Cesspit formation processes and waste management history in Melbourne: evidence from Little Lon

Cesspit fill deposits are a valuable resource for historical archaeologists globally,but,since every city’s development is unique,interpreting a deposit requires knowledge of the surrounding area’s waste management history. This article provides a framework for examining nineteenth-century cesspit deposits in Melbourne,and a model for research efforts in other cities,by showing how municipal records might be used to determine cesspit closure dates,explain the formation of some deposits and provide additional evidence for interpreting fill composition. Without providing detailed interpretation of the cesspit fills,examples drawn from cesspits excavated at Little Lon,Melbourne,illustrate how the municipal framework can assist in linking Melbourne’s cesspit fill deposits to individuals,thus guiding and enriching the process of interpretation.