Dolphin Island Grave Site

Statement of Significance

The Flying Foam Passage was a significant focus for the pearling fleet in the late 1800s and this is a reliable watering point on the Flying Foam Passage. Historical uses are revealed by six burials, possibly related to the pearling era. The graves are striking visual reminders of life and death on the Flying Foam, and have scientific value for future researchers to determine the ethnicity and lifeways of the deceased, particularly through genetic and isotopic analyses. The historical engravings are rare for the Dampier Archipelago. Additionally, the site is significant for Indigenous cultural heritage, as there is a major concentration of Aboriginal engravings focused on the small rock pools in the creek, with historical uses intimated by flaked glass artefacts.

Physical Description

Six graves are located towards the south end of a beach on the western shore of Dolphin Island. The bay is located opposite a well-defined rocky spit on the eastern shore of Angel Island.
The graves are parallel and located side by side in a north-south aligned row, each marked by a rectangle of stones placed approximately east-west. They are on a low sandy rise between the sea and the rocky hills behind. Several European inscriptions are located 300 m to 400 m north of the graves. There are many Aboriginal rock engravings in this locality.

History

The Flying Foam Passage was a significant focus for the pearling fleet in the late 1800s, and this is the only known burial complex on the Flying Foam Passage.2 The bay appears to have been a distinctive location and source of water (it is known as Watering Bay). The journals of the Resident Magistrate in Roebourne (1866-1884) suggest the area was a major watering place for the pearling fleet, which was comprised of European, Asian and Aboriginal people.
The identities of the bodies are not known, nor whether they were buried singularly or in a group. Scholl's diaries record the deaths of a number of pearlers, Aborigines and Malays in Flying Foam Passage between 1866 and 1881, but no graves are mentioned.
The direct link between these burials and the pearling fleet is an assumption made by past investigators. The site was located in 1970 and a skull taken from one grave to the WA Museum. Examination of the skull described it as either a European or Asian adult male, aged between 30-40 years old at the time of death. Examination of the graves in 1973 (Hutchinson) and 1979 (McIlroy) were equally inconclusive regarding the ethnicity of the individuals. It appears that at least five of the six graves were excavated. The human remains are presumed to be at the WA Museum. No grave goods were described by the excavators.

Archaeology

The graves are the most significant elements of the site from a historical perspective. Also found at the site were four coins from the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) dated to 1856-1857. A number of historical engravings were observed in earlier visits including two ships, the initials GV and the name George Vincent. Several items were found at the northern part of the beach, including a clay pipe, a basalt core and flaked olive glass.
Aboriginal sites: Given the site density of engravings and other sites in the Dampier Archipelago, there are numerous Registered Aboriginal Sites at this location (DAA Site IDs: 11668, 11669, 11670, 11708, 11709, 11710, 11711 and 11712). At this location, there were numerous engravings focused at the rock pool in the creek at the northern end of the beach.

Integrity/Authenticity

Five of the six graves have been excavated, and some materials presumably replaced.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.