Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

1. 35,000    Cuddie Springs, western New South Wales.
2. 22,000    Nauwalabila I, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
3. 18,000    Malakunanja II, Arnhem Land, Northern territory.
4. 18,000    Miriwun Rock Shelter, East Kimberley.
5.   7,900    Blue paintings site, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
6.                Nawamoyn, Arnhem Land, Northern territory.
7.                Malangangerr, Arnhem Land, Northern territory.
8.                Lake Mungo, Willandra Lakes, western New South Wales.

1. Cuddie Springs, western New South Wales. More than 30 fragments of grindstones have been found at this site, 26 of which came from "stratified contexts", in levels believed to date from between 35,000 BP & 28,000 BP. AMS dates obtained were 35,400 +/- 2,800 BP, 33,650 +/- 530 BP (Beta 81379), 30,990 +/- 360 BP (Beta 81381,  28,770 +/- 300 BP (Beta 81377). (Dodson et al., 1993; Fullagar & Field, 1997; Field & dodson, 1995; cf. David, 2002; Gillespie & Brook, 2006).
2. Nauwalabila I, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Grinding slabs were found throughout levels attributed to the Pleistocene and Holocene, the earliest is thought to date to 22,000 BP. 21,450 +/- 380 BP (ANU-51). From 30,000 BP to 20,000 BP were found ochre pieces with grinding facets. (Schrire, 1982; Jones & Johnson, 1985a,b; Jones & Negerevich, 1985).
3. Malakunanja II, Arnhem Land, Northern territory. 3 grindstones were found in levels dating to at least 18,000 BP, one of which was stained with ochre has been dated to 18,040 +/- 300 BP (SUA-265). (Schrire, 1982; Jones & Johnson, 1985a,b; Jones & Negerevich, 1985).
4. Miriwun, East Kimberley. Quartzite fragments, that are believed may have been part or grindstones or anvils, have been found between levels dated to 17,980 + 1,370/-1,170 BP (ANU-1008) and 2,980 +/- 95 BP (SUA-142). (Dortch, 1977).
5. Blue paintings site, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Fragments of grindstones dating to 7,900 +/- 200 BP (ANU-3210). (Schrire, 1982; Jones & Johnson, 1985a,b; Jones & Negerevich, 1985).
6. Nawamoyn, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Stone pounders found from the late Pleistocene and Holocene. (Schrire, 1982; Jones & Johnson, 1985a,b; Jones & Negerevich, 1985).
7. Malangangerr, Arnhem Land, Northern territory. Stone pounders found from the late Pleistocene and Holocene. (Schrire, 1982; Jones & Johnson, 1985a,b; Jones & Negerevich, 1985).
8. Lake Mungo, Willandra Lakes, western New South Wales. Evidence has been found that is believed to indicate grinding activity took place at this site. (Dortch, 1977).

• Timeline of sites that contain beads and other adornments
• Timeline of sites with Notational Pieces in Central Australia
• Timeline of first appearance of components of the package in Sahul
• Timeline of Australian Sites Where Ochre has Been Found
• Timeline of prehistoric mining and quarrying in Australia
• Timeline of Burials from Greater Australia
• Timeline of Shell Middens of Sahul (Greater Australia)
• Timeline of Grindstones of Sahul (Greater Australia)
• Timeline of Bone & Wooden Tools of Sahul (Greater Australia)
• Timeline of edge-ground & waisted hatchets of Sahul (Greater Australia).

Sources & Further reading

1. Josephine Flood, Archaeology of the Dreamtime, J. B. Publishing
2. Phillip J. Habgood & Natilie R. Franklin, The revolution that didn't arrive: A review of Pleistocene Sahul, Journal of Human Evolution, 55, 2008