A 600-year-old boomerang fragment from Riwi cave (South central Kimberley, western Australia)

Michelle C. Langley*, India Ella Dilkes-Hall, Jane Balme, Sue O’Connor

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A small fragment of a carefully shaped wooden artefact was recovered from Riwi Cave (south central Kimberley, Western Australia) during 2013 excavations. Directly dated to 670 ± 20 BP, analysis of the artefact’s wood taxon, morphology, manufacturing traces, use wear, and residues, in addition to comparison with ethnographic examples of wooden technology from the Kimberley region, allowed for the identification of the tool from which it originated: a boomerang. In particular, this artefact most closely resembles the trailing tip of a hooked boomerang, providing rare insights into the presence of these iconic fighting and ceremonial items in the Kimberley some 600 years ago.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)106-122
    Number of pages17
    JournalAustralian Archaeology
    Volume82
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 12 May 2016

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