Jan Mayman
April 7, 2008Advertisement
ANCIENT Aboriginal tools found on a Pilbara mine site in Western
Australia have been dated at 35,000 years -- among the oldest so far
discovered in Australia.
Archaeologists believe the dig could yield material up to 40,000 years
old, comparable with the internationally famous Lake Mungo Man
discovery in NSW.
The prehistoric dwelling place is on the multibillion-dollar Hope
Downs iron ore mine site about 160 kilometres from the outback town of
Newman and 310 kilometres south of Port Hedland. It is jointly run by
international mining giant Rio Tinto and Gina Rinehart's Hancock
Prospecting.
Archaeologists hired by the Aboriginal traditional owners have
released the results of radiocarbon tests indicating that it is one of
the oldest-dated sites in Australia and internationally significant as
a prehistoric record of humanity.
"We have always known this is an important part of our history, that
our ancestors lived here," said a senior elder of the Martidja
Banyjima people, Slim Parker.
"Our stories and songs tells us this. It is a good feeling to know
archaeologists have proved what we say is true. It makes us feel
strong. Now we want this place preserved. It is part of our heritage
and our culture."
The discovery shows Mr Parker's ancestors lived in the area for more
than 1000 generations.
The Banyjimas' consultant archaeologist Neale Draper said: "We are
thrilled at the test results. This is a major scientific discovery. It
contains a large number of stone tools and it is one of the most data-
rich ancient sites in Australia, with an exceptional amount of
information about climate change through the last ice age, the
earliest occupation of the Pilbara and North-West Australia."
Discussions are now under way between the company and the traditional
owners, who want the sensitive areas protected from mining.
Melbourne University's Professor Jim Bowler, who discovered bones on
the shores of Lake Mungo in the late 1960s -- later estimated to be
40,000 years old, making them the oldest human remains found in
Australia -- said: "This appears to be a very, very important find. It
seems likely to write a new chapter in the history of Aboriginal
Australia."
Another eminent scholar, Dr Ian Crawford, former curator of
archaeology and anthropology at the West Australian Museum, said:
"Further work on this site is most important."
Dr Crawford said the discovery of ancient tools was especially
significant. Analysis of seed remains on the artefacts might be able
to settle a long debate among archaeologists about the date that
grinding implements were first used by Australia's indigenous people.
"It will be very interesting to see if this work can be related in any
way to rock engravings in the area," he said.
So far, no human remains have been found near the the dig site, but
the archaeologists and Aboriginal elders have found other caves in the
area that appear to have been deliberately walled in, and could be
burial places.
"Some of these niches are empty. They are being investigated with
great care and respect," Dr Draper said.
The sheer antiquity and quality of the material was amazing, he said.
"This is a forensic record of the history of indigenous Australia,
especially in the Pilbara.
"The cave is a rock shelter measuring 10 by eight metres, with a roof
1.5 metres high. The 1.5-metre excavation pit goes down 2.2 metres to
the bedrock below, and there is evidence of Aboriginal occupation down
to two metres deep," he said.
Twelve other sites in the area have also yielded archaeological
evidence such as stone tools, fireplaces and dateable charcoal as well
as plant remains such as seeds and bark. Another 20 have still to be
excavated.
Most of the stone tools are small cutting implements. Some were found
beside a fireplace containing charcoal dated as 25,000 years old.
Traces of organic material on the tools could provide evidence of
prehistoric food supplies and climate change when further testing is
complete.
"The most significant artefacts we found are a core (piece of stone)
and two flakes (from it) at the site layer dated to 35,000 years ago,"
Dr Draper said.
"The reason these are significant is because the flakes refit onto the
core. This demonstrates the way early Aboriginal peoples manufactured
stone artefacts."
Since these artefacts refitted together, it showed that the site had
not been previously disturbed. "We now hope Rio will redesign the mine
to protect this site, so that we can begin a major salvage operation,"
he said.
Dr Draper is managing director of Australian Cultural Heritage
Management Ltd, a national consultancy. He said carbon dating of
artefacts was done at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, which
has state-of-the-art carbon dating equipment.
The dig was supervised by a leading US archaeologist W. Boone Law, who
said it was the most significant project he had ever worked on.
"The oldest-dated stone artefacts are a core and associated flakes
that have a radiocarbon age estimate of 35,000 years," he said.
"There are at least 12 stone artefacts buried up to 10 centimetres
below the 35,000 year date, inferring the site is much older. We do
not know the age of the earliest artefacts, but based on the rock
shelter stratigraphy, it is likely around 40,000 years.
"When we were excavating, we recovered most of the artefacts below the
charcoal we dated to 25,000 years BP -- before present."
Mr Law said ancient campfires like the one in the cave shelter were
identified by observing the outline of old hearths during digging.
"The outline of the campfires are defined by a dense concentration of
ash, charcoal and burnt rock surrounded by unburnt soil," he said.
"The soil surrounding the hearth will be a lighter colour. Often there
is burned rock at the base of a campfire, demonstrating that the fire
burned in place or in situ."
He said the site was of great international importance. "I know that
the scientific value of this rock shelter will be emphasised across
the wider academic community, but for me personally, my memories of
excavating this site will always be tied to working with the Banyjima
people," Mr Law said.
"A team of elders and young men worked alongside ACHM staff throughout
this project, and their field observations added a new dimension to
our research."
"Their perspectives on the archaeological record and natural
enthusiasm for looking after country are forever linked to the history
of this place."
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