TY - JOUR
T1 - The archaeology, chronology and stratigraphy of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II): A site in northern Australia with early occupation
AU - Clarkson, Christopher J
AU - Smith, Mike
AU - Marwick, Benjamin
AU - Fullagar, Richard
AU - Wallis, Lynley A.
AU - Faulkner, Patrick Andrew
AU - Manne, Tiina
AU - Hayes, Elspeth
AU - Roberts, Richard
AU - Jacobs, Zenobia
AU - Carah, Xavier
AU - Lowe, Kelsey M
AU - Matthews, Jacqueline
AU - Florin, S. Anna
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Published ages of >50 ka for occupation at Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II) in Australia's north have kept
the site prominent in discussions about the colonisation of Sahul. The site also contains one of the largest
stone artefact assemblages in Sahul for this early period. However, the stone artefacts and other
important archaeological components of the site have never been described in detail, leading to
persistent doubts about its stratigraphic integrity. We report on our analysis of the stone artefacts and
faunal and other materials recovered during the 1989 excavations, as well as the stratigraphy and
depositional history recorded by the original excavators. We demonstrate that the technology and raw
materials of the early assemblage are distinctive from those in the overlying layers. Silcrete and quartzite
artefacts are common in the early assemblage, which also includes edge-ground axe fragments and
ground haematite. The lower flaked stone assemblage is distinctive, comprising a mix of long convergent
flakes, some radial flakes with faceted platforms, and many small thin silcrete flakes that we interpret as
thinning flakes. Residue and use-wear analysis indicate occasional grinding of haematite and woodworking,
as well as frequent abrading of platform edges on thinning flakes. We conclude that previous
claims of extensive displacement of artefacts and post-depositional disturbance may have been overstated.
The stone artefacts and stratigraphic details support previous claims for human occupation 50
e60 ka and show that human occupation during this time differed from later periods. We discuss the
implications of these new data for understanding the first human colonisation of Sahul.
AB - Published ages of >50 ka for occupation at Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II) in Australia's north have kept
the site prominent in discussions about the colonisation of Sahul. The site also contains one of the largest
stone artefact assemblages in Sahul for this early period. However, the stone artefacts and other
important archaeological components of the site have never been described in detail, leading to
persistent doubts about its stratigraphic integrity. We report on our analysis of the stone artefacts and
faunal and other materials recovered during the 1989 excavations, as well as the stratigraphy and
depositional history recorded by the original excavators. We demonstrate that the technology and raw
materials of the early assemblage are distinctive from those in the overlying layers. Silcrete and quartzite
artefacts are common in the early assemblage, which also includes edge-ground axe fragments and
ground haematite. The lower flaked stone assemblage is distinctive, comprising a mix of long convergent
flakes, some radial flakes with faceted platforms, and many small thin silcrete flakes that we interpret as
thinning flakes. Residue and use-wear analysis indicate occasional grinding of haematite and woodworking,
as well as frequent abrading of platform edges on thinning flakes. We conclude that previous
claims of extensive displacement of artefacts and post-depositional disturbance may have been overstated.
The stone artefacts and stratigraphic details support previous claims for human occupation 50
e60 ka and show that human occupation during this time differed from later periods. We discuss the
implications of these new data for understanding the first human colonisation of Sahul.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.03.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.03.014
M3 - Article
SN - 0047-2484
VL - 83
SP - 46
EP - 64
JO - Journal of Human Evolution
JF - Journal of Human Evolution
ER -