Another collection of indigenous stone tools has surfaced from near Strathbogie Township, in the eastern Strathbogie Ranges.
These stone tools were found during paddock cultivation over the course of a few years. Some appear to be of local rock (granitic), while others clearly are not. Interestingly, and unlike some of the other local finds, none of these tools are of Mt William Greenstone, a well-known and highly prized and traded commodity for stone tool manufacture.
‘In keeping with the spirit of Reconciliation, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, live and work. We recognize indigenous people, their elders – past, present and emerging.’
The collection includes what appear to be- an anvil, a short club, several cores and worked stones and possibly unfinished stone axes. The spread of localities where artefacts have now been found and their variety (shape/use & geology), suggest that Taungurung people were more than just occasional visitors to this country, as has been suggested in some early, local accounts of the history of the region. The logical (albeit naive) conclusion is that people made regular use of this entire landscape and over long periods of time.
Thankfully, the level of interest in Indigenous cultural history among Non-indigenous locals is increasing – after all, it’s now our shared history and should be embraced.
For information on other stone artefact finds in the Strathbogie Ranges region, click the ‘Cultural Heritage’ category in the drop-down menu at right.
All artifacts depicted on this page and other posts on this website came to light as a result of local interest in indigenous history. All these artifacts have now been catalogued by archeologists and the Taungurung Land and Waters Council. The views expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the TLaWC.
Strathbogie Ranges - Nature View 