LIKE, -- BUT OH HOW DIFFERENT:
Stone Point Variability in the Top End, N.T.

Wayne Roddom Bsc.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
Degree of B.Sc. Honours, Anthropology, Northern Territory University 1997

ABSTRACT

The regional environment has undergone extensive changes during the Holocene period. The subsequent sea-level transgression inundated many of the northern river valleys, and commenced a cyclical fluctuation in resources throughout the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Responses by the prehistoric people of the region are preserved in the archaeological record. This thesis proposes that one of the significant responses to the environmental changes was the adoption of a new technology that enabled an improved exploitation of the resources of the region. Bifacial points provided greater efficiencies of stone resource use, and reduced the risks imposed by a fluctuating resource base.

Digital imaging and analysis technology were utilised to provide new understandings of the unifacial to bifacial continuum. The dating of open scatter sites has proved problematic for the chronology of the region. The potential for a new absolute dating technique is also explored.

Introduction

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Author: Wayne Roddom, Dept. Archaeology and Anthropology
Feedback: peter.hiscock@anu.edu.au .
Date Last Modified: 5-June 1998
URL: http://artalpha.anu.edu.au/web/arc/aboutus/studs/abstractf.htm