The analysis of cesspit deposits from The Rocks, Sydney

In this paper, we discuss some of the fundamental concerns affecting the analysis of archaeological assemblages recovered from nineteenth-century cesspit backfills. Cesspit backfills are an undervalued resource that requires a good deal of review and debate in Australian historical archaeology. We present a historical review of the management of waste in nineteenth-century Sydney, touching upon issues of local-council management, owner-occupier relationships, and attitudes to refuse disposal.