Twenty Interesting Points: An Analysis of Bone Artefacts from Platypus Rockshelter

Abstract

While bone artefacts have been largely ignored in Australian archaeology, a wide range of functions for this artefact type are noted ethnographically. Twenty bone artefacts from Platypus Rockshelter, southeast Queensland, were used to test the applicability of residue analysis for functional assessment of archaeological bone artefacts. Analysis produced both predicted and unexpected results when compared with the known range of functions and results from other studies at this site. Plant and animal residues were observed on the artefacts, ranging from blood and collagen to starch raphides and the mineral, vivianite. These results have implications for site occupation as well as more general ones for the study of bone artefacts.