KING ISLAND VISITED: An archaeological survey

Abstract

Recent developments in Tasmanian prehistory have raised questions directly related to the archaeological investigation of Bass Strait islands. The discovery of human occupation in Tasmania over 30,000 years ago (Cosgrove in press) and recent research on late Pleistocene sea level changes in Bass Strait (Blom 1988) suggest that archaeological evidence of human occupation of a similar or possible even greater antiquity may yet be discovered on these islands. Stone artefacts have been recorded on Flinders Island in Bass Strait islands. Stone artefacts have been recorded on Flinders Island in Bass Straight which are reminiscent of the Kartan industry of Kangaroo Island (Lampert 1981, Orchiston 1979). Some archaeologists believe the Kartan to be an industry ancestral to the more general Australian core tool and scraper tradition although many disagree with this interpretation (Draper 1987, Lampert 1981, Tindale 1937, White and O'Connell 1982). The major focus of research on Flinders Island was however the shell middens for which the most recent date in a discrete midden area was 7,150 BP (Orchiston and Glenie 1979:131). New data on sea level changes (Blom 1988, Chappell and Shackleton 1986) and bathymetric mapping of the region have implications for archaeological evidence that had previously been interpreted as possible evidence of 'relict' prehistoric Bass Strait populations (Jones 1979, Orchiston 1979). The correlation of Bassian sea core sediment analysis with sea level curves, and the recently available bathymetric charts for the region, suggest that the dated archaeological evidence on both Flinders and King Islands could be from when they were still connected to Tasmania. The paucity of archaeological survey data on King Island suggested that it was an area of particular archaeological potential. A survey project was therefore planned which was both within the scope of an Honours thesis, and, could add to the limited knowledge of sites in the region. The primary aim of this project has therefore to locate and record sites on King Island to provide a descriptive documentation of the sites and their contexts. This was to form a basic data base from which further research questions could be formulated. From a preliminary surface survey it was hoped, that sites could be found on King Island; that the types of remains discovered would enable a tentative explanation (or alternative explanations) to be made regarding Aboriginal occupation of King Island and the relationship of this occupation to the broader context of southeast Australian prehistory; and, that sites could be found that would have the potential to test the validity of these explanations, and a future research project could be designed to facilitate this. King Island presented many logistical problems because of the remote location and transport limitations. The first reconnaissance trip to King Island to assess the feasibility of locating sites suitable for the project, indicated that the cost of carrying out the field work would be substantial. It was apparent that private sponsorship was necessary to enable this project to be carried out. Australian Geographic provided the required financial support which allowed six weeks field work to be completed during January and February in 1988. During this time twenty-two prehistoric Aboriginal sites and four historic sites were recorded. The latter included three early sealing womens' sites and one European muttonbirders' site.