As the number of soldiers recovered from Pheasant Wood quickly approaches 100, Oxford Archaeology has reported that all remains from Grave Two have been recovered. The final remains from Grave One should be lifted by the end of this week.

Last week Oxford Archaeology commenced mechanical excavation of Graves Three and Four. Within Grave Three remains were reached at approximately 1.10 metres below the present ground surface. With ramps and sumps now in place within that pit, teams are able to start hand excavation. In Grave Four, remains were discovered at 1.40 metres below the present ground surface, approximately half the pit still requires mechanical excavation.

Purse and coins recovered from ground

Work within the on-site temporary mortuary continues. As each soldier becomes the subject of detailed analysis, the database of information for individuals and their associated artefacts develops. This database will be one of the pivotal tools used by the Joint Identification Board in March 2010. Oxford Archaeology’s experienced anthropological team has now fully analysed well over 40 of the recovered remains.

As has been the case since the first remains were uncovered, the predominant finds for the week have been belt buckles, buttons and assorted military insignia. Again the most interesting finds have been those of a personal nature; these include a paper train ticket, a heart shaped leather pouch, a leather heart, religious items, a leather coin purse and a leather wrist strap.

The paper train ticket, found in association with an individual, demonstrates just how favourable soil conditions are for the preservation of artefacts. The ticket was a second class return from Fremantle to Perth. This may be a poignant find as Perth was the location that Western Australian soldiers signed up for duty, while Fremantle was their point of embarkation to sail to Europe.

Crucifix in pouch

When the heart-shaped leather pouch was recovered, it was found to contain a solid gold cross and a copper alloy crucifix. Also present was a small handmade heart made from a piece of leather and stitched around the edge. Inside the heart were fibres, perhaps once paper, and the remains of a lock of hair. Unfortunately, it appears that the pouch did not contain anything that will help identify the owner.

A leather coin purse was found with several internal pockets that contained a collection of coins; eight Ottoman Turkish coins, three English coins, one Dutch guilder, two French francs and one 25 centime piece. The Ottoman coins are of particular interest because it may suggest that the associated individual may have been at Gallipoli.

Inside leather heart

A further find in Grave One, the leather wrist strap with three leather pockets on it, contained an assortment of coins. These included English ones, but also one from Ceylon and possibly one from the Middle East.

The most pleasing aspects for all people associated with the recovery operation, has been that the majority of individuals disinterred thus far have been found with associated personal items that give information about whether they fought with the Australian or British Army. It remains the project teams hope that the associated personal items, combined with DNA analysis and matching, will be able to provide the dignity of a named headstone to as many of these soldiers as possible.

In the week to follow, mechanical excavation of Grave Four will continue and is expected to be completed Tuesday. The final excavation work in Grave One will be completed and hand excavation of Grave Three commenced. Recovery operations in Grave Four will commence as soon as possible.