Raw material movement and past Tasmanian Aboriginal interaction: implications for understanding isolated human population dynamics

Abstract

The study of stone artefact raw material distribution from point sources to archaeological sites has been important in understanding patterns of long-term human interaction. Proximity to raw material sources has been emphasised in many studies, particularly the distance over which items travel and the nature of the social interactions reflected in such patterns. Tasmania provides an example where the ethnohistorical documents have played an important role in characterising Aboriginal society and tribal relationships. Although glimpses of societal structure and interaction have been gained through the works of Brian Plomley, Rhys Jones and Lyndall Ryan, the archaeology of such organisation has been elusive. The aim of this paper is to discuss the evidence for raw material movement as a proxy for the patterns of past interaction between Tasmanian Aboriginal people.