Discovery of Stone Tool Cache in Australia Offers Insights into Early Human Life

A cache of approximately 60 stone tools, known as tulas, has been discovered protruding from the soil in northwest Queensland, Australia. This significant find was reported by ABC News Australia, with Yinika Perston from Griffith University stating that these tools were likely hafted onto handles for woodworking tasks.

The tulas have been dated using optically stimulated luminescence to between 1793 and 1913, indicating they are around 170 years old. Perston emphasized that this bundle of tools was likely crafted by the local Pitta Pitta people for trade purposes, highlighting their economic and cultural significance.

The discovery is particularly noteworthy given that similar tools are found throughout Australia; however, this specific cache is only seven kilometers, or approximately 4.35 miles, from another known site.

The implications of this discovery are vast, providing insights into the technological capabilities of early human inhabitants and their daily lives. As reported by Archaeology Magazine, such findings contribute to the broader narrative of human evolution and migration across the continent.

The original scholarly article detailing this research appears in 'Archaeology in Oceania.' This cache not only reflects the craftsmanship of the Pitta Pitta people but also opens avenues for further archaeological exploration and understanding of ancient trade networks in Australia.