09/01/2022
Following on from our stone tool theme, AIS archaeologist Dr Samuel Dix has been crafting some replica examples for a possible future session on understanding stone artefacts, how they are made and what archaeologists look for when examining sites. These were made from a porcelain conductor usually found on modern powerlines. This material flakes the same way as stone, but is easier to source. All the flaked porcelain was collected on a mat and put into bags for the proposed course. Any left over porcelain was collected and put into a waste bin ready to be crushed. Why do we do this? It is important when doing any experemental archaeology that we do not create fake sites and cause future archaeologists headaches! Thus we leave no trace of our work and destroy anything that might be confused as a historic stone knapping site. Please also remember that in Australia, all Aboriginal heritage is protected, so if you do see what you believe is a stone artefact, please leave it where it is, photograph it, record the location using Google maps if you can, and inform your local heritage authority so that an archaeologist or Aboriginal Heritage Officer can accurately record the site.
