The archaeology, chronology and stratigraphy of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II): A site in northern Australia with early occupation

Abstract

Published ages of >50 ka for occupation at Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II) in Australia's north have kept the site prominent in discussions about the colonisation of Sahul. The site also contains one of the largest stone artefact assemblages in Sahul for this early period. However, the stone artefacts and other important archaeological components of the site have never been described in detail, leading to persistent doubts about its stratigraphic integrity. We report on our analysis of the stone artefacts and faunal and other materials recovered during the 1989 excavations, as well as the stratigraphy and depositional history recorded by the original excavators. We demonstrate that the technology and raw materials of the early assemblage are distinctive from those in the overlying layers. Silcrete and quartzite artefacts are common in the early assemblage, which also includes edge-ground axe fragments and ground haematite. The lower flaked stone assemblage is distinctive, comprising a mix of long convergent flakes, some radial flakes with faceted platforms, and many small thin silcrete flakes that we interpret as thinning flakes. Residue and use-wear analysis indicate occasional grinding of haematite and woodworking, as well as frequent abrading of platform edges on thinning flakes. We conclude that previous claims of extensive displacement of artefacts and post-depositional disturbance may have been overstated. The stone artefacts and stratigraphic details support previous claims for human occupation 50-60 ka and show that human occupation during this time differed from later periods. We discuss the implications of these new data for understanding the first human colonisation of Sahul.

What caused extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna of Sahul?

“…It is still uncertain when people first set foot on Sahul: it might have been around 50 ka, or as much as 10 ka earlier [10,25,26]. However, it is generally accepted that people were widespread over the continent by 45 ka or a few millennia earlier [13,14,27,28].…”

Early human symbolic behavior in the Late Pleistocene of Wallacea

“…Pleistocene art | Pleistocene symbolism | cognition | personal ornamentation | Wallacea A natomically modern humans (AMHs) had reached the edge of continental Eurasia (Sunda) and crossed eastwards into "Wallacea," the ∼1,700-km-wide zone of oceanic islands separating Sunda from the Pleistocene low sea-level landmass of Sahul (Australia/Papua) (1), by 47 ka (2), and possibly several millennia earlier (3). Wallacea lies in the east of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) and straddles the equator between 4°N and 10°S.…”

Symbols of Power: The Firearm Paintings of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II)

“…Madjedbebe features frequently in discussions concerning the timing of the colonization of Australia with recent re-investigations of the site positing that a 50-55 ka BP occupation is a Bconservative^age estimate for the extent of occupation at the site (Clarkson et al 2015). Previous excavations at the site returned dates of between 52 ± 11 ka and 61 ± 13 ka, though these dates remain controversial (e.g., Allen and O'Connell 2003;Bowdler 1990;Clarkson et al 2015;Hiscock 1990;Kamminga and Allen 1973;Roberts et al 1990a:154, b, c;Roberts et al 1994;Roberts et al 1998:20).…”

“…Previous excavations at the site returned dates of between 52 ± 11 ka and 61 ± 13 ka, though these dates remain controversial (e.g., Allen and O'Connell 2003;Bowdler 1990;Clarkson et al 2015;Hiscock 1990;Kamminga and Allen 1973;Roberts et al 1990a:154, b, c;Roberts et al 1994;Roberts et al 1998:20). This early occupation at Madjedbebe stands in contrast to the rock art from the site that generally includes images and styles that are thought to be made during the last few thousand years .…”