Abstract
This thesis presents a technological analysis of the stone assemblage from one excavated square at Big Foot Art Site, a rockshelter in Cania Gorge, eastern Central Queensland. The study was undertaken as part of the Gooreng Gooreng Cultural Heritage Project, a multi-disciplinary study of the Burnett-Curtis region. Big Foot Art Site dates from 7923 cal BP to 474 cal BP and contains a variety of organic remains and stone artefacts of diverse lithologies. The aim of the analysis described here is to determine whether there is a change in the assemblage through time and, if so, to explain that change. Findings from sites to the north, south and west of Cania Gorge at Cape York Peninsula, southeast Queensland and the Carnarvon Ranges respectively, suggest that changes could be expected during the mid to late Holocene. The results from Big Foot Art Site indicate that there is a period of significantly increased artefact discard between 4400 cal BP and 3200 cal BP. Various artefact attributes are recorded and analysed in order to detect chronological changes in technology, including artefact size, raw material procurement, methods of core reduction, stages of reduction, use of excessive force and thermal treatment of stone. Â The change in the artefact discard rate cannot be accounted for by a corresponding change in technology. Nor does the evidence from the analysis support any other hypotheses considered in explanation of the change. Further study is needed to explain the processes resulting in the stone remains at this site and to place Big Foot Art Site in its regional context.
Published Version
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