The scale of seed grinding at Lake Mungo. Issue 3 (27th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fullagar, Richard; Hayes, Elspeth; Stephenson, Birgitta; Field, Judith; Matheson, Carney; Stern, Nicola; Fitzsimmons, Kathryn E.
• Other Names: Winter Sean guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Archaeology in Oceania. Volume 50:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2015-08-27
• Subjects: Pleistocene -- seed grinding stone -- use‐wear -- residues -- Lake Mungo; Archaeology -- Islands of the Pacific -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Australia -- Periodicals; Physical anthropology -- Islands of the Pacific -- Periodicals; Physical anthropology -- Australia -- Periodicals; Anthropology, Physical -- Southeast Asia -- Periodicals; Anthropology, Physical -- Australia -- Periodicals; Anthropology, Physical -- Pacific Islands -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Southeast Asia -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Australia -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Pacific Islands -- Periodicals; 990
• DOI: 10.1002/arco.5073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0728-4896

Abstract

Abstract: Smith's Comment on our functional analysis of grinding stone fragments from Pleistocene contexts at Lake Mungo (Fullagar et al. 2015 ) draws attention to the low frequency of implements, uncertainties about functional interpretations and archaeological implications. He argues that Pleistocene seed exploitation at Lake Mungo was limited and probably not indicative of a seed grinding economy . We suggest that it is premature to speculate about the scale of seed grinding at Lake Mungo. We also use new data to address concerns raised about our methodology.