Residue analysis and palaeodiet in arid Australia
Residue analysis and palaeodiet in arid Australia Journal Article
Australian Archaeology
- Author(s): Balme, Jane, Garbin, Glenn, Gould, R. A.
- Published: 2001
- Volume: 53
Abstract: A study of residues and usewear on 49 provenanced and dated whole or fragmentary groundstone implements excavated from Puntutjarpa Rockshelter in Australia's Western Desert suggest that plant processing and seed grinding were important components of Aboriginal diet well before the Mid to Late Holocene. The analysis revealed the presence of starch grains in varying concentrations on the surfaces of all but four of the 49 artefacts dating back to approximately 10,000 years ago. Eight of the specimens also contained traces of blood residue and five contained ochre, indicating multiple use of some grindstones for processing either both plant and animal products or both plant products and pigment. Three of the four specimens on which no traces of starch were recorded were too large to fit under the metallurgical microscope and it is likely that starch residues are also present on them. Ochre was macroscopically visible on one of the three specimens. Ochre was the only residue on the remaining artefact. Â This study of specimens excavated from Puntutjarpa Rockshelter located near the Warburton Ranges, Western Australia (Gould 1977) is part of ongoing archaeological research into the palaeodiet of Aboriginal people in arid Australia. Approximately 20% of the total site deposit by volume was excavated at Puntutjarpa, making it one of the few sites in arid Australia to produce a large sample of artefact and faunal remains. Limited excavations using metre squares (the so-called telephone booth method) are useful for strato-chronological purposes but cannot be expected to produce significant samples of cultural remains.The Puntutjarpa excavations are sufficiently large to provide an adequate spatial sample of artefacts to represent the range of on-site activities.