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Chronology of PointsThere are two opposing models of the antiquity of bifacial points in northern Australia. Using information from sites in western Arnhem Land some researchers have argued that small numbers of bifacial points are found in levels of rockshelter deposits dated to more that 5-6,000 years old. The most recent claim of this kind is based on a bifacial point recovered from Nauwalabila 1 in a level dated to more than 5,800 BP (Jones and Johnson 1985). Such evidence has been used to suggest that bifacial points were being made, at least in small numbers, about 6,000 years ago and perhaps earlier. An opposite interpretation sees that apparently early point specimens in northern Australia have been disturbed and are in fact less than about 4,500 years old. Using evidence from the Widgingarri shelters in the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia Bowdler and O'Connor (1991) have shown that most dated bifacial are less than 4,500 years old. It has been argued that the small number of apparently older specimens can be explained as false associations between artefact and charcoal sample, and that all points are less that 4,500 years old. Discussions of point chronology involved in both of these models have tended to be overly precise. Given the uncertainty values attached to radiocarbon dates and the nature of archaeological deposits (often consisting of loose sand and with slow deposition rates), it may possible only to say that these implement types are early or mid-Holocene in age and are common by 4,000 BP (Hiscock 1994). |
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For additional information see:Bowdler,S. and S.O'Connor 1991 The dating of the Australian Small Tool Tradition, with new evidence from the Kimberley, WA. Australian Aboriginal Studies 1991/1:53-62. Hiscock,P. 1994 Technological responses to risk in Holocene Australia. Journal of World Prehistory 8(3):267-292. Johnson,I. 1979 The getting of data. Unpublished PhD thesis, Australian National University. Jones,R. and I.Johnson 1985 Deaf Adder Gorge:Lindner Site, Nauwalabila I. In R.Jones(ed), Archaeological research in Kakadu National Park, Special publication 13, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra. White,J.P. and J.F.O'Connell 1982 A prehistory of Australia, New Guinea and Sahul. Academic Press, Sydney. |
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Author: Peter Hiscock, Dept. Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University.
Feedback:  peter.hiscock@anu.edu.au.
Date Last Modified: Thursday, 1-May-97 URL: http://artalpha.anu.edu.au/web/arc/resources/paa/agepoint.htm |