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Full Citation Details:

Campbell, J.B. 1978. Preliminary Report on 1977 Surveys and Excavations at Turtle Rock, Hervey Range , North Queensland.

'Australian Archaeology', no.8, 4-15.

PRELIMINARY

R E P O R T

ON 1 9 7 7

S U R V E Y S A N D E X C A V A T I O N S AT T U R T L E

R O C K , H E R V E Y R A N G E ,

N O R T H

Q U E E N S L A N D

John B. Campbe22

L o c a t i o n and n a t u r e o f s i t e

T u r t l e Rock is 39 km west-south-west o f T o w n s v i l l e on T a b l e Top S t a t i o n ( R o l l i n g s t o n e 1:100,000 8159-436569). I t i s a t a n a l t i t u d e of 420 m on t h e e a s t e r n s i d e o f a b r o a d p l a t e a u v a l l e y j u s t b e h i n d t h e s t e e p f r o n t l i n e of c o a s t a l h i l l s known a s t h e Hervey Range ( s e e F i g . 1 ) . I t i s a l s o 3 km s o u t h o f T h o r n t o n Gap through which t h e new G r e e n v a l e Railway l i n e now p a s s e s and t h r o u g h which c a t t l e have b e e n d r i v e n f o r a b o u t a c e n t u r y from Dotswood and o t h e r u p p e r Burdekin s t a t i o n s .

T u r t l e Rock i t s e l f i s a l a r g e dome o f g r a n i t e , t h e t o p a n d n o r t h e r n end of which do i n d e e d r e s e m b l e , r e s p e c t i v e l y , t h e b a c k and head o f a t u r t l e . Beneath i t s e a s t e r n s i d e t h e r e i s a f a i r l y s p a c i o u s s h e l t e r w i t h a p a l i m p s e s t o f r o c k p a i n t i n g s and w i t h w i d e s p r e a d though a p p a r e n t l y s h a l l o w f l o o r d e p o s i t s ( s e e F i g . 2 ) . The n o r t h e r n e n d a l s o h a s a s u b s t a n t i a l o v e r h a n g , b u t i t i s more exposed t o t h e r i g o u r s o f l o c a l c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s , i t s f l o o r of g r a n i t e b e d r o c k b e i n g washed c l e a n of any d r y s e a s o n ( w i n t e r ) a c c u m u l a t i o n by t h e h e a v y r a i n s o f e a c h w e t (summer) s e a s o n . There is i n a d d i t i o n a c r a w l - s p a c e which c o n n e c t s t h e e a s t e r n e n t r a n c e and t h e main a r e a o f r o c k p a i n t i n g s w i t h a 'window' t o t h e n o r t h w e s t .

Ecology, ethnography and archaeology o f d i s t r i c t

The l a n d u s e round T u r t l e Rock i s now p a s t o r a l w i t h c a t t l e and h o r s e s . V e g e t a t i o n i s g e n e r a l l y of t h e d r y t r o p i c a l s a v a n n a h woodland t y p e . T r e e s a r e m o s t l y d r y s c l e r o p h y l l s p e c i e s b u t t h e r e a r e a few t r o p i c a l r a i n f o r e s t s p e c i e s i n t h e immediate v i c i n i t y , e s p e c i a l l y amongst t h e m o i s t e r r o c k s and a l o n g t h e w e t t e r c r e e k s . L a r g e p o c k e t s o f w e l l developed r a i n f o r e s t e x i s t 30 km n o r t h - n o r t h - w e s t o f T u r t l e Rock and 55 k m e a s t - s o u t h - e a s t a t M t H a l i f a x and M t E l l i o t ,

r e s p e c t i v e l y . To t h e n o r t h e a s t t h e s e a i s j u s t w i t h i n 30 km where t h e r e a r e mangroves and many o t h e r l i t t o r a l r e s o u r c e s , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e w e a l t h o f t h e C o r a l Sea i t s e l f . F r e s h w a t e r i s a v a i l a b l e c l o s e a t hand f o r most of t h e y e a r , and Two M i l e Creek ( s e e F i g . 1 ) i s n e a r l y permanent and i n b e t t e r y e a r s n e v e r r u n s d r y . V a r i o u s f i s h , i n s e c t s and m o l l u s c s a r e a v a i l a b l e , and i n d i g e n o u s mammals, b i r d s and r e p t i l e s a r e s t i l l f a i r l y abundant. However, i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e a r e no l o n g e r i n t h e T u r t l e RockIHervey Range a r e a a n d g e n e r a l l y h a v e n o t b e e n s i n c e a b o u t 1915 a t t h e l a t e s t .

No major e t h n o g r a p h i c work was c a r r i e d o u t i n t h e d i s t r i c t , a l t h o u g h some of t h e r e s e a r c h e s by Roth (1901-10) i n n e i g h b o u r i n g d i s t r i c t s m i g h t b e i n d i r e c t l y r e l e v a n t t o any a t t e m p t e d e t h n o g r a p h i c r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e T u r t l e Rock p e o p l e . Brayshaw (1974, 1975 and 1977) p i e c e s t o g e t h e r

contours in metres

Location of Turtle Rock

(Nth Qld)

Fig

1

JBC 7 8

q u i t e a few a s p e c t s o f l o c a l A b o r i g i n a l e c o l o g y , e t h n o g r a p h y a n d a r c h a e o l o g y a s p a r t o f h e r s t u d y of t r a d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l c u l t u r e i n t h e ~ e r b e r t / ~ u r d e k i n r i v e r s d i s t r i c t i n g e n e r a l . T i n d a l e ( l 9 74) l i s t s and p l o t s l o c a l

'

t r i b a l ' names and t e r r i t o r i e s a s p a r t o f h i s A u s t r a l i a - w i d e s u r v e y . T u r t l e Rock f a l l s a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f t h e ' b o r d e r s ' of t h r e e o f t h e s e ' t r i b e s ' : 'Nawagi'

,

'Warakamai' and 'Wulgurukaba'

,

^{and i t} i s n o t a t a l l i n c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t some

i n d i v i d u a l s from a l l t h r e e groups might h a v e u s e d t h e s i t e a t v a r i o u s t i m e s , w h e t h e r j o i n t l y o r s e p a r a t e l y . I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s work o n t h e ' D y i r b a l ' l a n g u a g e f u r t h e r n o r t h , Dixon (1972 a n d 1976) i s w o r k i n g o n what s u r v i v e s of t h e

'

Wargamay

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( i . e . T i n d a l e ' S

'

Warakamai' ) l a n g u a g e n e a r Ingham. I do n o t know i f any e l d e r l y A b o r i g i n e s s u r v i v i n g any- where who might have b e e n d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e f i n a l a c t i v i t i e s a t T u r t l e Rock.

The main a r c h a e o l o g i c a l work i n t h e d i s t r i c t t h u s f a r i s t h a t o f Brayshaw (1974, 1975 and 1977). Her s u r v e y i n c l u d e d e x c a v a t i o n s i n

1974 a t f o u r r o c k s h e l t e r s : Kennedy S h e l t e r n e a r C a r d w e l l , Jourama S h e l t e r n e a r Ingham, Hervey Range S h e l t e r n e a r T o w n s v i l l e and M t Roundback S h e l t e r n e a r Bowen. A l l o f t h e s e s i t e s a p p a r e n t l y c o n t a i n e v i d e n c e o f c o m p a r a t i v e l y r e c e n t a c t i v i t i e s o n l y , none b e i n g more t h a n 2000 y e a r s o l d a c c o r d i n g t o h e r r a d i o c a r b o n e s t i m a t e s ( i t would b e i n a p p r o p r i a t e t o s a y more t h a n t h i s a s h e r PhD t h e s i s , Brayshaw 1977, i s s t i l l u n p u b l i s h e d ) . Hervey Range S h e l t e r i s w i t h i n 3 k m o f T u r t l e Rock ( s e e F i g . l )

.

My own a r c h a e o l o g i c a l work i n t h e d i s t r i c t s t a r t e d i n l a t e 1975, and from t h e b e g i q n i n g i t h a s owed much t o Brayshaw's p i o n e e r i n g e f f o r t s .

The Q u a t e r n a r y c o a s t a l d e p o s i t s o f t h e T o w n s v i l l e d i s t r i c t h a v e r e c e n t l y been s t u d i e d from a g e o m o r p h o l o g i c a l p o i n t o f view (Hopley and Murtha 1 9 7 5 ) . These i n c l u d e b o t h L a t e P l e i s t o c e n e and H o l o c e n e s e d i m e n t s , b u t no a r t i f a c t s a r e y e t known i n a n y o f t h e L a t e

P l e i s t o c e n e o r E a r l y Holocene c o n t e x t s . I n my o p i n i o n a t l e a s t a few d e r i v e d a r t i f a c t s ought t o t u r n up i n some of t h e s e d e p o s i t s . A s c a t t e r i n g o f L a t e Holocene s h e l l middens w i t h r o u g h l y a s s o c i a t e d s t o n e a r t i f a c t s i s known. I t remains t o b e s e e n w h e t h e r c a v e s o r r o c k s h e l t e r s w i t h l o n g s e q u e n c e s o c c u r , l i k e t h e E a r l y Man S h e l t e r n e a r Laura ( R o s e n f e l d 1975) w e l l t o t h e n o r t h , o r K e n n i f f Cave

(Mulvaney and J o y c e 1965, Mulvaney 1975) w e l l t o t h e s o u t h .

S e l e c t i o n o f excavation

area

The i n i t i a l d e c i s i o n t o e x c a v a t e a t T u r t l e Rock was b a s e d o n t h r e e main f a c t s : ( 1 ) i t was c o n v e n i e n t f o r s t u d e n t f i e l d w o r k , b e i n g l e s s t h a n a n h o u r by c a r from James Cook U n i v e r s i t y ( ~ o w n s v i l l e ) ; ( 2 ) d e s p i t e i t s p r o x i m i t y t o a major b u i l t - u p a r e a , i t was n o t known t o many v a n d a l s , o n l y minor d e f a c i n g o f t h e p a i n t i n g s and s p o r a d i c t h e f t s o f s t o n e a r t i f a c t s h a v i n g o c c u r r e d t o d a t e ; (3) i t h a d n e v e r b e e n t h o r o u g h l y S t u d i e d b e £ o r e .

Having d e c i d e d t o e x c a v a t e and h a v i n g o b t a i n e d t h e n e c e s s a r y p e r m i t s , f o u r main o b j e c t i v e s were s e t : (1) t o t r a i n t h i r d - and f o u r t h - y e a r s t u d e n t s i n b a s i c a r c h a e o l o g i c a l a n d p a l a e o e c o l o g i c a l f i e l d t e c h n i q u e s w i t h some f o l l o w up i n l a b o r a t o r y t e c h n i q u e s ; (2) t o r a i s e and t e s t h y p o t h e s e s on a c t i v i t i e s r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e f l o o r d e p o s i t s and on c o r r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s s u c h a s

p a i n t i n g ; ( 3 ) t o r a i s e and test h y p o t h e s e s o n s i t e l o c a t i o n and i t s l o c a l and r e g i o n a l socio-economic and e c o l o g i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s ; ( 4 ) t o b r o a d e n b a s i c knowledge on Hervey R a n g e / T o w n s v i l l e p r e h i s t o r y ( t h e p r e h i s t o r y o f North Queensland i n g e n e r a l i s b u t p o o r l y known a n d is s t i l l o n l y s p o r a d i c a l l y s t u d i e d ) .

The s e l e c t i o n o f a n a r e a w i t h i n t h e s i t e t o b e e x c a v a t e d w a s d e t e r m i n e d m a i n l y by: (1) which a r e a s w i t h f l o o r d e p o s i t s a r e e r o d i n g t h e most a t p r e s e n t ; ( 2 ) a p e r c e i v e d n e e d t o s a m p l e a r e a s o n a b l y c e n t r a l a r e a b o t h i n s i d e and o u t s i d e t h e o v e r h a n g . The f l o o r a r e a a c t u a l l y sampled is shown on t h e p l a n ( F i g . 2 ) . T h i s a r e a was d e v o i d o f v e g e t a t i o n , and t h e s l o p e under t h e o v e r h a n g a n d o u t s i d e w a s

s u f f e r i n g s h e e t e r o s i o n , and i n d e e d s t i l l i s . C a t t l e and h o r s e s i n t e r m i t t e n t l y t r y t o s h e l t e r h e r e d u r i n g t h e w e t , a n d humans a r r i v e p e r i o d i c a l l y t o throw s t o c k f o d d e r from t h e b a c k o f a v e h i c l e .

A t t h e s t a r t o f t h e f i e l d w o r k i n J u l y 1977 a g r i d s y s t e m o f o n e m e t r e s q u a r e s was e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h f a l s e o r i g i n s t o t h e s o u t h f o r l e t t e r codes and t o t h e w e s t f o r number c o d e s . S q u a r e s w i t h i n t h e a r e a s e l e c t e d f o r s a m p l i n g were t h e n marked w i t h heavy n a i l s a t t h e i r c o r n e r s and n y l o n s t r i n g l i n e s a l o n g t h e i r e d g e s . A h o r i z o n t a l p l a n e was a l s o e s t a b l i s h e d f o r r e c o r d i n g t h e v e r t i c a l p o s i t i o n o f f i n d s and

f o r mapping 0 . 1 m c o n t o u r s a t and n e a r t h e s i t e , a s w e l l a s o t h e r f e a t u r e s .

Prel iminary r e s u l t s o f 1977 excavations

Between J u l y and November my s t u d e n t s and I r e c o v e r e d more t h a n 2000 s t o n e a r t e f a c t s , though i n t h a t t o t a l a r e i n c l u d e d many m i n u t e c h i p s and a l l s u r f a c e a r t e f a c t s from t h e a r e a e x c a v a t e d o r s a m p l e d ( s e e F i g . 2 ) . I n t h a t t o t a l t h e r e a r e a l s o many o b j e c t s which h a v e n o t b e e n r e c o g n i s a b l y m o d i f i e d b u t which h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d i n t o t h e s i t e ; t h e s e might b e s t be termed ' m a n u p o r t s ' ( i . e . ' h a n d - c a r r i e d ' ; Leakey 1971 f i r s t s u g g e s t e d t h i s r a t h e r u s e f u l t e r m ) . Amongst t h e m o d i f i e d forms o r ' t r u e a r t e f a c t s ' t h e r e a r e many s t r u c k f l a k e s and w e l l f i n i s h e d c o r e s , a s w e l l a s a l e s s e r number o f r e t o u c h e d f l a k e s and o c c a s i o n a l b l a d e s and a few p o l i s h e d o r ground f r a g m e n t s o f what w e r e presumably a x e s . Raw m a t e r i a l s f o r t h e s t o n e a r t e f a c t s a n d manuports i n c l u d e q u a r t z , q u a r t z i t e , c h e r t , r h y o l i t e a n d g r a n i t e . Lumps and s p e c k s o f r e d o c h r e a l s o o c c u r , as d o e s a f a i r amount o f wood c h a r c o a l . Fauna1 r e m a i n s a r e m o s t l y v e r y f r a g m e n t a r y b i t s o f bone and t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t s h e l l .

V i r t u a l l y a l l f i n d s l a r g e r t h a n 1 cm i n l e n g t h o r d i a m e t e r were t h r e e d i m e n s i o n a l l y r e c o r d e d e a c h t o t h e n e a r e s t cm, w h e t h e r on t h e s u r f a c e o r b u r i e d . F i n d s s m a l l e r t h a n t h a t were g e n e r a l l y c a u g h t i n t h e s i e v e and r e c o r d e d a t l e a s t a c c o r d i n g t o s q u a r e and a p p r o x i m a t e d e p t h . D e t a i l e d p l a n s w i t h p l o t t e d f i n d s w i l l b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e f u l l r e p o r t . F o r t h e moment a t t e n t i o n i s drawn t o some o f t h e s m a l l e r unshaded s t o n e s o r b o u l d e r s shown on t h e p r e s e n t s i t e p l a n ( F i g . 2 ) . A few o f t h e s e i n s i d e and o u t s i d e t h e f l o o r a r e a sampled seem t o h a v e b e e n a r r a n g e d i n rough r i n g s o r c i r c l e s a b o u t 2 m i n d i a m e t e r . T h i s i s e s p e c i a l l y c l e a r i n s q u a r e s L-N 14-17 a n d N-P 13-15, and t h e r e i s p e r h a p s a t h i r d p o s s i b i l i t y i n s q u a r e s I-K 13-15 though t h a t o n e i s i n t e r r u p t e d i n s q u a r e 113. Whether t h e s e ' r i n g s ' w e r e o r i g i n a l l y meant f o r c e r e m o n i a l p u r p o s e s , o r a s b a s e s f o r a r t i f i c i a l s h e l t e r s , o r

b o t h , i s s t i l l u n c e r t a i n . However, c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f a r t e f a c t s , c h a r c o a l a n d o c h r e seem t o o c c u r more w i t h i n o r n e a r t h e s e ' r i n g s ' , r a t h e r t h a n f u r t h e r f r o m them, a t least i n t h e a r e a sampled.

S e c t i o n s h a v e b e e n r e c o r d e d a l o n g e v e r y e a s t - w e s t m e t r e l i n e and e v e r y n o r t h - s o u t h m e t r e l i n e , b u t f o r t h i s r e p o r t o n l y two s e l e c t e d s e c t i o n s a r e i n c l u d e d h e r e ( s e e F i g . 3 ) . These a r e a l o n g l i n e s J / K a n d M/N r u n n i n g e a s t - w e s t from i n s i d e t o o u t s i d e t h e s h e l t e r , and t h e y a r e c o n s i d e r e d r e a s o n a b l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f what h a s b e e n e n c o u n t e r e d t h u s f a r . A b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e s t r a t i - graphy i s g i v e n a s w e l l . A s may be s e e n from t h e s e c t i o n o f square K14 ( t h a t w i t h t h e s o i l s a m p l e s ) t h e t o t a l a c c u m u l a t i o n of d e p o s i t s i s f a i r l y s h a l l o w . Whether t h e s e go d e e p e r o u t s i d e t h e s h e l t e r and f u r t h e r down t h e s l o p e remains t o b e s e e n .

L a y e r 1, o r t h e l o o s e s u r f a c e s o i l , was c a r e f u l l y removed from a l l o f t h e f l o o r a r e a sampled (see F i g . 2 a s w e l l ) . T h i s d e p o s i t v a r i e d i n t h i c k n e s s from 0 t o 5 cm i n most s q u a r e s and up t o 2 2 cm i n t h e c e n t r e o f s q u a r e H12, where i t became more b u f f i n c o l o u r and may h a v e b e e n d i s t u r b e d by r o c k w a l l a b i e s . No European a r t e f a c t s w e r e f o u n d , a l t h o u g h a few such as b e e r b o t t l e s were o b s e r v e d

e l s e w h e r e round t h e s i t e i n t h e g r a s s ( t h e s e became p a r t i c u l a r l y e v i d e n t a f t e r a f i r e b u r n t t h r o u g h t h e paddock i n September). A t o t a l o f 4 4 3 s t o n e a r t e f a c t s and manuports were measured i n ; t h e s e i n c l u d e 1 9 0 ( o r 42.8%) o f m i l k y q u a r t z , 47 ( o r 10.6%) o f c l e a r q u a r t z and 206 ( o r 46.5%) o f non-quartz m a t e r i a l s such a s c h e r t .

Most of t h e s e o c c u r r e d i n s q u a r e s K-M 13-17 w i t h t h e i r numbers t h i n n i n g o u t t o w a r d s s q u a r e s H-I 12-13.

L a y e r 2 , t h e u n d e r l y i n g compacted s o i l , h a s b e e n e x c a v a t e d s o f a r o n l y from s q u a r e s K14, K17 and M13-17 ( s e e F i g s 2 and 3). I t v a r i e s i n t h i c k n e s s f r o m a b o u t 15-30 cm, a s may be s e e n i n t h e s e c t i o n d r a w i n g s . A s y s t e m o f 5 cm t h i c k s p i t s i s b e i n g u s e d t o e x c a v a t e d e p o s i t s below L a y e r 1. These s p i t s a r e a d j u s t e d f o r t h e s l o p e o f t h e d e p o s i t s and a r e meant a s a n added c o n t r o l . However, as u s u a l a l l f i n d s l a r g e r t h a n 1 cm a r e measured i n t o t h e n e a r e s t cm.

A r t e f a c t s , m a n u p o r t s , bone and s h e l l f r a g m e n t s , r e d o c h r e lumps and s p e c k s , and wood c h a r c o a l lumps and s p e c k s , o c c u r t h r o u g h o u t Layer 2 , b u t w i t h more a p p a r e n t c l u s t e r i n g t h a n i n Layer 1, e s p e c i a l l y i n o r n e a r t h e s t o n e ' r i n g s ' a l r e a d y mentioned. F u r t h e r , a w e l l d e f i n e d h e a r t h o f b u r n t s t o n e s and c h a r c o a l h a s b e e n found i n s p i t s 2-3 of s q u a r e M15 o n t h e n o r t h e r n s i d e j u s t w i t h i n one o f t h e s e ' r i n g s ' ( s e e F i g s 2 and 3 a g a i n ) . Although a l l o f t h e f i n d s s t i l l need t o b e more t h o r o u g h l y a n a l y s e d , as a p r e l i m i n a r y comment f o r comparison w i t h L a y e r 1 i t might b e n o t e d t h a t o f 310 s t o n e a r t e f a c t s and manuports measured i n i n s p i t l o f L a y e r 2 , 65 ( o r 20.9%) a r e of milky q u a r t z , 74 ( o r 23.8%) o f c l e a r q u a r t z and 1 7 1 ( o r 55 . l % ) o f n o w q u a r t z m a t e r i a l s . Q u a r t z i s a g a i n i m p o r t a n t b u t t h e c l e a r component h a s a p p a r e n t l y i n c r e a s e d a t t h e expense o f t h e milky. Q u a r t z i n g e n e r a l o c c u r s f a i r l y f r e q u e n t l y i n e v e r y s p i t o f Layer 2 .

L a y e r 3, t h e b a s a l compacted s a n d , h a s b e e n e x c a v a t e d s o f a r o n l y from s q u a r e s K 1 4 and K17 ( s e e F i g s 2 and 3). I n s q u a r e K 1 4 i t v a r i e s i n t h i c k n e s s f r o m a b o u t 5 t o 50 c m , g r a d i n g i n t o t h e g r a n i t e b e d r o c k w h i c h r i s e s i n t h e n o r t h - e a s t e r n c o r n e r of t h e s q u a r e t o form a l e d g e . I t s s u r f a c e h a s been exposed i n most of s q u a r e s M13-17.

A r t e f a c t s , m a n u p o r t s , bone f r a g m e n t s and wood c h a r c o a l lumps and s p e c k s

o c c u r s p o r a d i c a l l y i n t h e u p p e r s p i t s o f L a y e r 3 , w h i l s t t h e lowermost p o r t i o n i n K14 i s a r c h a e o l o g i c a l l y s t e r i l e , though i t i s o f c o u r s e p e n e t r a t e d by r o o t s . The t o t a l number o f s t o n e a r t e f a c t s a n d manuports i s q u i t e small ( l e s s t h a n l o o ) , b u t t h e n even l e s s o f Layer 3 h a s been s a m p l e d . Amongst t h e q u a r t z specimens t h e r e seems t o b e m o s t l y milky q u a r t z . The a p p a r e n t a b s e n c e o f o c h r e i s c u r i o u s and may mean t h a t t h e s i t e had n o t y e t b e e n p a i n t e d , t h e main p h a s e of p a i n t i n g p e r h a p s t a k i n g p l a c e w h i l s t L a y e r 2 was a c c u m u l a t i n g .

Most o f t h e f a u n a l r e m a i n s a r e v e r y f r a g m e n t a r y and t h e r e f o r e d i f f i c u l t t o i d e n t i f y . A mandible w i t h t e e t h found a t t h e b a s e o f s p i t 1 i n L a y e r 2 c l e a r l y b e l o n g s t o a w a l l a b y and h a s been t e n t a t i v e l y a s c r i b e d t o

Macropus a g i Z i s ,

t h e a g i l e o r sandy w a l l a b y . However, most o f t h e f a u n a l r e m a i n s p r o b a b l y b e l o n g t o s m a l l e r a n i m a l s , w h e t h e r m a r s u p i a l , r e p t i l e o r b i r d . Both t e r r e s t r i a l and marine m o l l u s c s a r e r e p r e s e n t e d , b u t t h e i r numbers a r e n o t t e r r i b l y g r e a t . The d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e f a u n a l r e m a i n s seems f a i r l y e v e n , b u t g e n e r a l l y less common i n L a y e r 3 and h o r i z o n t a l l y more common i n s q u a r e s M13-15 of L a y e r 2.

With t h e e x c e p t i o n o f i n t r u s i v e i t e m s such a s r o o t s , t h e p l a n t f r a g m e n t s r e c o g n i s e d s o f a r a r e v i r t u a l l y a l l b i t s o f wood c h a r c o a l , b u t t h e s e h a v e y e t t o b e i d e n t i f i e d a s t o wood t y p e . The s o i l samples a w a i t a n a l y s i s a s w e l l . I t i s hoped t o f i n d a n a p p r o p r i a t e method f o r e x t r a c t i n g r e a s o n a b l e amounts o f p o l l e n from t h e s e , b u t t h e y w i l l p r o b a b l y p r o v e t o h a v e b e e n h o r r i b l y mixed by r o o t , worm and grub a c t i v i t y , n o t t o m e n t i o n r e c u r r e n t human a c t i v i t y ( c f . Hughes and Lampert 1977)

.

Prel iminary s i t e l o c a t i o n analyses

I n 1 9 7 7 my s t u d e n t s a n d I s u r v e y e d a number of t r a n s e c t s r a d i a t i n g o u t from T u r t l e Rock for a s t a n d a r d d i s t a n c e of 2 h o u r s 1 w a l k i n g t i m e , o r a b o u t 4 h o u r s r e t u r n , n o t c o u n t i n g s t o p s . I n f l a t c o u n t r y 2 h o u r s would n o r m a l l y t a k e o n e a b o u t 1 0 km, b u t i n t h e h i l l y and r o c k y e n v i r o n s o f T u r t l e Rock i t u s u a l l y t a k e s one o n l y a b o u t 5 km, e x c e p t t o t h e s o u t h w e s t where a b o u t 9 km can b e a c h i e v e d . The s m a l l e r map o n F i g u r e 1 g i v e s b o t h t h e i d e a l i s e d 1 0 km ( s o l i d l i n e ) and a c t u a l 2 h o u r ( b r o k e n l i n e ) s i t e e x p l o i t a t i o n t e r r i t o r i e s f o r 'TR' ( i . e . T u r t l e Rock). The s i t e i s w e l l s i t u a t e d f o r e x p l o i t i n g a w i d e r a n g e o f u p l a n d r e s o u r c e s . F u r t h e r , i t may b e s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t i t i s o n l y a b o u t 1 . 5 h o u r s from Hervey Range S h e l t e r which i s w e l l s i t u a t e d f o r e x p l o i t i n g t h e b a s e o f t h e h i l l s ( s e e l a r g e r map o n F i g . 1 ) . On t h e t r a n s e c t s v a r i a t i o n s i n geomorphology, h y d r o l o g y , f l o r a and f a u n a w e r e r e c o r d e d , b u t more d e t a i l e d s a m p l i n g s and a n a l y s e s a r e n e c e s s a r y b e f o r e a r e a s o n a b l y c o m p l e t e p i c t u r e o f t h e l o c a l e c o l o g y a n d palaeo- economy c a n b e drawn. P o s s i b l y r e l a t e d a r c h a e o l o g i c a l f i n d s were r e c o r d e d a l s o , i n c l u d i n g a number of minor p a i n t e d s i t e s , i s o l a t e d f l a k e s , a ' c a n o e - t r e e ' a n d a milky q u a r t z q u a r r y , a l l w i t h i n t h e 2 h o u r l i m i t . Rock s h e l t e r s w i t h o u t p a i n t i n g s o r o t h e r d e f i n i t e e v i d e n c e o f u s e w e r e n o t e d as w e l l f o r f u t u r e s o u n d i n g s .

The c l a s s i c model f o r h u n t e r / g a t h e r e r s i t e l o c a t i o n and s e t t l e - ment p a t t e r n a n a l y s i s is d e r i v e d p r i n c i p a l l y from s t u d i e s o f t h e !Kung San o f t h e K a l a h a r i (Lee 1 9 6 9 , Lee and Devore 1976, Y e l l e n 1 9 7 7 ) . Some p r e h i s t o r i c models h a v e b e e n b u i l t up d u r i n g s t u d i e s of h u n t e r / g a t h e r e r s i t e s and r e s o u r c e s i n s o u t h w e s t e r n A s i a and Europe i n

p a r t i c u l a r ( V i t a - F i n z i and Higgs 19 70, Jarman 19 72, J o c h i m 1 9 7 6 , Campbell 1977). Whether t h e s e models a r e f u l l y a p p r o p r i a t e f o r T u r t l e Rock i s d e b a t a b l e of c o u r s e , b u t t h e y a t l e a s t p r o v i d e u s e f u l g u i d e l i n e s . R e g i o n a l A u s t r a l i a n models might e v e n t u a l l y b e d e r i v e d from t h e ethnographic/ethno-archaeological work o f

Thomson ( e . g . 1 9 3 9 ) , S t a n n e r (e.g. 1 9 6 5 ) , Gould ( e . g. 1969 and 1 9 7 1 ) , P e t e r s o n ( e . g . 1973 and 1 9 7 5 ) , T a y l o r ( e . g. 1976) and O ' c o n n e l l

( e . g . 1977) amongst o t h e r s .

F o r t h e moment I am assuming t h a t T u r t l e Rock was a t l e a s t a t t i m e s a 'base-camp' w i t h a d e f i n i t e s i t e e x p l o i t a t i o n t e r r i t o r y r a t h e r t h a n s i m p l y a ' t r a n s i t - c a m p ' o r ' e x t r a c t i o n - s i t e ' . I am assuming a s w e l l t h a t i t w a s a t t i m e s a ' c e r e m o n i a l - s i t e '

.

R e g a r d i n g t h e l a t t e r , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e r o c k p a i n t i n g s and t h e a p p a r e n t s t o n e ' r i n g ' a r r a n g e m e n t s , t h e f r e q u e n t o c c u r r e n c e o f q u a r t z m i g h t l e n d some w e i g h t t o t h i s assumption. Q u a r t z i s , o r was, a t t r i b u t e d w i t h a

f a i r l y wide r a n g e of m a g i c a l and s p i r i t u a l p r o p e r t i e s by a number o f d i f f e r e n t A b o r i g i n a l groups round A u s t r a l i a ( E l i a d e 1 9 73, B e r n d t 19 74)

.

For example, a c c o r d i n g t o E l i a d e (1973: l 3 7 ) , 'The e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e s o u t h e a s t i n i t i a t i o n s c e n a r i o seem t o b e ( 1 ) t h e b r i g h t c a v e , ( 2 ) t h e m i r a c u l o u s f e a t h e r s , ( 3 ) t h e f l i g h t , ( 4 ) t h e q u a r t z c r y s t a l s , (5) t h e magic r o p e .

'

And h e r e i n t h e n o r t h e a s t amongst t h e M a l a n b a r a of t h e T u l l y R i v e r f o r example, a q u a r t z f l a k e was n o r m a l l y u s e d t o make t h e body marks d u r i n g a n i n i t i a t i o n ceremony, a c c o r d i n g t o my Malanbara f r i e n d J o e K i n j u n , who had s u c h marks made o n him i n t h a t manner a b o u t 50 y e a r s ago. The f a c t t h a t Roth (1909:177-78) r e f e r s t o t h i s a r t e f a c t a s a ' f l i n t - f l a k e ' may s i m p l y mean t h a t he h a s

employed t h e r a t h e r m i s l e a d i n g g e n e r i c B r i t i s h term f o r ' s t o n e f l a k e ' . Whether n o t o n l y q u a r t z a t T u r t l e Rock b u t T u r t l e Rock as a w h o l e was p a r t i c u l a r l y s a c r e d f o r a c e r t a i n p e r i o d o f i t s u s e r e m a i n s t o b e s e e n . C e r t a i n l y some m a t e r i a l s r e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e s i t e came from w e l l beyond t h e 2 h o u r l i m i t , c l e a r q u a r t z f o r example p e r h a p s h a v i n g worked i t s way t h r o u g h v a r i o u s exchange n e t w o r k s from s o u r c e s o n Hinchinbrook I s l a n d 130 km north-north-wes t ( c f . E l k i n 1938, Mulvaney 1976).

1978 surveys and excavations

The programme f o r 1978 i n c l u d e s more d e t a i l e d s i t e l o c a t i o n a n a l y s e s w i t h amongst o t h e r o b j e c t i v e s some a t t e m p t t o d e t e r m i n e s e a s o n a l v a r i a b i l i t y i n t h e more r e l e v a n t f l o r a and f a u n a o f t h e d i s t r i c t . S o u r c e s of raw m a t e r i a l s a r e t o b e s e a r c h e d f o r f u r t h e r , a s w e l l a s more e l a b o r a t e exchange n e t w o r k s . The r o c k p a i n t i n g s a t and n e a r t h e s i t e a r e t o b e a n a l y s e d i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l . E x c a v a t i o n s a r e s c h e d u l e d f o r May, J u l y , August a n d November, w i t h f u r t h e r work b e i n g done w i t h i n t h e s q u a r e s marked

'

f l o o r a r e a sampled' ( s e e F i g . 2 ) . Experiments w i t h s e e d f l o t a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s a r e b e i n g p l a n n e d , though i t i s s u s p e c t e d t h a t most s e e d r e m a i n s would b e i n t r u s i v e , a t l e a s t i n t h e upper p o r t i o n o f Layer 2. C h a r c o a l samples c o l l e c t e d i n 1977 and 1 9 7 8 a r e t o b e s u b m i t t e d t o two s e p a r a t e l a b o r a t o r i e s f o r r a d i o - c a r b o n age e s t i m a t e s , a g r a n t f o r which h a s j u s t b e e n awarded b y James Cook U n i v e r s i t y . F i n d s g e n e r a l l y a r e t o b e more t h o r o u g h l y a n a l y s e d , and f u r t h e r a t t e m p t s a r e t o b e made t o r e c o n s t r u c t t h e v a r i o u s f u n c t i o n s o f t h e s i t e a s a whole, a l l o f which o u g h t t o k e e p my s t u d e n t s and me q u i t e busy.

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R o s e n f e l d , A. 1975 The E a r l y Man s i t e s : L a u r a , 1974.

Australian I n s t i t u t e of Aboriginal Studies Newsletter

3:37-40

Roth, W.E. 1901-06

North Queensland Ethnography Buzzetins

1-8.

B r i s b a n e : Government P r i n t e r

1907-10 N o r t h Queensland e t h n o g r a p h y b u l l e t i n s 9-18.

Records

of t h e AustraZian Musewn 6: 365-403, 7 : 1-17, 7:74-107, 7:166-185, 7:189-211, 8 : l - 1 9 , 8 ~ 2 0 - 5 4 , 8:55-66, 8: 67-78, 8: 79-106

S t a n n e r , W.E.H. 1965 A b o r i g i n a l t e r r i t o r i a l o r g a n i s a t i o n : e s t a t e , r a n g e , domain and regime.

Oceania

36:l-26

T a y l o r , J . C . 1976 Mapping t e c h n i q u e s and t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a s p e c t s o f t r a d i t i o n a l A b o r i g i n a l l i f e .

Australian I n s t i t u t e o f Aboriginal

S t u d f e s

Newsletter

5 : 34-43 Thomson, D.F. 1939 The s e a s o n a l f a c t o r i n human c u l t u r e .

Proceedings o f t h e l+ehisto2..ic Society

5:209-21

T i n d a l e , N.B. 1974

Aboriginal Tribes of AustraZia: Their Terrain, Environmental CcntmZs, Distribution, Limits and Proper Names.

C a n b e r r a : The 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 P r e s s V i t a - F i n z i , C. a n d E.S. Higgs 1970 P r e h i s t o r i c economy i n t h e Mount

Carmel a r e a of P a l e s t i n e : s i t e catchment a n a l y s i s .

Proceedings o f t h e Prehistoric Society

36:l-37 Y e l l e n , J. E. 1977

ArchaeoZogicaZ Approaches

t o the Present:

~ o d e l s for Reconstructing the Past.

New York: Academic P r e s s

List o f p a r t i c i p a n t s

E x c a v a t i o n s : I r i s B z r k e r , C h a r l o t t a Blomberg, Susan Burns, C a m i l l a Campbell, C o l i n Campbell, J o h n Campbell, R u s s e l l D'Arcy, C a r o l y n Edmondson, S a n d r a F u l t o n , Mark G a l l a g h e r , James Goodwin, Mark G o s l i n g , Michele J a c k , Zena Law, Robyn L i n c o l n , T r e v o r McComber, P a u l a Masselos, Helen N a k i e l s k i , Anthony P a y s , B r e t t P e a r c e , Sophia P e l e c h o s , Michael R i c h a r d s , K e r r y R o b e r t s o n , Anneke S i l v e r , Ann V i a l , Ross Worthington.

S i t e l o c a t i o n a n a l y s e s : C h a r l o t t a Blomberg, C o l i n Campbell, J o h n Campbell, C a r o l y n Edmondson, James Goodwin, Michael R i c h a r d s , Anneke S i l v e r , P h i l i p Woodward.

Senior Lecturer i n ArchaeoZogy and Anthmpo Zogy

Department of BehaviouraZ S&ences James

Cook

University o f North

Queens Zmd