Australia and Austronesia.ppt

Australia and Austronesia 8000 B.C.-1000 B.C. Australia Timeline 8000 B.C.-colonization of most of Australia and New Guinea 6000-4000 B.C.-reorganization of coastal territories. 3000-2000 B.C.-Introduction of domestic dogs, more complex technology. 1000 B.C.-Expansion of trade, invention of outrigger canoes. Map with some early sites Prehistoric culture From 5000 -1000 B.C. there was a gradual increase in temperature and rainfall and the development of more sophisticated technologies. The main items of trade were songs and dances, along with flint, precious stones, shells, seeds, spears, and food items. Political power rested with community elders rather than hereditary chiefs and disputes were settled communally in accordance with an elaborate system of tribal law. Roonka Site The Roonka site is located on the Murray River, approximately 5 km south of Blanchetown in South Australia. Excavation of the prehistoric Aboriginal cemetery in the Roonka Flat dune began in November 1972, after flooding and erosion had exposed a number of burials. Skeletal remains of more than 120 individuals have been recovered from Trench A, with radiocarbon dates indicating a sequence from at least 7000 years until the European contact period. Burial in situ Roonka Burial Coobool Creek The Coobool Creek skeletons were collected from a site near Dohertys Hut at Coobool Crossing on the Wakool River between Swan Hill and Deniliquin in southern New South Whales. Recent AMS date of 7200 ± 60 years BP The combined effects of large size and a shared cultural practice (artificial cranial deformation) gives several of the crania from Coobool Creek, Nacurrie and Kow Swamp-Cohuna a visual and statistical appearance which is apparently unique to the central Murray Valley region Cranial Deformation at Coobool Creek Technology in Australia Scrapers and other stone tools made from flint were common in the early Holocene. Around 3000 B.C. standardized, finely made tools were made. Southeast-Backed