on display at Sovereign Hill.
The expedition is also being used as an educational tool to teach the visiting university students basic archaeological survey skills, excavation techniques, and artifact identification.
Gemma Lee is a Melbourne University student studying a Bachelor of Arts in ancient world studies and anthropology.
Ms Lee said a project like this can be a slow but exciting process.
“This is only the beginning stages so it is quite hard work, but when we actually start pulling back layers it does get exciting because you don't know what is going to come up,” she said
"When something does, it is just a great feeling to know that you are finding something that people have used in the past and was a big part of their lives.”