A Record in Bone: Exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Bone and Tooth Artefacts

Bone and tooth tools and ornaments have been made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for at least 46,000 years – some of the oldest organic technologies in the world. Despite their beauty, sophistication, and ubiquity, archaeologists and other researchers have overwhelmingly focused on the stone artefacts of Australia. Consequently, until now, we knew little of how bone and tooth objects were made and used, or how individual communities differed in how they worked with these distinctive materials.

A Record in Bone brings together the scattered and sometimes difficult-to-find research and findings of more than a century. It reveals innovative bone, tooth, quill, and claw industries, including extensive use of ornamentation, bone points, fishhooks, and much more.

This volume is a perfect companion to A Record in Stone: The study of Australia's flaked stone artefacts (ASP 2007). It is an invaluable reference text for professionals and students of archaeology, anthropology, Indigenous studies, and museum studies; and an easy-to-read introduction for anyone interested in Australia's deep past.