Bondaian technology in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales

Abstract

Manufacture of bondi points in the Hunter valley, New South Wales, took place in a standardized way, within a production-line structure. Each stage of the manufacturing activities was undertaken at a different locality, but within any single stage the activities were carried out in a uniform manner. One consequence of this complex system of procurement and reduction is that specific forms of stone artefact are found repeatedly, and have previously been identified as implement types. From a technological perspective these forms (ridge-straightening flakes, scrapers, and burinates) are not end products, but by-products from the manufacture of bondi points. This conclusion has implications for evaluations of the nature and diversity of activities represented by archaeological assemblages. An understanding of the complexity of artefact manufacture also highlights inadequacies with previous inferences about technological efficiency and artefact function in prehistoric Australia. Flake elongation in demonstrated to be a poor reflectiion of technological practices, and regional variation in flake elongation is far more dramatic than chronological variation. Consequently, the Pre-Bondaian transistion cannot be described in terms of the appearance of a blade technology; instead it represents an increase in the regularity and precision of knapping related to raw material conservation.