46 THE PROBLEM OF ANTIQUITY OF MAN IN AUSTRALIA 
published. The artist S.T.G. is doubtless S. T. Gill, a number of whose sketches 
of scenes in Victoria, including three of Creswick, were published in 1855 by 
J. J. Blundell & Co., to whom F. J. Bury’s letter (see below) is addressed. 
The craftsmanship is unlike that of primitive man either ancient or modern, and 
the features are European in appearance. In my opinion no claim for its antiquity 
can be taken seriously. Perhaps, as a practical joke, the head was carved by one 
of the miners from a piece of semi-fossil wood and buried at a spot where Smith 
and his friends would find it. 
I have been unable to discover if the carving still exists or where the woodcut 
and documents relating to it were published. 
The manuscript notes are as follows: 
Copy or DECLARATION. 
True Copy (W.S.). 
We, James Smith, Robert Tapley, and John Mackie, do solemnly and sincerely 
declare, that the Carving of the Human Head, now produced, was found by us 
on Wednesday, the 21st day of February, 1855, in a Hole on the Black Lead, 
Creswick, at a depth of 60 feet 6 inches from the surface. The Head was found at 
the bottom of a drift, which drift formed a superstratum to the clay. The Head is 
at present in precisely the same state as when found by us. 
And we make this solemn Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be 
true, and by virtue of the provisions of an Act, made and passed in the 9th Year 
of the Reign of Her present Majesty, intituled, An Act for the more effectual 
abolition of Oaths and Affirmations taken and made in various departments of the 
Government of New South Wales, and to Substitute Declarations in lieu thereof, 
and for the suppression of voluntary and extra judicial Oaths and Affidavits. 
(Signed) James Smith, Robert Tapley, John Mackie. 
Made and signed before us at Creswick, this 24th day of March, 1855, 
(Signed) F. J. Bury, J.P., Bernard Smith, J.P., James Green Taylor, J.P. 
ExtTrActs FROM LETTERS FROM THOMAS Burr, Eso., District SURVEYOR. 
I was present at the time this affirmation was made, and have cogent reasons 
for believing that this is no imposition, from the circumstance of having, in con- 
nexion with mineralogy, for many years been accustomed to study the fracture 
of different substances, it has led me to examine minutely the surface of any 
matter put into my hands; and the entire surface of this Head presents a homo- 
geneous appearance, which indicates that, at whatever time it was carved, the 
whole was done at the same time, and that the mass had been exposed to the same 
circumstances subsequently, except one or two small abrasures, which were evidently 
recent, and were known to have been made since the time that this specimen was 
brought to the surface. The wood appears to be the root of one of the Eucalyptus 
tribe, but the substance has been so changed either by heat, or by pressure, or 
these combined, as to be converted into Graphite. 
It may be as well to observe, that, in connexion with the Carved Head here 
shown, there was a large quantity of Wood, similarly altered in appearance or 
substance. This Wood belongs to Genera and Species identical with that at 
present growing in this part of the Continent of New Holland, namely, Eucalyptus, 
Casuarinae and Banksia; the cones of the latter, more especially, being met with 
in profusion, and beautifully preserved. 
(Signed) Thomas Burr. 
Ballarat 29th Sepr. 1855. 
