Burgiyana and Waraldi: A radiocarbon chronology for a selection of coastal and island archaeological sites on Yorke Peninsula/Guuranda, South Australia

Abstract

This paper outlines a radiocarbon chronology for a selection of coastal and island archaeological sites on Yorke Peninsula/Guuranda, South Australia. The case study areas are located on Point Pearce Peninsula/Burgiyana and Wardang Island/Waraldi. Eighteen new radiocarbon dates (primarily from marine shell) are presented for four mainland and three island sites. The dates for island and peninsula sites span ca. 8000 cal BP to the late Holocene (including the Modern Period), with a possible hiatus in occupation/visitation for the period ca. 7600–4200 cal BP. The oldest dates in the chronology pre-date the islandization of Wardang Island/Waraldi while the potential hiatus spans the period of marine transgression in this area including a high-stand. The period ca. 4400–4000 cal BP represents a minimum date for Narungga access and use of islands in their Sea Country. A later possible occupation/visitation gap (or period of lower intensity occupation) from ca. 3000 to 1600 cal BP may relate to more frequent ENSO drying events in southeast Australia. Three samples relate to the Modern Period (post-AD 1950) and reflect the ongoing connections that Narungga people maintain with their Sea Country.