>Joe wrote

>>I am trying to sort out stratigraphy of a late prehistoric period rock
>>shelter site in s-w Australia, where occupation by various people seems to
>>have continued into the 19th and 20th C. Some of the uppermost hearth
>>layers in the floor deposit contain modern artefacts, mostly 0.22" rifle
>>shells, which may be mixed in from above, or else indicate a young age for
>>the hearths. Can anyone tell me when this calibre began to be manufactured
>>and whether it became widespread quickly? If it was not popular until the
>>last few decades I might suspect mixing, as the hearth layers also contain
>>stone artefacts. Some shells have the manufacturer's imprint, "ICI", which
>>may be an additional clue. Any published reference would also be much
>>appreciated.

ICI was not formed as a company until 1926, when a large number of
explosives, ammunition and chemical companies, including many under the
Nobel umbrella merged. There is a good history of ICI published by the
company in 1938 called Imperial Chemical Industrial Limited and its
Founding Companies. It has some good accounts of technical developments.
However, I suspect any shells stamped ICI would probably be of Post WW II
date as the firm's ammunition and explosives divisions seem to have
continued to trade under their original names for some time after the
merger. Nobel's were operating from Deer Park were the Australian
manufacturer was carried out at an explosives factory established in 1875.
The works is still in operation under the new Orica banner and they have an
archive that may give you more specific information.


Gary Vines
Industrial Archaeologist



Melbourne's Living Museum of the West
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