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.
About the Author :
Associate Professor Michelle C. Langley FSA is a Senior Research Fellow in the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. She studied archaeology at The University of Queensland before earning her PhD in Palaeolithic archaeology at the University of Oxford. Her work focuses on the use of antler, bone, ivory, tooth, and shell in creating tools and ornaments by communities the world over and she is equally passionate about human cognitive evolution and the identification of children's behaviour in archaeological contexts.
She has been published in specialist and academic journals, including Nature Communications, Antiquity, Quaternary Science Reviews and the Journal of Human Evolution. She has written for and appeared regularly in the media, including National Geographic, New Scientist, Archaeology Magazine, NITV, SBS and the ABC.
She was a recipient of the 2018 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award and was a finalist in Women in Technology Research Leaders in Science 2021. She is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
Review :
"ARecord in Bone breathes vibrant new life into the study of organic technologiesand the central role they played in Indigenous lifeways. In this masterpiecevolume, Langley highlights how tools and ornaments made from bones and teethare central to understanding major themes in Australian archaeology, includingthe dynamics of reciprocity, identity, and cultural complexity over65,000 years. " -- Laureate Professor Peter Veth, FAHA, MAACAI, The Universityof Western Australia
"Thismeticulously researched book presents the first comprehensive account of thetools and ornaments crafted from bone by Australia's First Peoples, offeringunparalleled insights into a rich, dynamic, and enduring material culture.Discover the wealth of information which has been compiled about the skills andknowledge needed to make these items and find out how they were used ineveryday tasks or in the rituals and ceremonies that sustained people's lives.For all those interested in the crafts of Australia's First Peoples, this is aninvaluable companion to A Record in Stone: The study of Australia'schipped stone artefacts." -- Associate Professor Nicola Stern, FAHA, La TrobeUniversity, Australia
"Embark on a captivating journey through time andculture with A Record in Bone. This awe-inspiring masterpieceshowcases bone and tooth artefacts from Australia's Indigenous people, offeringrich iconography, detailed descriptions, and methodological rigour. Unveil theevolution of technology and the cultural legacy preserved within, fosteringappreciation for our profound interconnectedness as humans. This timeless bookempowers anthropologists, archaeologists, and curious readers to analyse andinterpret this unique cultural heritage, celebrating the diversity thatdefines humanity." -- Director of Research Francesco d'Errico, Centre Nationalde la Recherche Scientifique, France
