Multiple uses for Australian backed artefacts

Date

2009

Authors

Robertson, Gail
Attenbrow, Val
Hiscock, Peter

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Antiquity Publications

Abstract

Backed artefacts, otherwise microliths or backed bladelets, are key indicators of cultural practice in early Australia - but what were they used for? The authors review a number of favourite ideas - hunting, scarification, wood working - and then apply use-wear analysis and residue studies to three prehistoric assemblages. These showed contact with a wide range of materials: wood, plants, bone, blood, skin and feathers. These results are unequivocal - the backed artefacts were hafted and employed as versatile tools with many functions.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: Australia; Backed artefacts; Craft; Inter-site variability; Microliths; Residue; Use-wear

Citation

Source

Antiquity

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

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DOI

Restricted until

2037-12-31