Resin-mounted wallaby teeth reveal rare 1,200-year-old ornaments in Queensland

Archaeologists in Queensland, Australia, have uncovered a remarkable discovery: 1,200-year-old wallaby teeth embedded with resin, revealing the earliest known examples of such ornaments outside burial sites in northeastern Australia. Found at Windmill Way, a rock shelter located in the Quinkan Country within the Cape York Peninsula (CYP), the artifacts challenge previous assumptions about the cultural practices of Indigenous Australians in the region. Lynley Wallis, an archaeologist from Griffith University, first noticed something unusual while examining animal bones at the site. “I paused my automatic robot-like sorting to take a better look,” Wallis explained. The anomaly was a blackish-brown ball of glue-like resin attached to the tip of a wallaby tooth’s root. After discovering 11 additional teeth with similar attachments, the team realized they had stumbled upon a unique form of ancient craftsmanship. The discovery marks the first time such wallaby-tooth ornaments have been identified in the CYP, a region previously devoid of documented animal-tooth jewelry despite extensive archaeological efforts. Most known instances of these items have been unearthed from burial sites, suggesting they were grave goods intended for the deceased. However, the Windmill Way finds suggest that these ornaments might have had a different function, perhaps ceremonial or personal adornment, used during life rather than solely for funerary purposes. The significance of the discovery lies not just in the rarity of the artifacts themselves but also in the materials used. Researchers sought guidance from Elders and Rangers of the Laura community, who helped identify potential plant sources for the resin. Two analytical methods confirmed the findings: infrared spectroscopy, which identifies chemical compositions based on how materials interact with light, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, which breaks down complex mixtures into individual components for identification. The results indicated that the resin was derived primarily from grass trees, a common feature of the rocky landscape surrounding Windmill Way. One of the teeth also contained traces of ironwood gum, a tree species found near local waterways. This combination suggests that the resin was sourced from multiple locations, possibly indicating trade or movement patterns among Indigenous groups in the area. The absence of tool wear on the wallaby teeth further supports the idea that they were not used for practical tasks such as carving or drilling. Instead, the presence of plant fibers and a fragment of animal hide adhered to the resin suggests these items might have served decorative or symbolic roles. The researchers speculate that the teeth could have been strung together as necklaces or worn individually as pendants, though the exact usage remains unclear. Windmill Way itself is a site of considerable archaeological interest. Located in the southeastern part of the CYP, it has yielded over 500 pieces of plant fiber string, along with ocher, shells, worked wood, and numerous gnawed animal bones. Initially, these findings led some to believe the shelter was merely a dingo den. However, the recent discovery of the resin-coated teeth adds a new dimension to the understanding of human activity at the site. The study, published in Australian Archaeology, underscores the importance of integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific methods. By consulting Indigenous communities, the researchers gained insights that would have otherwise remained inaccessible. This collaboration highlights the value of working directly with local experts to interpret both material culture and environmental context. Further investigations are planned to explore whether similar artifacts exist elsewhere in the CYP. If so, it could indicate a broader tradition of using animal teeth in non-funerary contexts. For now, the Windmill Way teeth stand as a testament to the ingenuity and artistic expression of Indigenous Australians, offering a glimpse into a practice that predates written records and continues to shape contemporary understandings of pre-colonial life.