Australian Aboriginal prehistoric sites
This is a list of Australian Aboriginal prehistoric sites.
Key:
- BGS = Below Ground Surface
- C14 = Radiocarbon date
- char. = charcoal
- OSL = Optical Stimulated Thermoluminescence
- AA = Australian Archaeology
- This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
| Locality | Reference | Lab No. | Age Yrs BP | Type of Date | Type of Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | |||||
| Cuddie Springs | Open site | ||||
| Northern Territory | |||||
| Malakunanja II | Roberts et al. Nature 1990 | KTL 162 | 61,000 +9,000/-13,000 | OSL | Lowest artefact at 260 cm BGS |
| Malakunanja II | KTL 158 | 52,000 +7,000/-11,000 | OSL | Artefacts at 250 cm BGS | |
| Malakunanja II | KTL 164 | 45,000 +6,000/-9,000 | OSL | Artefacts at 230 cm BGS | |
| Malakunanja II | SUA 256 | 18,040 +-300 | C14 char. | Associated with ochre and grindstone | |
| Nawalabila I | Roberts et al. AA 1993 | Ox-od K169 | 60,300 +-6700 | OSL | Artefacts at 285-302 cm BGS |
| Nawalabila I | Ox-od K170 | 58,300 +-5800 | OSL | Base of rubble auger hole | |
| Nawalabila I | Ox-od K168 | 53,400 +-5400 | OSL | Artefacts at 228-240 cm BGS | |
| Nawalabila I | Ox-od K166 | 30,000 +-2400 | OSL | Artefacts at 170-175 cm BGS | |
| Nawalabila I | SUA 237 | 19,975 +-264 | C14 char. | Lowest C14 date | |
| Nawalabila I | Ox-od K172 | 13,500 +-900 | OSL | Artefacts at 104-110 cm BGS | |
| Nawalabila I | Ox-od K171 | 2,900 +-600 | OSL | Artefacts at 1-6 cm BGS | |
| Malanganger | Roberts et al. Nature 1990 | KTL 126 | 32,000 +-7,000 | OSL | Lowest artefacts at 200 BGS |
| Malangangerr | C.White 1967, 1971 | ANU 77B GaK 629 GaK 628 | 22,900 +-1000 22,700 +-700 19,600 +-550 | C14 char. | earliest ground edge axes |
| Nawamoyn | C.White 1967,1971 | ANU 51 | 21,450 +-380 | C14 char. | Ground edge axes |
| Puritjarra | M.A.Smith Nature 1987 | Beta 19901 | 21,950 +-270 | C14 char. | Artefacts below this estimated to be 30,000 BP |
| Western Australia | |||||
| Rottnest Island | Charles Dortch, West Australian 23 June 2003 | ANU & James Cook Uni | 70,000 +10,000/-20,000 | U/Th C14 | flint tool embedded in Tamala limestone (Aminozone C) |
| Upper Swan Bridge | Pearce and Barbetti AO 1981 | SUA 1500 SUA 1665 | 39,500 +2,300/-1,800 37,100 +1,600/-1,300 | C14 char. | Campsite Occupatn 88-96 cm BGS Occupatn 75-80 cm BGS |
| Mandu Mandu Creek RS | Morse AO 1988; Antiquity 1993; Bowdler 1992 | Wk 1513 Wk 1576 SUA 3454 | 34,299 +-1050 30,000 +-850 25,200 +-250 | C14 baler shell C14 nodule | Shell necklace Early occup |
| Devil's Lair | Dortch 1984 | SUA 585/6 | 32,800 +-830 | C14 char. | Pooled age |
References
Josephine Flood (2004) Archaeology of the Dreamtime, J.B Publishing, Marleston ISBN 1-876622-50-4