Moana Sand Dune Excavations and Surface Collections

Moana is a coastal site on the mid- Fleurieu Peninsula, 15km south of Adelaide. The site has been investigated by numerous South Australian Museum staff, external researchers and consultant archaeologists since the early 1930s. The site consists of a series of deflated surfaces exposed between foreshore and back dunes. Extensive surface collections of stone tools were made by Norman B Tindale, who later argued against encroaching housing development across the main site area. Systematic excavations were carried out by Val Campbell in the 1980s as part of her doctoral research thesis. Excavation revealed small stone tools, food remains such as shell and animal bones and charcoal. The site has been carbon dated to about 3,500 years old. A dingo was also excavated from this site.