Archaeologists have made a rare discovery at Windmill Way, a rock shelter in Queensland, Australia. They found 12 wallaby teeth with resin attached to their roots, dating back approximately 1,100 to 1,300 years. This is the first time such tooth ornaments have been identified in a non-burial site in northeast Australia.
The find is particularly significant because organic materials like wood, plant fiber, or gum from Indigenous Australian sites rarely survive over millennia. However, Windmill Way proved to be an exception: researchers also uncovered more than 500 pieces of plant-fiber string, worked wood, shell, ochre, and thousands of animal bones.
To determine the resin’s origin, scientists consulted with elders from the local Laura community, who suggested possible plants. Subsequent spectral and mass spectrometry analyses confirmed the resin came from Xanthorrhoea (grass tree), with one tooth also showing traces of erythrophleum (ironwood) gum.
Microscopic examination revealed plant fibers and a small piece of animal hide embedded in the resin. This strongly suggests the teeth were strung together as part of a necklace or headband, with the resin balls acting as stoppers to secure the elements on the string. The discovery fills a gap in the archaeological record for the Cape York Peninsula and provides physical evidence of personal adornment using animal teeth, plant fiber, and tree resin more than a thousand years ago.
About the Author
