An Archaeological Example of Aboriginal Management of a Hydro-Ecological System in the Murray River Valley, South Australia

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.