The free and unfree settlements of Norfolk Island: an overview of archaeological research

Abstract

The name 'Norfolk Island' has long been synonymous with its use between 1825 and 1855 as a harsh punishment station for recidivist British convicts. Much of its previous archaeological investigation has focused on the conservation and management of standing structures from that period, to the detriment of an overall understanding of the archaeology of the island. This paper reviews the several phases of post-1788 occupation of this tiny and remote outpost of the British Empire and considers the archaeological potential of each of these distinct phases of free and unfree habitation. New directions and themes for further archaeological research are considered, including broader comparison with contemporary mainland Australian free and convict settlements and a focus on processes of adaptation and re-appropriation of buildings, sites and landscape by successive colonist groups.