Australian Archaeology - CORE

Australian Archaeology

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Full Citation Details:

Vanderwal, R.L. 1978. Adaptive technology in Southwest

Tasmania. 'Australian Archaeology', no.8, 107-127.

A D A P T I V E T E C H N O L O G Y I N SOUTHWEST TASMANIA1

R . L.

Vanderwal

I n t r o d u c t i o n

L o u i s a Bay, i n s o u t h w e s t Tasmania, was a r c h a e o l o g i c a l l y i n v e s t i g a t e d d u r i n g two f i e l d s e a s o n s , eight weeks i n 1975 and f o u r weeks i n 1976. A t o t a l of s i x s i t e s were sampled. S i t e s o n Maatsuyker I s l a n d , t o t h e s o u t h , were i n v e s t i g a t e d over two s e p a r a t e two week p e r i o d s i n 1 9 7 4 and 1 9 7 6 . T h i s a r t i c l e i s i n t e n d e d a s a p r e l i m i n a r y s t a t e m e n t on t h e L o u i s a Bay r e s e a r c h . A s s u c h I i n c l u d e b r i e f s i t e d e s c r i p t i o n s accompanied by d e t a i l e d d r a w i n g s o f s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n s , r a d i o c a r b o n d a t e s , and how t h e s e may b e i n t e r p r e t e d , b o t h l o c a l l y and i n t h e w i d e r Tasmanian c o n t e x t . I s u g g e s t t h a t t h e r e was a l a t e a d a p t a t i o n t o t h e more t h a n o r d i n a r i l y h a r s h s o u t h w e s t Tasmanian e n v i r o n m e n t . I o f f e r a model which i s n o t i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h o t h e r d a t a , b u t which c h a l l e n g e s c u r r e n t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s .

The

physi

cal

s e t t i n g

s as mania' ^S s o u t h w e s t c o a s t i s f i r s t t o e x p e r i e n c e the r o a r i n g f o r t i e s ' , winds whose o r i g i n s a r e more o f t e n t h a n n o t A n t a r c t i c . H i a t t ' s (1968:120) d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e s o u t h w e s t a s

' . .

. c o l d , w e t , s u n l e s s and g e n e r a l l y c l i m a t i c a l l y u n p l e a s a n t ' i s a p t . It h a s a w i l d and d e s o l a t e l a n d s c a p e , and a rugged c o a s t l i n e s h a p e d i n l a r g e p a r t by wind and s u r f . C o a s t a l Tasmanian A b o r i g i n e s depended v e r y h e a v i l y upon t h e r e s o u r c e s o f t h e s e a . Rocky p l a t f o r m s , s a n d y s h o a l s , d e e p g u l c h e s , g r a s s y b o t t o m s , k e l p b e d s , l a g o o n s ,

e s t u a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t s and submarine b o u l d e r g a l l e r i e s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e r i c h v a r i e t y o f s u c h r e s o u r c e s i n t h e a r e a . Swamps, s c r u b l a n d s , c r e e k s and s e d g e l a n d s a r e t h e l a n d components of t h e s o u t h w e s t Tasmanian e c o l o g i c a l sys tern. The s e d g e l a n d s a r e t h e m s e l v e s s a i d t o b e A b o r i g i n a l a r t e f a c t s , a r e s u l t of c o n s t a n t f i r i n g ( J a c k s o n 1965: 30; Davies 1975: 2 3 ; J o n e s 1966: 1, 1968) whose n e t r e s u l t i s an i n c r e a s e d h a b i t a t r a n g e f o r s e d g e l a n d d w e l l e r s . Most o f t h e s e h a b i t a t s a r e , however, w i d e l y d i s p e r s e d i n s o u t h w e s t Tasmania, w i t h s p e c i f i c e x p l o i t a t i o n

-

a s s e e n i n a r c h a e o l o g i c a l s i t e s

-

of m u s s e l s and o y s t e r s i n P o r t Davey ( P . Simms, p e r s . comm.), g e n e r a l i s e d s h e l l f i s h a t S t e p h e n s Bay, v e r y l i t t l e between t h e r e and S o u t h w e s t Cape (D. King, p e r s . comm.) a s m a l l c a v e o c c u p a t i o n a t New Harbour ( J . S t o c k t o n , p e r s . comrn.) and s p a r s e o c c u p a t i o n o n t h e e a s t e r n s i d e of Cox B i g h t (D. King, p e r s . c o r n . ) . L o u i s a Bay, a t t h e e a s t e r n e d g e o f t h e a r e a s e e n i n F i g . 1 and lying d i r e c t l y under t h e w e s t e r n s l o p e s o f t h e 1000 m h i g h Ironbound Mountains, a p p e a r s t o

r e p r e s e n t a microcosm o f a v a i l a b l e r e s o u r c e s i n g r e a t e r s o u t h w e s t Tasmania. I t i s t h e r e f o r e n o t s u r p r i s i n g t o s e e ample e v i d e n c e of A b o r i g i n a l o c c u p a t i o n ( F i g . 2 ) a l o n g t h e s h o r e s o f t h i s 2 . 5 km deep by 4 k m wide c r e s c e n t i c b a y . L o u i s a I s l a n d , c o n n e c t e d t o t h e main- l a n d by a t o m b o l a , l i e s a t t h e e a s t e r n e d g e of t h e bay. L o u i s a

-

^{5 km.}

De Witt

1 . 0

R i v e r , Louisa Creek and t h e s e v e r a l r i v u l e t s a r e formed by d r a i n a g e s off t h e quartzite h i l l s of t h e i n t e r i o r . The p l a i n immediately i n t h e h i n t e r l a n d comprises mainly swamp and s e d g e l a n d s

.

Dense c o p s e s of t r e e s and s h r u b s a r e common i n v a l l e y s , and s i m i l a r s t a n d s a r e u n i v e r s a l l y found between t h e f o r e s h o r e and p l a i n , o f t e n s h r o u d i n g s t e e p c l i f f s . Lying o f f Louisa Bay t o t h e s o u t h a r e D e W i t t (6.5 km) and Maatsuyker (13 km) I s l a n d s .

The archaeological s i tes

o f Louisa Bay ( F i g . 2; T a b l e 1 )

The sand dune s i t e s (LR) a t t h e mouth o f t h e L o u i s a R i v e r a r e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l l y and s c e n i c a l l y most s p e c t a c u l a r ( N e i l s o n l975:92).

The dune face i s r e t r e a t i n g under t h e a t t a c k o f t h e p r e v a i l i n g s o u t h w e s t e r l y winds, and is perhaps b e i n g e r o d e d by t h e e a s t w a r d encroachment o f t h e Louisa R i v e r , s o t h a t t o d a y t h e dune i s i n p l a c e s only a f e w metres wide. The e r o s i o n a l p r o c e s s h a s exposed a s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n n e a r l y 1 km l o n g , l a y i n g b a r e the

d e p o s i t i o n a l h i s t o r y o f t h e s i t e . The p r i n c i p a l components of t h e s e d e p o s i t s a r e a l t e r n a t e l a y e r s of windblown ( p e r i o d s o f i n s t a b i l i t y ) and o r g a n i c a l l y s t a i n e d ( p e r i o d s of s t a b i l i t y ) s a n d s . With t h e e x c e p t i o n o f a s i n g l e widespread epoch o f a f o s s i l s t a b l e

ground s u r f a c e which can be t r a c e d from one e n d o f t h e dune t o t h e other, i t can be s a i d t h a t t h e s e d e p o s i t s r e p r e s e n t l o c a l i s e d s t a b l e periods followed by epochs of s o u r c e b o r d e r i n g s a n d s . O c c u p a t i o n a l d e b r i s i s f o u n d ' o n some of t h e s e former s t a b l e s u r f a c e s b u t a t no one p o i n t on t h e dune f a c e can t h e e n t i r e s e q u e n c e of a r c h a e o l o g i c a l d e p o s i t s be seen. They range from a f e w t o 40 cm depth and most u s u a l l y c o n s i s t of s m a l l l e n s e s only a few m e t r e s long.

S i t e LR-1 ( F i g . 3) i s l o c a t e d below t h e major s t a b l e ground s u r f a c e mentioned above, and c o n s i s t s o f s e v e r a l p e r i o d s of human o c c u p a t i o n . Because o f t h e g e n e r a l absence of c h a r c o a l i n t h e d e p o s i t s , a b a s a l o r g a n i c a l l y e n r i c h e d s o i l sample was s u b m i t t e d for a n a l y s i s ; a c h a r c o a l d a t e of 2970 f 200 y e a r s BP (MU-1771) was o b t a i n e d . Some 50 cm above t h e provenance o f t h e d a t e d c h a r c o a l , i n a d e p o s i t (LR1-1/6) r i c h i n s h e l l and bone, was r e c o v e r e d a bone p o i n t (Fig. 4) e x a c t l y s i m i l a r t o t h o s e d e s c r i b e d by J o n e s

(1966 : 3) and Bowdler (1974b)

.

I n t h e n o r t h w e s t o f Tasmania t h i s t o o l d i s a p p e a r s from t h e Rocky Cape sequence a t a b o u t 3500 y e a r s ago. The c o n s i d e r a b l y more r e c e n t a p p e a r a n c e of t h e poi-nt a t Louisa Bay s u g g e s t s t h a t i t i s n o t t h e same c h r o n o l o g i c a l i n d i c a t o r h e r e as a t Rocky Cape. On t h e o t h e r hand, t h e L o u i s a Bay p o i n t may be a r e l i c t from a more remote p a s t , o r p e r h a p s t h e Rocky Cape chronology does n o t a c c u r a t e l y d a t e t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of t h i s a r t e f a c t c l a s s , though Lourandos ( 1 9 7 0 ~ 4 9 ) r e p o r t s s p a t u l a t e p o i n t s o n l y from e a r l y c o n t e x t s a t L i t t l e Swanport.

S i t e LR-3 ( F i g . 5 ) is s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y younger than LR-l, h a v i n g been d e p o s i t e d a f t e r t h e s a n d s o f t h e major s t a b l e ground s u r f a c e had been l a i d d a m . The s i t u a t i o n i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t s e e n i n LR-1 i n t h a t a l t e r n a t e u n s t a b l e / s t a b l e p e r i o d s f o l l o w t h e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l d e p o s i t s (though f a r f e w e r ) , b u t d i s s i m i l a r i n t h a t the a r c h a e o l o g i c a l l y l a i d m a t e r i a l i s t h i c k e r and more d e n s e . A carbon sample from t h e d e p o s i t d a t e s a t 630 f 90 y e a r s BP (GaK-6599).

Table 1. Summary information on the archaeoloqical sites of Louisa Bay and Maatsuvker Island. LR- 1 LC-l LR- 3 LR- 2 LRC- 2 Maatsuyker Island AC- 1 Years ago 3000 1200 650 500? 800 500 200 Lenses X X X

- - - -

Thicker deposits

- - -

X X X X l Pademe lonZ P Wallaby M Wombat S Ringtail F Bandicoot

-

Tiger Cat

- -

0 0 F Seal X

-

X X X Warrener M S M M S

-

M Abalone M F M M S X M

I

Mussels S P S S P

- - I

Others F F F F M

-

F - -- Mutton birds M

-

M M S P

-

Petrels M

-

M M P F

-

0 NO DATA X PRESENT

-

ABSENT F FEW (1-10%) S SOME (11-24%) M MANY (25-39%) P PREDOMINANT (40% or more)

Fig.3 Stratigraphic section of site LR-1

Fig. 5 Stratigraphic section of site LR-3

Fig.7 Plan viev and stratigraphic section of site LRC-2

Stratigraphic section of site LC-1

The a r c h a e o l o g i c a l d e p o s i t s o f s i t e LR-2 ( F i g . 6) h a v e b e e n l a i d d i r e c t l y on t h e p h y l l i t e c l i f f s a d j a c e n t t o t h e e a s t e r n head- l a n d o f L o u i s a Bay. The 40 cm o f d e b r i s is by f a r t h e t h i c k e s t and d e n s e s t s e e n i n t h e s a n d dune s i t e s . O v e r l y i n g t h e d e b r i s a r e t h r e e d e p o s i t s o f unstable/stable/unstable s a n d s f o l l o w e d by t h e p r e s e n t v e g e t a t i o n s u r f a c e . The s i t e h a s y e t t o b e d a t e d , t h o u g h a bone sample h a s been s u b m i t t e d t o t h e A u s t r a l i a n N a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t y Radiocarbon L a b o r a t o r y .

The L o u i s a R i v e r s a n d dune s i t e s o f f e r a k i n d of c h r o n o l o g y based on t h e p h y s i c a l a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e s i t e . The l o w e s t d e p o s i t s i n t h e e a r l y s i t e , LR-1 ( F i g . 3 ) , a r e c h a r a c t e r i s e d by v e r y s h a l l o w l e n s e s o f d e b r i s , p e r h a p s r e p r e s e n t i n g r a t h e r e p h e m e r a l o c c u p a t i o n , t h e r e s u l t o f s e a s o n a l a n d / o r s p e c i f i c e x p l o i t a t i o n o f l o c a l

r e s o u r c e s . The l a t e r s i t e , LR-3 (Fig. S ) , d e m o n s t r a t e s much t h i c k e r d e p o s i t s . I f t h e p a t t e r n h a s any r e l i a b i l i t y , we c a n e x p e c t t h a t s i t e LR-2 ( F i g . 6 ) might d a t e on t h e same o r d e r o f a n t i q u i t y a s LR-3.

A l l t h r e e s a n d dune s i t e s , a t t h i s s t a g e o f t h e a n a l y s i s ,

r e £ l e c t roughly s i m i l a r h a b i t a t e x p l o i t a t i o n . Mutton b i r d s (P2cffinus t e n u i r o s t r i s ) , s e a s o n a l l y a v a i l a b l e , a n d p e t r e l s a r e s e e n i n t h e f a u n a 1 r e c o r d ; t h e l a n d f a u n a i n c l u d e s s p e c i e s known t o p r e f e r open h a b i t a t s (Ride 1970; Green 1974) l i k e t h o s e known on t h e e a s t e r n s i d e o f t h e L o u i s a R i v e r : pademelon

( P h y

ZogaZe b i Z Z a r d i e r i i )

,

w a l l a b y (Macropus r u f o g r i s e u s ) and wombat (Vornbatus u r s i n u s )

.

S e v e r a l s p e c i e s o f s h e l l f i s h a r e p r e s e n t b u t t h e most common a r e w a r r e n e r (Subnine ZZa unduZata) and a b a l o n e ( N o t o h a Z i o t i s r u b e r )

.

R a i n f o r e s t c o n d i t i o n s a r e s e e n between t h e L o u i s a R i v e r a n d t h e p h y l l i t e c l i f f s t o t h e w e s t . Along t h e b a s e o f t h i s c l i f f a r e a s e r i e s of s m a l l c a v e s , most h a r b o u r i n g some d e b r i s . The

e x c a v a t i o n of s i t e LRC-2 ( F i g . 7 ) d e m o n s t r a t e d 30 cm o f d e p o s i t c o n t a i n i n g numbers of pademelon and w a l l a b y b u t a b o u t h a l f t h e remains a r e of r i n g t a i l possums (Pseudocheimcs p e r e g r i n u s )

.

^{T h i s}

i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g s i n c e t h e c a v e s a r e found i n a f o r e s t e d

environment. The lower p e r c e n t a g e of m u t t o n b i r d r e m a i n s , compared w i t h t h e dune s i t e s , i s b e c a u s e t h e i r L o u i s a I s l a n d h a b i t a t i s

f u r t h e r away; a b a l o n e and w a r r e n e r a r e a l s o l e s s f r e q u e n t . C o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s p i c t u r e i s t h e heavy r e l i a n c e on m u s s e l s whose h a b i t a t i s t h e b r a c k i s h w a t e r s o f t h e n e a r b y L o u i s a R i v e r . The c a v e s , however, a r e m o s t l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d by t h e 68 i d e n t i f i e d s h e l l f i s h s p e c i e s , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e o c c u p a n t s m i g h t h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d l e a n times, t h a t a d v a n t a g e was t a k e n o f e v e r y f o o d s o u r c e d u r i n g , s a y , bad w e a t h e r . So, t h e p r e s e n c e o f s h e l l f i s h s p e c i e s n o t n o r m a l l y e a t e n may simply r e f l e c t e x t e n d e d s t o r m c o n d i t i o n s . The b a s a l d e p o s i t a t LRC-2 h a s b e e n d a t e d t o 870 2 90 y e a r s BP (GaK-5990).

LC-1 ( F i g . 8 ) i s s i m i l a r t o t h e L o u i s a R i v e r s i t e s . I t i s b e i n g r a p i d l y eroded by wind and s t o r m , and t h e s h a l l o w l e n s i n g o f

o c c u p a t i o n a l s o i l s i s r e m i n i s c e n t o f LR-1. M u s s e l s form t h e m a j o r p a r t o f t h e food d e b r i s , w h i l e some w a l l a b y b o n e s s u g g e s t e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e p l a i n b e h i n d t h e s i t e . A c a r b o n s a m p l e , c o l l e c t e d from t h e h e a r t h midway through t h e d e p o s i t was d a t e d a t 1250 2 1 0 0 y e a r s BP

(.GaK-5989). T h i s s i t e i s e a r l i e r t h a n LR-3, and l i k e LR-1 t h e d e p o s i t s a r e t h i n l e n s e s .

S i t e AC-1 c o n s i s t s o f a 1 m t h i c k d e p o s i t o f s h e l l a n d bone.

s i t e s , w e r e t h e most common s h e l l f i s h . A q u a n t i t y o f s e a l (ArctocephaZus d o r i f e m r s ) bones a r e p r e s e n t which makes t h e s i t e u n l i k e o t h e r s i n t h e bay. The l a n d s p e c i e s r e c o r d i n c l u d e s e q u a l q u a n t i t i e s o f r i n g t a i l possum, b a n d i c o o t ( I s o o d o n obesuZus) and t i g e r c a t (Dasyumcs macuZatus) on t h e one h a n d , and pademelon, w a l l a b y and wombat o n t h e o t h e r , i n d i c a t i n g e x p l o i t a t i o n o f b o t h p l a i n s a n d woodlands. B i r d s a r e n o t r e c o r d e d a t AC-1.

The Maatsuyker

Is1

and s i t e s

On t h e n o r t h s i d e o f Maatsuyker I s l a n d , a t t h e p r e s e n t l a n d i n g j e t t y , i s a n a r r o w and s h a l l o w cove which o f f e r s i n l i g h t s e a s t h e o n l y s a f e l a n d i n g . Access i s t h u s d i f f i c u l t f o r modem w a t e r c r a f t , l e t a l o n e t h e f r a i l Tasmanian b a r k canoe. One s i t e

(MAT-1) i s found on a narrow f o r e s h o r e p l a t f o r m r a n g i n g from 5-20 m above s e a l e v e l . The o t h e r , t o d a y r e a c h e d by t r o l l e y and winch up a 60 d e g r e e s l o p e , was 200 m above s e a l e v e l , b u t t h e accumulated o v e r b u r d e n o f t h e r u b b i s h of t h r e e l i g h t h o u s e f a m i l i e s o v e r a

p e r i o d o f 80 y e a r s , p l u s t h e d i s t u r b a n c e c r e a t e d by t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a c o n t i n u o u s h e l i c o p t e r pad (J. Cook, p e r s . comm.) h a s r e s u l t e d i n a m a s s i v e h i l l s i d e s l u m p , s c a t t e r i n g l a t e 1 9 t h and e a r l y 20th c e n t u r y a r t e f a c t s , s e a l b o n e s , a b a l o n e s h e l l s , b i r d bones and S t o n e a r t e f a c t s a l o n g t h e s t e e p v a l l e y l e a d i n g t o MAT-1.

The f o r e s h o r e p l a t f o r m s i t e , MAT-1, h a s b e e n e x t e n s i v e l y sampled.

The f a u n a c o n s i s t a l m o s t e n t i r e l y o f s e a l s , mutton b i r d s and p e t r e l s , w h i l e i n t h e 35 cm d e p o s i t t h e r e i s o n l y s p a r s e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of a b a l o n e , common t o d a y i n Maatsuyker w a t e r s . The a t t r a c t i o n of M a a t s u y k e r I s l a n d was a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y i t s l a r g e s e a l p o p u l a t i o n 3

( M i l l e d g e and B r o t h e r s 1 9 7 6 ) , o n t h e s o - c a l l e d Needles ( B e n n e t t 1 9 5 5 ) . The f a u n a 1 e v i d e n c e s u g g e s t s s e a l s were t a k e n i n F e b r u a r y , March a n d A p r i l , t h e optimum t i m e f o r e x p l o i t a t i o n of m u t t o n b i r d s and t h e i r c h i c k s ( S e r v e n t y e t ^al. l 9 7 l : l 2 8 - 3 4 ) . The p a u c i t y o f a b a l o n e s h e l l s may b e i n t e r p r e t e d t o mean t h a t t h i s o t h e r w i s e a t t r a c t i v e f o o d was made mean i n comparison w i t h s e a l s and mutton b i r d s , p e r h a p s i t was more work, o r maybe t h e women were l e f t b e h i n d . I t h i n k , i n view of t h e abundant e n e r g y r e p r e s e n t e d by e s p e c i a l l y s e a l s , t h a t t h e former a l t e r n a t i v e i s t h e more c o r r e c t . I n d e e d , i t m i g h t e v e n b e t h a t s e a l s were h u n t e d mainly by women ( K e l l y l 9 2 l : l 7 7 ) , though t h e e v i d e n c e i s s p a r s e ( H i a t t 1968: 207-8).

The b u l k o f a r c h a e o l o g i c a l d e b r i s s u g g e s t s t h a t l o c a l consumption w a s t h e r u l e r a t h e r t h a n a r e t u r n t o t h e mainland w i t h t h e meat

(Robinson 1966:379).

S i t e MAT-1 i s now a n a c t i v e mutton b i r d r o o k e r y ( a s i s t h e e n t i r e i s l a n d ) , s o t h a t d i s t u r b a n c e is cormnon a l t h o u g h t h e e x c a v a t i o n s t o o k p l a c e i n a n a r e a d e v o i d o f c u r r e n t burrows. I n a n e f f o r t t o a s s e s s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of c o n t a m i n a t i o n o r s t r a t i g r a p h i c i n v e r s i o n , I s e l e c t e d two c a r b o n samples from t h e same e x c a v a t i o n , one a b o v e and o n e below t h e c l a y d e p o s i t l a i d down by s l o p e wash w i t h i n t h e p e r i o d o f s i t e o c c u p a t i o n . The upper sample (GaK-5987) d a t e d a t 5 7 0

+

100 y e a r s BP and t h e l o w e r (GaK-5988) was d e t e r m i n e d t o b e 400

+

90 y e a r s BP. These two d a t e s a r e n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t ( s e e P o l a c h a n d Golson 1 9 6 6 ) .

Towards an hypothes

i

s

We have s e e n t h e a p p a r e n t i n c r e a s e i n t h e d e p t h of d e p o s i t s through time a t Louisa Bay s i t e s . The s h a l l o w l e n s i n g o f bone and s h e l l remains a s s e e n e s p e c i a l l y a t LR-1 and t o l e s s e r d e g r e e s a t LC-1, s u g g e s t s h o r t - t e r m o c c u p a t i o n , and o f c o u r s e t h e s t e r i l e wind-blown sands s e p a r a t i n g t h e o r g a n i c s o i l s s u g g e s t a s u b s t a n t i a l h i a t u s between o c c u p a t i o n s . We s e e more ample d e p o s i t s a t LR-3 d a t e d t o w e l l w i t h i n t h e f i r s t millenium BP; t h e i m p r e s s i v e m e t r e t h i c k o c c u p a t i o n a l s o i l s a t AC-1, d a t e d t o v e r y r e c e n t t i m e s ; and a t LR-2 r e l a t i v e l y t h i c k d e b r i s thought t o d a t e w i t h i n t h e l a s t 300 o r 400 y e a r s . The c a v e s , r e p r e s e n t e d by s i t e LRC-2, and Maatsuyker I s l a n d , p r e s e n t r a t h e r s p e c i a l s i t u a t i o n s , t h e former t h o u g h t t o have been sought f o r r e l i e f from s t o r m c o n d i t i o n s , t h e l a t t e r v i s i t e d d u r i n g t h e summer, b u t both d a t e d t o w i t h i n t h e f i r s t millenium BP.

I c o n s i d e r t h e Louisa Bay s i t e s t o b e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of

o c c u p a t i o n i n southwest Tasmania. I n t h e absence o f c o r r o b o r a t i v e d a t a from elsewhere i n t h i s p a r t of t h e i s l a n d , a d e f i n i t e s t a t e m e n t cannot of course b e made. But I t h i n k i t i s r e l e v a n t t h a t t h e b r e a d t h and i n t e n s i t y of r e s o u r c e s a t L o u i s a Bay c a n n o t e l s e w h e r e b e matched i n any s i m i l a r volume of s p a c e i n s o u t h w e s t Tasmania, a s measured by t h e w e a l t h of a r c h a e o l o g i c a l s i t e s i n t h e Bay, and by my own survey o f l a r g e t r a c k s of t h e a r e a . I c o n s i d e r i t e q u a l l y l i k e l y t h a t t h e range of r a d i o c a r b o n d a t e s r e f l e c t s t h e time d e p t h of southwest Tasmanian o c c u p a t i o n . T h i s i s more d i f f i c u l t t o s u p p o r t , though I t h i n k i t can s a f e l y b e a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e d e t e r m i n e d d a t e s a r e a t r u e r e f l e c t i o n of Louisa Bay's o c c u p a t i o n a l time d e p t h . The s y l l o g i s m can t h e r e f o r e be completed, t h a t i f t h e i n v e s t i g a t e d s i t e s a r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , s o t h e n must be t h e chronology.

Southwest Tasmania might, t h e n , s e e o n l y 3000 y e a r s o r s o t i m e d e p t h , 4 w h i l e A b o r i g i n a l man i s s e e n a s f i r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e n o r t h w e s t over 8000 y e a r s ago ( J o n e s 1966), and by a b o u t t h e same time i n t h e s o u t h e a s t (Lourandos 1970, 1978; Reber 1965, 1967)

.

^{I f ,}

a s a r e s u l t of t h i s p e n e t r a t i o n , t h e r e was a p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e i t would most l i k e l y b e a l o c a l phenomenon t o be i n f e r r e d from t h e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l d a t a . Whatever t h e r e a s o n f o r t h i s e n t r y ( o r e x p a n s i o n ) , i t most probably l i e s i n t h e human a r e n a , f o r known a l t e r a t i o n s t o t h e environment had p l a y e d o u t t h e i r r o l e s on human c u l t u r a l development some few thousand y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y (Bowler 1976; Jennings 1971; Davies 1974; Lampert and Hughes 1974) and a l l o t h e r t h i n g s b e i n g e q u a l , p o p u l a t i o n l e v e l s t e n d t o remain c o n s t a n t i n a s t a t i c environment ( s e e P o l g a r 1975 f o r r e c e n t s t a t e m e n t s on t h e p o p u l a t i o n theme).

I s u g g e s t a s a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t h a t t h e Tasmanian t e c h n o l o g y h a s been i n t h e p a s t even s i m p l e r t h a n t h a t r e c o r d e d a t t h e t i m e of European c o n t a c t . I n e x p l o r i n g t h e e t h n o g r a p h i c t e c h n o l o g y

-

s p e a r s , c l u b s , d i g g i n g S t i c k s , canoes, s h e l t e r s , f i r e , b a s k e t s , and s t o n e t o o l s

-

t h e s i n g l e i n e s s e n t i a l , though v a s t l y a d a p t i v e , i t e m f o r s u r v i v a l i s t h e r o l l e d b a r k canoe o r canoe r a f t ( s e e J o n e s 1976 f o r d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e canoe and i t s c a p a b i l i t i e s ) .

An examination o f t h e w a t e r c r a f t hypotheses

B i r d s e l l (1977:136) c o n s i d e r s t h a t t h e t y p e of canoe used by t h e Tasmanian A b o r i g i n e s may d a t e t o P l e i s t o c e n e times. I s u g g e s t t h a t t h e c a n o e known i n Tasmania a t t h e t i m e o f European c o n t a c t might b e a n i n d i g e n o u s i n v e n t i o n , o r a r e - i n v e n t i o n , of o n l y some

few t h o u s a n d y e a r s a n t i q u i t y . N e i t h e r view can b e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l l y s u p p o r t e d , f o r s u c h a f r a i l p i e c e of equipment would n o t s u r v i v e i n t h e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l r e c o r d , and t h e r e a r e no s p e c i a l i s e d t o o l s n e c e s s a r y f o r i t s c r e a t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , an e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e r e l e v a n t d a t a i s i n s t r u c t i v e .

I t is g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d t h a t t h e f i r s t immigrants t o A u s t r a l i a were c o a s t a l l y a d a p t e d ( B i r d s e l l 1977; Bowdler 1977; J o n e s l 9 7 5 ) ,

though s u b s e q u e n t e v e n t s a r e a m a t t e r of c o n t r o v e r s y . On one s i d e s t a n d B i r d s e l l (1957, 1 9 6 8 , 1977) and J o n e s (1975) who e n v i s a g e a series o f a d a p t i v e r a d i a t i o n s which w i t h i n a few thousand y e a r s of man's e n t r y r e s u l t i n n e a r e c o l o g i c a l s a t u r a t i o n , o r h o m e o s t a s i s . On t h e o t h e r s i d e i s Bowdler ( 1 9 7 7 ) , s u g g e s t i n g on a combination of p o s i t i v e and n e g a t i v e e v i d e n c e , t h a t A u s t r a l i a n man f i l l e d t h e c o a s t a l n i c h e t o which h e was a d a p t e d b e f o r e moving i n l a n d . Bowdler s u g g e s t s t h i s i n l a n d a d a p t a t i o n o c c u r r e d no e a r l i e r t h a n 1 2 , 0 0 0 y e a r s BP.

The s p r i n g b o a r d f o r Bowdler's i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i s Cave Hay Cave i n n o r t h w e s t e r n Tasmania, and i t i s t h e r e I t u r n , f o r i t i s a t H u n t e r I s l a n d t h a t Tasmanian man f i r s t a p p e a r s (Bowdler 1 9 7 7 ) . A d a t e o f 23,000 y e a r s BP h a s been r e p o r t e d f o r t h i s s i t e , l o c a t e d a t t h a t t i m e on t h e s o u t h e r n margins o f t h e B a s s i a n P l a i n . Bowdler e x p r e s s e s t h e view t h a t Tasmanian P l e i s t o c e n e man was m a r i n e o r i e n t e d

(1977: 218-9). She a r g u e s h e r c a s e c o g e n t l y , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t Cave Bay Cave was a temporary h u n t i n g camp used by f i s h e r m e n , y e t i n e s c a p a b l e i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e cave by i t s e l f does n o t produce s u p p o r t i n g d a t a . I n d e e d , t h e economic d e b r i s i s f u l l y t e r r e s t r i a l i n o r i g i n . I n t h e a b s e n c e of d i r e c t s u p p o r t i n g d a t a , i t seems t h a t t h e Cave Bay Cave d a t a c o u l d a s a p p r o p r i a t e l y s u p p o r t a t e r r e s t r i a l a d a p t a t i o n model a s o n e i n v o l v i n g a m a r i n e economy a s t h e main m o t i f . It would t h e r e f o r e n o t b e d i f f i c u l t t o e n v i s a g e B a s s i a n P l a i n h u n t e r s becoming t h e f i r s t Tasmanians through no c h o i c e of t h e i r own. C e r t a i n l y , a s Bowdler s t a t e s (1977: 2 l 7 ) , man a p p e a r s w e l l a d a p t e d t o a c o a s t a l economy a t Rocky Cape ' j u s t a s t h e s e a r e a c h e d i t s p r e s e n t l e v e l ' , b u t of c o u r s e t h e d a t a a r e drowned which m i g h t h a v e r e c o r d e d t h e p r o c e s s by which t h i s a d a p t a t i o n was

r e a l i s e d .

It m u s t , t h e n , be a c c e p t e d a s a r e a s o n a b l y a l t e r n a t i v e t h a t Tasmania' S t e r m i n a l P l e i s t o c e n e f o u n d e r p o p u l a t i o n was t e r r e s t r i a l l y a d a p t e d , and f u r t h e r , t h a t i n l a t e r t i m e s a m a r i t i m e economy was e v o l v e d i n r e s p o n s e t o a d e c r e a s i n g t e r r e s t r i a l environment and a s i n c r e a s i n g l y s t a b l e and r i c h l i t t o r a l (Lampert and Hughes 1974;

Bowdler 1977:212-3). The c o r o l l a r y t o t h i s is t h a t w a t e r c r a f t beyond a s i m p l e l o g was p e r h a p s unknown and t h a t i n t h e i r i s o l a t i o n t h e Tasmanian A b o r i g i n e developed t h e r o l l e d b a r k canoe o n l y i n r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t t i m e s .

D a t a i n p a r t i a l s u p p o r t o f such a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a r e a v a i l a b l e from t h e H u n t e r I s l a n d r e s e a r c h : Bowdler (1975:25) a r g u e s t h a t a l a n d l i n k t o t h e mainland was s e v e r e d a b o u t 4000 y e a r s ago, and t h e

i s l a n d was n o t v i s i t e d f o r a n o t h e r 2 m i l l e n n i a o r s o . Y e t J o n e s ' (1966, 1968) e v i d e n c e from Rocky Cape, S i s t e r s Creek a n d West P o i n t a t t e s t s t o a p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e a r e a . Bowdler's s u r v e y o f Hunter I s l a n d (1974a) r e c o r d s i t s p o p u l a r i t y i n t i m e s p a s t , s o we may s u g g e s t t h a t a f t e r t h e s e v e r i n g of t h e t o m b o l a , H u n t e r I s l a n d was i s o l a t e d u n t i l t h e development of w a t e r c r a f t a d e q u a t e t o t h e j ourney

.

F u r t h e r e v i d e n c e comes from t h e 5 0 km l o n g Bruny I s l a n d forming t h e b r e a k w a t e r f o r t h e D ' h t r e c a s t e a u x C h a n n e l , i t s e l f i n p l a c e s o n l y 2 k m wide. S i t e s a t t h e n o r t h e r n e n d o f Bruny h a v e been maximally d a t e d t o 5000 and 6000 y e a r s BP (Reber 1965:264-5), and a r e c h a r a c t e r i s e d by d e n s e s h e l l , as i f d e p o s i t e d a t r e l a t i v e l y r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , minimal d a t e s f o r t h e s e d e e p middens a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e . The o n l y o t h e r Bruny I s l a n d d a t e d s i t e i s one d e s c r i b e d a s h a v i n g been v i s i t e d i r r e g u l a r l y b e c a u s e s a n d l a y e r s s e p a r a t e t h e s h e l l , bone and wood c h a r c o a l d e p o s i t s (Reber l965:265). While t h e a b s e n c e of f i r m t e r m i n a l d a t e s f o r t h e e a r l i e r s i t e s weaken t h e argument, i t might be i n t e r p r e t a t e d t h a t , a t t h e time o f t h e i r o c c u p a t i o n , v i s i t s t o them may have b e e n made p o s s i b l e by a tombola c o n n e c t i n g Bruny w i t h t h e m a i n l a n d

-

s u c h as d e s c r i b e d by Bowdler (1975:25) f o r H u n t e r , o r t h e 5 km s a n d s p i t c u r r e n t l y j o i n i n g North and South Bruny.

The h y p o t h e s i s developed h e r e might a l s o h e l p e x p l a i n t h e e t h n o g r a p h i c a l l y o b s e r v e d a b s e n c e o f t h e canoe i n n o r t h e a s t e r n Tasmania. Deep embayments and c l i f f e d h e a d l a n d s a r e r e m a r k a b l y a b s e n t i n t h i s p a r t of Tasmania, and i s l a n d s and l a r g e r i v e r s a r e r a r e , y e t i t is i n t h e s e l o c a l e s such c r a f t were most o f t e n r e c o r d e d ( s e e J o n e s l 9 7 6 : F i g . 6)

.

I n a d d i t i o n , b a r k c a n o e s w e r e d i r e c t e d l a r g e l y by wind and c u r r e n t , and t h e w e s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n s o f b o t h would make t h e i r u s e i n t h e s e p a r t s of Tasmania more a l i a b i l i t y

than a n a s s e t . I n d e e d , canoes on t h e e a s t c o a s t a r e r e c o r d e d o n l y from Maria I s l a n d and G r e a t O y s t e r Bay, b o t h o f which a r e p r o t e c t e d l o c a l i t i e s . Thus, c l i m a t i c and p h y s i o g r a p h i c c o n d i t i o n s m i g h t b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e i r d i s t r i b u t i o n , r a t h e r t h a n c u l t u r a l s a n c t i o n s d e v e l o p i n g o u t o f c a t a s t r o p h e s u c h a s e n v i s a g e d by J o n e s ( l 9 7 6 : 250).

I t a p p e a r s , even, t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o f s e a l i n g i s l a n d s was i n s u f f i c i e n t i n c e n t i v e . D e s p i t e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f s e a l c o l o n i e s a t I s l e d e s Phocques o p p o s i t e Lourandos' L i t t l e Swanport s i t e , s e a l bones were n o t r e c o v e r e d from t h e s i t e (Lourandos 1970:87). Note s h o u l d b e made t h a t t h i s r o c k i s open t o t h e Tasrnan s e a . I s u s p e c t

t h a t t h e e a s t c o a s t o c c u r r e n c e o f a r c h a e o l o g i c a l s e a l r e m a i n s i s r e s t r i c t e d t o a r e a s o f mainland c o l o n i s a t i o n

-

a s p e r h a p s m o d e l l e d by West P o i n t ( J o n e s 1971:549)

-

o r t o t h e c a p t u r e o f b e a c h e d a n i m a l s

such as d e s c r i b e d by Robinson a t L o u i s a Bay (Robinson 1966:118).

And o f c o u r s e w i t h t h e a b s e n c e o f o f f - s h o r e s e a l c o l o n i e s a t Rocky Cape, i t is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h r o u g h t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e s i t e s e a l s were o b t a i n e d from mainland c o l o n i e s o r by f r e q u e n t b e a c h k i l l s .

Concl

u s i

ons

J o n e s , a t Rocky Cape, s e e s h i s d a t a as p o i n t i n g t o w a r d s a d i m i n i s h i n g technology and a reduced d i e t t h r o u g h time ( J o n e s 1 9 7 1 ) .

280) a n d p r e s e n t a t Cave Bay Cave (Bowdler 1 9 7 4 b ) , d i s a p p e a r s from t h e Rocky Cape s e q u e n c e ( J o n e s 1966, 1971)

.

Not l o n g b e f o r e t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e bone p o i n t , s c a l e f i s h remains d i s a p p e a r t o o . I n h i s most r e c e n t s t a t e m e n t , J o n e s (1978) s a y s

'

l i k e a blow above t h e h e a r t , i t t o o k a l o n g t i m e t o t a k e e f f e c t , b u t s l o w l y and s u r e l y t h e r e was a s i m p l i f i c a t i o n i n t h e t o o l k i t , a d i m u n i t i o n i n t h e r a n g e o f f o o d s e a t e n , p e r h a p s a s q u e e z i n g o f i n t e l l e c t u a l i t y ' . H e goes on t o s a y t h a t Tasmania'a n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n may have been doomed t o a s l o w e r e x t i n c t i o n t h a n t h a t s u f f e r e d a t t h e hand of European man, a l b e i t a s s u r e .

I n a n a t t e m p t a t i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e L o u i s a Bay d a t a , I h a v e o f f e r e d t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t development of Tasmania' S c h a r a c t e r i s t i c r o l l e d b a r k canoe a l l o w e d a more e f f i c i e n t e x p l o i t a t i o n o f s o u t h w e s t Tasmanian r e s o u r c e s . I s u g g e s t , as a c o r o l l a r y , t h a t t h e Tasmanian's mind was n o t becoming s t i f f w i t h d i s u s e . The p r o h i b i t i o n o n s c a l e f i s h , w h i l e c u l t u r a l l y s a n c t i o n e d , may h a v e h a d a most d e v i o u s o r i g i n , t h e e x t i n c t i o n of a h a b i t whose o r i g i n may n e v e r be known. There a r e many r e c o r d s o f e n t i r e r a n g e s o f f o o d becoming t a b o o (Simoons 1961; H a r r i s 1975:14-47) and I would s u b m i t t h e Tasmanians a r e n o t a s p e c i a l c a s e , t h a t f o r a r e a s o n p e r h a p s u n c o n n e c t e d w i t h i s o l a t i o n and o b s c u r e d by t h e p a s s a g e of t i m e , fish w e r e n o l o n g e r c o n s i d e r e d a d e s i r a b l e food. S i m i l a r l y , a n a l t e r n a t e h y p o t h e s i s c a n b e o f f e r e d f o r t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of bone p o i n t s from t h e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l r e c o r d . J o n e s ' a n a l y s i s of t h e s e a r t e f a c t s ( J o n e s 1971:488-524) s u g g e s t e d t o him t h a t t h e y were i n s t r u m e n t a l i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of s k i n s (pp.513-4). I t i s s i m p l e r t o i n t e r p r e t , a s d o e s J o n e s (1971: 524) when l e a d i n g up t o h i s e x t i n c t i o n h y p o t h e s i s , t h a t w i t h c l i m a t i c a m e l i o r a t i o n t h e r e was l e s s u s e f o r s k i n s , t h a t p e r h a p s i n more r e c e n t Tasmanian w i n t e r s o c h r e and g r e a s e w e r e e q u a l t o , o r more e f f e c t i v e t h a n , s k i n s . F i n a l l y , a t t h e t i m e o f European c o n t a c t t h e Tasmanians d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e i r a d a p t a b i l i t y by q u i c k l y a c c e p t i n g new i d e a s such a s t h e dog

( J o n e s 1970) and European weaponry ( C a l d e r 1873).

Might i t b e , t h e n , t h a t t h e d a t a we s e e i n Tasmania's p r e h i s t o r y p o i n t s n o t toward s t a g n a t i o n and m o r i b u n d i t y , b u t r a t h e r toward c o n t i n u i n g a d a p t a t i o n ?

Notes

l T h i s i s a n expanded v e r s i o n o f a p a p e r r e a d a t t h e A u s t r a l i a n New Z e a l a n d A s s o c i a t i o n f o r t h e Advancement of S c i e n c e h e l d i n H o b a r t , 1976. The r e s e a r c h was s u p p o r t e d by t h e Tasmanian Museum a n d by

t h e A u s t r a l i a n I n s t i t u t e o f A b o r i g i n a l S t u d i e s w h i l e I was a r c h a e o l o g i s t a t t h e Museum. D e t a i l e d s i t e r e p o r t s a r e c u r r e n t l y b e i n g p r e p a r e d f o r l a t e r p u b l i c a t i o n .

R e f e r e n c e s t o t h e p r e l i m i n a r y and p r o v i s i o n a l mammal a n a l y s i s a r e t h r o u g h t h e c o u r t e s y o f D r David Horton, A u s t r a l i a n I n s t i t u t e of A b o r i g i n a l S t u d i e s , who i s c u r r e n t l y p r e p a r i n g h i s f i n a l s t a t e m e n t .

It i s r e l e v a n t t h a t De W i t t I s l a n d does n o t today s u p p o r t a s e a l p o p u l a t i o n , though s h e a r w a t e r s , ducks, penguins and o t h e r b i r d s n e s t and brood t h e r e . Evidence f o r A b o r i g i n a l o c c u p a t i o n i s l a c k i n g (Vanderwal 1978).

'

^{I t i s ,} however, u n r e a l t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e Tasmanians might have been unaware of t h e southwest. C o n s i d e r i n g t h e n a t u r e of t h e environment, i t can reasonably be proposed t h a t a c e r t a i n l i m i t e d and h i g h l y s e a s o n a l e x p l o i t a t i o n d i d t a k e p l a c e , p e r h a p s o n l y i n c i d e n t l y and by family groups l e a v i n g l i t t l e e v i d e n c e of t h e i r v i s i t s .

Indeed, Jones s e e s a d e c r e a s i n g t e c h n o l o g i c a l complexity through time. Such v i c t i m s were, c e r t a i n l y , t h e w e l l known bone p o i n t (Jones 1966, 1974) and l e s s c e r t a i n l y , t h e s p e a r t h r o w e r and boomerang (Jones 1977: 343, 1978; c f . Hayden 1977 : 8 6 ) . There i s , i n f a c t , no d i r e c t e v i d e n c e i n Tasmania f o r t h e l a t t e r two i t e m s ( c f . Luebbers 1975).

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RESIDUAL H O L O C E N E POPULATIONS IN BASSIANIA:

ABORIGINAL MAN AT P A L A N A , N O R T H E R N FLINDERS ISLAND

D.

Wayne o r e h i s ton1 and

R. C.

c2enie2

Introduction

B a s s i a n i a , t h a t low l y i n g p l a i n surmounted by a c h a i n o f s t e e p l y - r i s i n g g r a n i t e m o u n t a i n s l i n k i n g V i c t o r i a and Tasmania d u r i n g t h e P l e i s t o c e n e , w a s o n e o f t h e few e x t e n s i v e l a n d a r e a s of t h e G r e a t e r A u s t r a l i a n c o n t i n e n t l o s t a s a consequence of t h e F l a n d r i a n t r a n s - g r e s s i o n . Today, n o t h i n g o f i t remains b u t t h e Bass S t r a i t i s l a n d s . F l i n d e r s I s l a n d , Cape B a r r e n I s l a n d and C l a r k e Is l a n d , c o m p r i s i n g t h e F u r n e a u x Group, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e Hogan and Kent Groups, a r e found i n t h e e a s t of t h e S t r a i t , w h i l e t h e w e s t e r n c h a i n of i s l a n d s c o m p r i s e s King I s l a n d and t h e H u n t e r Group ( s e e F i g . 1 ) . The

n a t u r e and c h r o n o l o g y o f A b o r i g i n a l o c c u p a t i o n of B a s s i a n i a i s a m a j o r i s s u e i n A u s t r a l i a n p r e h i s t o r y . None of t h e i s l a n d s was o c c u p i e d when f i r s t v i s i t e d by Europeans, y e t s u r f a c e f i n d s o f A b o r i g i n a l a r t e f a c t s h a v e been made i n t h e Kent Group, and o n F l i n d e r s , Cape B a r r e n , a n d King I s l a n d s ( s e e J o n e s 1977:335), and Bowdler (1974a, 1974b, 1 9 7 5 a , 1975b, 1977) h a s c a r r i e d o u t f i e l d s u r v e y s and e x c a v a t i o n s i n t h e H u n t e r Group ( F i g . l )

.

J o n e s (op.

c i t .

) b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e o c c u p a t i o n e v i d e n c e from a l l t h e s e i s l a n d s ,

e x c e p t f o r t h o s e i n t h e H u n t e r Group, d a t e s t o t h e P l e i s t o c e n e , and t h a t a s t h e seas r o s e d u r i n g t h e Holocene, G r e a t e r Furneaux I s l a n d and Greater King I s l a n d w e r e abandoned, t h e i r i n h a b i t a n t s r e t r e a t i n g