Site-Structuring Predictions
This site comprises stone arrangements on an elongated granite outcrop (approximately 300x 40m), situated thirteen kilometres south-east of Marbaleerup proper. There is no permanent or reliable fresh water source. Therefore, the site is predicted to have only hosted short-term
7). Camping at this location would have been short-term if at all. This predicts some discarded tools, evidence of tool maintenance, sharpening, and pre-prepared blanks or cores. Nyungar knowledge suggests that use of this place was for ceremonial purposes (although the details are unknown) and that it was related to Marbaleerup proper.
Results
A total of 93 artefacts was recorded at Budjari Yorg on the same granite exposure as the stone arrangements. Approximately 25% were made from chert, 37.6% silcrete, 24.7% quartz, and 12.9% from other materials (Table 4). These raw material percentages are broadly similar to those at Marbaleerup proper. The ‘other’ category is comprised entirely of quartzite. There is just one core (1.1%) in the sample – much lower than at all other sites. There are 14 complete flakes, 63 broken flakes and 8 fragments (Table 5). There are 7 retouched flakes (7.5%) which is slightly lower than the overall Marbaleerup complex, among which 9.9% are retouched. The tools comprise three backed artefacts (Table 6). There is no cortex on any of the complete flakes or cores at this site (Table 7).
Discussion
The diversity of raw material, and relatively even spread between silcrete, chert and quartz, suggests that stone was being brought from a range of different sources, including chert from the coast and silcrete from the north. Quartz may have been obtained more locally, but probably not on-site given the low overall numbers. The notable similarities in raw material percentages between this assemblage and Marbaleerup proper are interesting and may be interpreted as similar demographics in personnel visiting these two sites.
The relatively low proportions of complete flakes invite consideration. Given the remote location and being outside of farming areas, there is no reason to expect the high levels of breakage to be the result of trampling or other post-depositional processes, so a technological explanation is more likely. There is no cortex on any of the artefacts and there is an almost complete absence of cores but for one very small ‘exhausted’ core. These combined observations suggest this assemblage is predominantly the result of maintenance activities, with a couple of discarded tools. Complete flakes and useable items were likely to have been taken away from site and all of the material appears to have been imported initially either as existing tools, pre-prepared cores and perhaps pre-prepared flaked ‘blanks’. The technological attributes of the assemblage suggest some tool maintenance and minor tool production activities for immediate utility, with useable tools then taken away from site.
This assemblage conforms to predictions very well. The analysis supports the interpretation of the place being visited for short periods of time and tools being brought to site for immediate utility during on-site activities. Some re-sharpening and reprovisioning of the tool-kit took place on site and usable tools were taken away again. There is no evidence to suggest people camped here or used this site for any extensive tool production. This appears as a special purpose activity site, most likely associated with the stone arrangements.
6.4.7 Summary
The results of lithic analysis at Marbaleerup proper conformed to the prediction of this activity area having been a centre of aggregation activities. Results at MO1 were inconclusive due to the small assemblage size. The MO2 results upheld the prediction of a satellite site related to
the Budjari Yorg lithic analysis upheld the prediction of a special purpose site associated with social/ceremonial activities directly related to the stone arrangements. Overall, the Marbaleerup complex upholds the prediction of an aggregation locale in which people employed localised logistical mobility strategies to provision for aggragation events and activities. These results are briefly summarized in Table 8 below.
Site/ Activity
Area Predictions of Associated Activities and Technological Signature (from Table 3) Results
Marbaleerup proper (Mt Ridley)
Local and non-local stone; wide range of technologies; all stages of reduction; formal tool production, maintenance, use and re-use; re- sharpening multi-purpose and maintainable tools, exhausted tools, exhausted cores, pre-prepared cores and blanks.
Ceremonial centre and aggregation locale; mixed
personnel; men’s ceremonial activities; rock art
production; camping; subsistence activities
Diversity in raw material (local and non-local); diversity in technology; all stages of reduction; formal tools; exhausted tools; high proportions retouch; mobile toolkits; residential mobility; range of activities; place provisioning (silcrete and chert); cortex; flaked glass.
Overall, does uphold predictions of aggregation locale, mixed personnel, wide range activities, logistical and residential mobility. No evidence of gender specific behaviour in the lithics
MO1 Non-local material; if residential campsite –
formal technologies, late stage reduction, tool use/re-use, maintenance, retouch, conservation of raw material, high assemblage diversity. If logistical special purpose site – specific technology, low intra-assemblage diversity Satellite site related to Marbaleerup proper. Non local people; residential campsite OR special purpose logistical site
Imported silcrete; low diversity.
Overall, small assemblage size restricts interpretive potential – no clear result.
MO2 Non-local material; if residential campsite –
formal technologies, late stage reduction, tool use/re-use, maintenance, retouch, conservation of raw material, high assemblage diversity. If logistical special purpose site – specific technology, low intra-assemblage diversity Satellite site related to Marbaleerup proper. Non local people; residential campsite OR special purpose logistical site
Non local material (silcrete); high ratio of cores; place provisioning; tool production; backed artefacts; individual provisioning; tula slugs (discarded, exhausted remains multi-purpose, re- useable Western Desert tools); horse hoof cores; standardisation in the production process (repeating the same form); multi-purpose, re- useable artefacts.
Overall, upholds prediction of logistical satellite site associated with gearing up and perhaps long range travel. Imported material suggests association with non-local people
Budjari Yorg (stone arrangements)
Local and non-local stone; generalized technology; late stage reduction; tool maintenance; use; sharpening; preparing implements for immediate utility
Ceremonial hub; local and non-local personnel; centre of social and spiritual activities.
Diversity of local and non-local raw material (silcrete, chert and quartz); low proportions of complete flakes which are of overall small size; no cortex; very low proportion cores; maintenance activities; some discarded tools; immediate utility.
Overall, upholds the prediction of special purpose site associated with social/spiritual activities TABLE 8. MARBALEERUP COMPLEX: SUMMARY OF PREDICTIONS AND RESULTS