Bundeena Bling? Possible Aboriginal Shell Adornments from Southern Sydney

Irish, Paul

doi:10.1080/03122417.2007.11681848

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 10 publications

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“…In all confirmed cases of Pleistocene and early Holocene personal ornamentation, it has been marine shell (Dentalium sp., Conus sp., Melo sp., Nerita sp., Geloina sp., Anadara sp., Hyriidae sp., scaphopod: as found at Riwi, Mandu Mandu Creek, Carpenter's Gap 1, Cape Range Peninsula, Bundeena, Capertee, Nawamoyn) or terrestrial animal bone or teeth (primarily macropod, but also Dasyurid and Sarcophagus harrisii: as found at Devil's Lair, Kow Swamp, Lake Nitchie, Roonka, Cooma, Wallpolla Island) which have been targeted for use (Balme 2000;Balme and Morse 2006;Dortch 1979Dortch , 1980Feary 1996;Harper 1899;Irish 2007;McCarthy 1964;Morse 1993;O'Connor 1995;Pardoe 1995;Pate et al 1998;Pretty 1977;Przywolnik 2003;Schrire 1982; Figure 1). As recognised by McAdams (2008:15; and in line with European research by Vanhaeren and d'Errico 2006), there is clear evidence for spatial patterning of beads in Australia, along with 'ethnolinguistic associations with bead distributions'.…”

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confidence: 99%

Painted shark vertebrae beads from the Djawumbu–Madjawarrnja complex, western Arnhem Land

Wright

Langley

May

et al. 2016

Australian Archaeology

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In Europe and Africa, fine grained use wear and residue analyses of various organic bead technologies have provided remarkable information about specialist artisans and their affiliate communities. Ethnographic research suggests that personal ornaments represent one of the best ways to explore past human interactions and ethno-linguistic diversity. The study of material culture featured in rock art is now well established in Australia, but few detailed analyses have concentrated on personal ornaments recovered from the archaeological record. Fewer still have assessed the potential of this medium for assessing regional variations, despite rich ethnographic histories which point to the significance of these objects for self-differentiating communities and/or clans. This paper examines a collection of painted shark vertebrae beads recently discovered during archaeological survey in Arnhem Land. Detailed morphometric and use wear analysis is presented for these ornaments, alongside Aboriginal oral traditions, and assessment of similar artefacts held in museum collections across Australia. The potential of this combined approach within the Australian context is discussed, including how these studies add to our understanding of group signifying behaviour.

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