Tales of Multifunctionality: a Systematic Quantitative Literature Review of Boomerangs Used as Retouchers in Australian Aboriginal Cultures

Abstract

Boomerangs are among the most recognisable elements of Australian Aboriginal technology. In the popular mindset, the prevailing image of these wooden artefacts is that of thrown implements that return to the thrower, principally used for hunting animals. However, boomerangs have a deep multipurpose role in Indigenous societies, with just a few examples of their known functions, including fighting, digging, and making music (i.e., “clap sticks”). Recently, yet another function for boomerangs has been proposed (Martellotta et al., 2021): the functional modification of lithic tools (i.e., retouching)—a form of use that is almost unknown among non-Aboriginal researchers. Here, we provide the first comprehensive review of evidence for the use of boomerangs as lithic retouching tools (percussors). A detailed lexical analysis demonstrates similarities between Palaeolithic bone retouchers used for the same purposes as the Australian hardwood boomerangs, thus confirming our traceological hypothesis and the power of using a multidisciplinary approach in investigating Australia’s deep past. This paper provides the foundation for discussions surrounding the multipurpose concept behind many Aboriginal tools by focusing on the most iconic item. We propose that, in future studies, the complex technological and functional features of boomerangs should take precedence over their famous “returning effect”.

Influence of Urban Street Vending on Pedestrian Experience and Behaviour: A Systematic Quantitative Review

“…A systematic quantitative review follows a 15-step process that has been used across a wide range of disciplines (Cooper et al, 2023;Guitart et al, 2012;Kim & Cuskelly, 2017;Laird-Gentle et al, 2023;Lee et al, 2022;Mahmoudi et al, 2019;Martellotta et al, 2022;Najafi et al, 2022;Parker & de Baro, 2019;Roy et al, 2012;Steven et al, 2011;Takata & Hallmann, 2021;Thomson et al, 2019). This methodology is characterised as being structured, explicit, quantitative, rigorous, comprehensive and reproducible (Pickering et al, 2021;.…”