Backed and forth: an exploration of variation in retouched implement production on the South Molle Island Quarry, Central Queensland

Abstract

[Abstract]: The South Molle Island Quarry is unique in Australia because it is situated on a reasonably remote island off the east coast of Australia, and is formed from a rare and distinctive type of extremely high quality stone. The isolation and distinctive nature of the stone provides an opportunity to examine procurement costs and distribution patterns at a regional scale, while also possessing a large number of retouched flakes at various stages of production. The aim of this paper is to describe the origins, properties and form of outcrop of the distinctive stone found at this quarry, and to determine whether retouch on the South Molle Island Quarry is directed exclusively at the production of large backed artifacts (i.e.'Juan Knives'), or whether additional retouch strategies were practiced at the site. This is achieved through the use of metric and non-metric analyses which determine both the extent and degree of variability within the retouched flakes found at the quarry.