Key Takeaways
- A cache of 60 large Aboriginal stone tools, known as "tulas", was discovered buried in the remote outback of Central West Queensland.
- The tools are believed to have been buried up to 170 years ago and are evidence of planning and trade by the Pitta Pitta people.
- The discovery sheds light on the resource management and collective cooperation of Aboriginal people in the region.
- The tools were likely intended for trading, but were never retrieved due to possible disruption caused by European arrival.
- The research team used scientific methods to analyze the tools and worked closely with the Pitta Pitta people, who hold Native Title for the area.
Introduction to the Discovery
Researchers from Griffith University have made a significant discovery in the remote outback of Central West Queensland, uncovering a cache of stone tools that were buried by a waterhole up to 170 years ago. The team, led by Dr. Yinika Perston from the Griffith School of Social and Cultural Research, believes that the tools are evidence of planning and trade by the Pitta Pitta people, who hold Native Title for the area. The discovery was made in an area just north of the town of Boulia, where the research team spotted a handful of stones poking out of the soil.
The Retrieval Process
The retrieval process was arduous, with the team facing challenges such as bushfires and the risk of the tools being washed away in a flood. Dr. Perston described the process, saying, "Even while we were excavating, bushfires raged to the north, preventing some of the team from joining us. Once we found the cache, we knew we were in a race against time to recover the tools before they were washed away in the next flood." Despite these challenges, the team was able to recover the entire cache of 60 large Aboriginal stone "tulas", which are special flaked stone tools that were hafted onto a handle and used for woodworking.
The Significance of the Tools
The tulas are important tools that were used across most of the continent to make objects such as boomerangs, wooden coolamon dishes, shields, and clapsticks. The discovery of the cache provides insight into the resource management and collective cooperation of the Pitta Pitta people, who were able to survive and thrive in the harsh environment of the outback. Dr. Perston said, "Innovation and connection helped the Pitta Pitta people survive the region’s harsh climates. If they could not find resources locally, they bartered along vast trade routes. It’s possible this cache was a bundle of specially made artefacts that were intended for trading."
Analysis and Dating of the Tools
The researchers used scientific methods to analyze the tools, working closely with the Pitta Pitta people. The analysis revealed that the tools were buried up to 170 years ago, with a 95 per cent probability that they were buried sometime between 1793 and 1913. This period coincides with the establishment of the nearby town of Boulia around 1879 and the operation of the Burke River police camp from 1878 to 1886. Dr. Perston said, "We think the Pitta Pitta ancestors were likely planning to trade the tools in these caches when the time came, but for some reason never retrieved them. One possible reason for this may be due to disruption caused by European arrival – but the dates aren’t precise enough to be sure."
Conclusion and Implications
The discovery of the cache of stone tools provides valuable insight into the lives of the Pitta Pitta people and their ability to survive and thrive in the harsh environment of the outback. The research team’s findings suggest that the tools were likely intended for trading, but were never retrieved due to possible disruption caused by European arrival. Dr. Perston said, "What we can say, is that this cache reveals how planning, resource management and collective cooperation allowed Aboriginal people to not only survive, but thrive, in this harsh environment." The discovery is a significant contribution to our understanding of Aboriginal culture and history, and highlights the importance of preserving and respecting the cultural heritage of Indigenous Australians.