Kimberley points of Western Australia: Pressure flaking, projections and prestige

  • Tim Ryan Maloney Griffith University
Keywords: biface, pressure-flaking, Kimberley Points, Australian archaeology, stone tools

Abstract


Kimberley points are pressure flaked bifaces with marginal projections, produced within the last millennium, in north Western Australia. These points were hafted for hunting and fighting in recent times, although there is some suggestion that smaller points tended to be hafted for use in favour of larger points, which were reserved for trade and exchange. Kimberley Points are imbued with strong social signalling and prestige qualities, known from Historic times. This paper examines whether these qualities are reflected archaeologically in their marginal projections produced with pressure flaking; and their morphology and production. Multiple sources of Kimberley Point archaeology, ethnography, and production are critically reviewed. As prestige items, the marginal projections are found to very likely relate to their social value, rather than functional drive, which this study investigates using morphological approaches. Samples from both ethnographic collections and archaeological surface assemblages are analysed. The study finds that biface elongation, length and perimeter length each greatly influenced the number of and size of marginal projections, regardless of raw material. This aspect of production probably reflects the value and social prestige for large serrated points, likely produced by the knapper before an audience in virtuoso displays of pressure flaking. It is conceivable that these complex social practices emerged around 1,000 years ago. This study provides a rare glimpse into the social values of stone tool produces, and links archaeological data to social values in the past.

Author Biography

Tim Ryan Maloney, Griffith University

Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research
School of Humanities
Languages and Social Science
Griffith University
Gold Coast campus
Queensland
Australia

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Published
15-Mar-2020
How to Cite
Maloney, T. (2020). Kimberley points of Western Australia: Pressure flaking, projections and prestige. Journal of Lithic Studies, 7(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.2968
Section
Research Articles