In Western Australia I have worked on conservation plans for two dams with a 
third about to be done. All have have substandial 'tent' villages and 
workers villages associated with building them. The social acheaology of the 
landscape created is quite fascinating.

In the water, Mundaring Weir had both a railway line and the bottom of the 
quarry used for dam construction. Both were just left and due to drought 
have now been exposed. A fourth, later, dam in the Southwest drowned part of 
a government run 'model' timber town but not the mill itself. The houses 
were taken away to be used elsewhere but the sites remain and are 
approachable in summer.

Gaye
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron May" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 12:02 AM
Subject: Re: Dam archaeology


> Not that I have had personal experience on dam archaeology, but having
> attended a number of conference presentations and observing slides, I can
> contribute that artifact in situ survival depends on when the dam was 
> built. Some
> time during the Great Depression, the federal authorities dreamed up  make 
> work
> for employing large crews of Civilian Conservation Corps or W.P.A. (We 
> Putter
> Around? No, I think it Works Progress Administration) by tearing down
> buildings, cutting trees, and removing heavy things before inundation. 
> Before  that
> time, it was as Mary Maniery said, whole trains and buildings still 
> intact.
> Fishermen benefit greatly from the buildings because fish congregate 
> around
> standing objects. The more obstacles, the less disruption of the shrubbery 
> and
> more protection of the soil mantle (and artifacts in situ). Have I got  it 
> in
> for the old CCC and WPA guys, you betcha! Those clowns tore down 
> historical
> buildings, knocked over walls, and generally destroyed more  historical
> buildings and structures than nature.
>
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's free at 
> http://www.aol.com.
>