Thesis Chapters by Zane Blunt
Unpublished Honours Thesis, 2019
The Dampier Archipelago (Murujuga) in northwest Australia offers archaeologists a
rich source of... more The Dampier Archipelago (Murujuga) in northwest Australia offers archaeologists a
rich source of evidence into the ways people adapted to coastal environments in the
early Holocene. When the Abydos Plain was first occupied 51,000 years ago
Murujuga was an arid range more than 100 km from the coast. By 10,000 years ago,
the coast had reached what is now Enderby and Rosemary Islands, and by 7,000
years ago both islands were sundered from the mainland. Coastal sites dating to the
early Holocene are underrepresented in the Australian archaeological literature and
Enderby and Rosemary Islands offer a unique opportunity for documenting the ways
the people of Murujuga responded to the changing environment and landscape. By
analyzing shellfish remains and utility extraction, and usewear and residues on lithic
artefacts, this research shows that people became increasingly mobile from the
terminal Pleistocene, through to the late Holocene. It also reveals that they exploited
a wide variety of plants and other resources at both sites in the early Holocene.
Shellfish exploitation documents the shift towards mangrove species in the early
Holocene, these being replaced by sandy beach species in the late Holocene. Dates
from shellfish remains and OSL indicate that these sites were abandoned after
islandisation, however other sites on both islands show episodic occupation. Results
show that resource use and occupation patterns changed in response to the marine
transgression, and that the changes in lithic morphology, usewear, residues, and
occupation varied at both sites.
Book Chapters by Zane Blunt
Murujuga: Dynamics of the Dreaming, 2023
The Dampier Archipelago - Murujuga - is on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. This cultural ... more The Dampier Archipelago - Murujuga - is on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. This cultural landscape has some of the world’s most abundant and diverse petroglyphs (engraved rock art) as well as myriad other archaeological evidence for Aboriginal occupation and resilience through extreme environmental change.
Chapter Two describes of the field methods and laboratory and analytical processes used throughout this project.
Murujuga: Dynamics of the Dreaming, 2023
First occupation here c.16,000 years ago, was before the rising sea reached this landscape. Early... more First occupation here c.16,000 years ago, was before the rising sea reached this landscape. Early Holocene mangrove-focussed habitation changed after this place became an island, but occupation continued until after European contact. We found evidence for sustainable shellfish harvesting and plant processing, bead manufacture, and spinifex fibrecraft to create fishing equipment.
Murujuga Dynamics of the Dreaming, 2023
As Rosemary Island emerged, people’s mangrove-focussed economy changed to a more seasonal use. Oc... more As Rosemary Island emerged, people’s mangrove-focussed economy changed to a more seasonal use. Occupation continued until European contact. Major results include evidence for Early Holocene use of house structures, plant processing through all occupation phases and recent bead wearing on many sites.
Murujuga: Dynamics of the Dreaming, 2023
This rare rockshelter would have offered protection from extreme weather conditions (rain and/or ... more This rare rockshelter would have offered protection from extreme weather conditions (rain and/or intense heat). It is located close to semi-permanent pool in an adjacent valley. This undated assemblage provides a unique window into a different mode of archipelago site usage, revealing the adaptability of people using this landscape.
This basalt overhang is also unusual as it has engraved tracks on exterior and interior vertical panels. The outside wall of the shelter has echidna tracks heading up from the base.
Murujuga Dynamics of the Dreaming, 2023
The Watering Cove dunes (as visible in this image) accumulated between 5,500-3,890 cal BP and blo... more The Watering Cove dunes (as visible in this image) accumulated between 5,500-3,890 cal BP and blowouts reveal widespread stone scatters and midden. This sequence reveals rock platform species throughout and late establishment of mangrove and sandy beach conditions.
The Watering Cove stone tool assemblages are all sparse. The Mid-Holocene focus on rock platform species here with a late switch to Terebralia likely indicates the later establishment of mangroves at Watering Cove.
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Thesis Chapters by Zane Blunt
rich source of evidence into the ways people adapted to coastal environments in the
early Holocene. When the Abydos Plain was first occupied 51,000 years ago
Murujuga was an arid range more than 100 km from the coast. By 10,000 years ago,
the coast had reached what is now Enderby and Rosemary Islands, and by 7,000
years ago both islands were sundered from the mainland. Coastal sites dating to the
early Holocene are underrepresented in the Australian archaeological literature and
Enderby and Rosemary Islands offer a unique opportunity for documenting the ways
the people of Murujuga responded to the changing environment and landscape. By
analyzing shellfish remains and utility extraction, and usewear and residues on lithic
artefacts, this research shows that people became increasingly mobile from the
terminal Pleistocene, through to the late Holocene. It also reveals that they exploited
a wide variety of plants and other resources at both sites in the early Holocene.
Shellfish exploitation documents the shift towards mangrove species in the early
Holocene, these being replaced by sandy beach species in the late Holocene. Dates
from shellfish remains and OSL indicate that these sites were abandoned after
islandisation, however other sites on both islands show episodic occupation. Results
show that resource use and occupation patterns changed in response to the marine
transgression, and that the changes in lithic morphology, usewear, residues, and
occupation varied at both sites.
Book Chapters by Zane Blunt
Chapter Two describes of the field methods and laboratory and analytical processes used throughout this project.
This basalt overhang is also unusual as it has engraved tracks on exterior and interior vertical panels. The outside wall of the shelter has echidna tracks heading up from the base.
The Watering Cove stone tool assemblages are all sparse. The Mid-Holocene focus on rock platform species here with a late switch to Terebralia likely indicates the later establishment of mangroves at Watering Cove.
rich source of evidence into the ways people adapted to coastal environments in the
early Holocene. When the Abydos Plain was first occupied 51,000 years ago
Murujuga was an arid range more than 100 km from the coast. By 10,000 years ago,
the coast had reached what is now Enderby and Rosemary Islands, and by 7,000
years ago both islands were sundered from the mainland. Coastal sites dating to the
early Holocene are underrepresented in the Australian archaeological literature and
Enderby and Rosemary Islands offer a unique opportunity for documenting the ways
the people of Murujuga responded to the changing environment and landscape. By
analyzing shellfish remains and utility extraction, and usewear and residues on lithic
artefacts, this research shows that people became increasingly mobile from the
terminal Pleistocene, through to the late Holocene. It also reveals that they exploited
a wide variety of plants and other resources at both sites in the early Holocene.
Shellfish exploitation documents the shift towards mangrove species in the early
Holocene, these being replaced by sandy beach species in the late Holocene. Dates
from shellfish remains and OSL indicate that these sites were abandoned after
islandisation, however other sites on both islands show episodic occupation. Results
show that resource use and occupation patterns changed in response to the marine
transgression, and that the changes in lithic morphology, usewear, residues, and
occupation varied at both sites.
Chapter Two describes of the field methods and laboratory and analytical processes used throughout this project.
This basalt overhang is also unusual as it has engraved tracks on exterior and interior vertical panels. The outside wall of the shelter has echidna tracks heading up from the base.
The Watering Cove stone tool assemblages are all sparse. The Mid-Holocene focus on rock platform species here with a late switch to Terebralia likely indicates the later establishment of mangroves at Watering Cove.