During the excavation of Sheas Creek, Cooks River, Botany Bay, for the Alexandra Canal, portions of a dugong skeleton were discovered near the top of the estuarine clay and just above the extensive estuarine shell bed. The bones recovered are of interest because they contain evidence of possible butchering by Aboriginal people.

Transverse and oblique curved cuts and scars, particularly on the ribs at their outer distal ends are noticeable. This infers that these cuts and scars were produced by a blunt-edged cutting or chopping instrument (Etheridge 1905).

Two ground edge hatchet heads were also found nearby.