Pleistocene Axes in Sahul: a response to Morwood and Tresize

Abstract

This paper is written in response to ideas and information presented by Morwood and Tresize (1989) pertaining to the antiquity and distribution of axes in Sahul and in particular to one axe from S.E. Cape York. It is felt that this response is necessary because, whilst Morwood and Tresize raise some important issues and identify some apparent trends in the late Pleistocene of Sahul, their paper also engenders some confusion about these and other issues.  Whilst I will not contend that the axe is a "false fact" it is true that serious consideration to the validity of the inferences Morwood and Tresize present is necessary due to the nascent nature of our understanding of Pleistocene humans and Morwood and Tresize's suggestions in this regard.