PRESS RELEASE Artefacts found in threatened Tree of great significance An 800 year old living tree, unnecessarily earmarked for felling by VicRoads on their Western Highway widening has yielded a clay heat ball and other possible baked clay capping. These were made and used by Aboriginal families for baking tubers and other food in earth ovens. The shelter provided by large hollow trees drew aboriginal people inside to cook and has also preserved the clay items. Archaeologist Dr Heather Builth identified evidence of original cutting into the hollow of this ancient tree in September 2017. The further find has prompted her to call again for further archaeological investigation and excavation of its interior space. "The unburnt wood in the entrance between inner charring and outer live bark is clearly a reaction by the tree to Aboriginal people cutting through living bark to access and enlarge a natural hollow." The clay items were noticed by local Ararat resident Douglas Collins, with help from Neil Manning, who has archaeological training. " The tree is just so old and massive. I kept wondering what could be in there and what it was used for", says Mr Collins. The tree has never had a professional archaeological excavation carried out to discount its significance as a living artefact. There is not another like it, and such ancient but still living cultural places will never come around again. Its cultural significance has a right to be recognised, Dr Builth says. Questions have also been raised about whether the planned road needs to destroy the tree.