84 



northward of the highest position of the Patawalonga Creek. 

 From Capt. White's section it is seen that at present there is 

 three feet of blue-clay and alluvium at the site covering the 

 estuarine deposits. It is probable that the silt laid down by 

 the flood waters of the Torrens is responsible for damming 

 back the tidal waters of the Patawalonga to the extent 

 mentioned above. 



The position in which the aboriginal remains were found, 

 viz., 10 feet from the surface, places them either at or a little 

 below low-water mark, while immediately above them is a 

 fluviatile bed, 3 feet or more in thickness, capped by a fresh- 

 water lagoon deposit. Following these river and swamp 

 conditions we find an incursion of the sea over the area which 

 resulted in the laying down of 3 feet of estuarine sediments. 



At the time of the human occupation of the site, neither 

 the river nor the sea had covered the locality, which was 

 occupied by sand drifts, and it was on these sand hills that 

 the aboriginals were camped. As the ground was excavated by 

 Mr. White, sen., in these blown sands to a depth of 10 feet 

 below present low-water mark, there seems very clear evidence 

 of a sinking of the land to the extent of several feet, at least, 

 since the aboriginal camp was occupied. 



Evidences of alternations of level on the coast are supplied 

 at other places. The interbedding of marine and freshwater 

 beds at Glanville floe. cit.J may be compared with the section 

 now described, both of which show that, within recent times, 

 the land has stood higher than it does at present. 



No evidence of aboriginal remains have been noted, 

 hitherto, in South Australia other than in the most super- 

 ficial deposits. The case before us appears to have a higher 

 antiquity than any previously noted. The suggestive points 

 are : — (a) The sand hills in which the aboriginals formed 

 their camp are now below sea level; fb) in the interval 

 separating that time from the present there have been several 

 important changes in the physical condition of the neighbour- 

 hood, the sand hills gave place to a river course, the sediments 

 of which have since developed stalactitic concretions ; after 

 which, the river stage passed into that of a swamp; then 

 followed an incursion from the sea ; and, in more recent times, 

 the area has been covered with mud laid down by the stagnant 

 waters of the Torrens. These successive changes require a 

 considerable length of time for their accomplishment and an 

 undoubted antiquity for the human remains. At the same 

 time it must be noted that the materials used by the aborigines 

 of that day, as well as the types of implements and the 

 methods of manufacture, are identical with those adopted by 

 the latest representatives of the race. 



