The convict huts of Parramatta 1788–1841: an archaeological view of the development of an early Australian urban landscape

Archaeological analysis of Parramatta, Australia's second British settlement (1789–1841), reveals how the landscape and architecture transitioned from supporting a society based on unfree labor to accommodating emancipated convicts. The study combines archaeological evidence with historical records to uncover patterns of change at individual 'convict hut' sites and within the broader urban environment, highlighting material expressions of social transformation during the shift from convict to free settlement.

Shanahan, M., & Gibbs, M. (2022). The convict huts of Parramatta 1788–1841: an archaeological view of the development of an early Australian urban landscape. Post-Medieval Archaeology, 56(1), 80–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/00794236.2022.2058758