"Palaeo-Tasmania, a Glossary"
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"Palaeo-Tasmania, A Glossary". Barry H. Brimfield 2011 (C/- 17 Mowbray Street, Mowbray 7248, Email: [email protected] Fax: 03 6326 3778) “PALAEO- TASMANIA – A GLOSSARY” Any student of Anthropology will find in reference books and research material uncommon words that can confuse and cause a lot of wasted time in trying to locate meanings for them, sometimes I have found that they do not appear in dictionaries requiring even more work. This “List” aims to relieve this problem so the study can be undertaken with the least obstacles possible. I have endeavoured to make an explanation of each word brief and simple without the loss or to confuse the reader. As time progresses, new words will no doubt arise to confuse us, so, this simple work will require updating. Scientific research necessitates that correct descriptions of specific studies be adhered to and this is generally where the problem begins if one is not a part of the scholastic group being a starter in the Science/Discipline or just an interested person. Some authors end their work with a glossary, but usually reports on research do not, so it is hoped that this Glossary may just help in this regard. "ABBREVIATIONS USED" The following list applies to all my works and are abbreviations used. (12) Reference - consult "References" in each work e.g. (12) = Friendly Mission (12:21) As above but denotes the page number in a work (12:650 N7) As above but denotes the page number in a work plus "N" for note quoted (12:20/7/31) As above but the date in that work A.A. Average annual death rate A.S.L. Above sea level (the present) B.C.E. Before the Christian era (formerly just B.C.) or "Common Era" B.P. Before the present (1950) B.S.L. Below sea level (the present) C.11 Radio carbon dating e.g. 14 9, 120 + 200 B.P. C. Circa = about e.g. c.8, 120 BP = About 8, 120 before the present Cal. Calibrated date CE Common or Christian era CM Centimetres CR Protected by "copyright" and not to be reproduced etc. for my publications G.A.R. George Augustus Robinson IS Island KM Kilometres KYG Thousands of years ago. E.g. 10 kyg = ten thousand years ago K2 Square kilometres L.G.M. Last glacial maximum (c.20 - 18,000 B.P.) ABBREVIATIONS (cont.) M Metres e.g. 100 m MM Millimetres P.G.M. Post glacial maximum (c.6 - 3,500 B.P.) P.P.S. Palawa Pleistocene speakers P.S.L. Present sea level S.L. Sea level T.A.C. Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre T.S.W.F.T. Tidal Stone Wall Fish Trap Y.A. Years ago YRS Years B.L. Ben Lomond BR Big River N North NE North East NM Northern Midlands NW North West OB Oyster Bay SE South East SW South West If includes a "P", e.g. NMP, this is "people". Abalone Extremely popular shellfish of the Aborigines, (muttonfish). Aborigine Indigenous (original) human population of a Territory. The Aboriginal Committee Formed in 1830 to report back to the British (Home) Government on the Aboriginal conflict including its causes. Abraded Result of rubbing in a lineal form. Abraded Groove A groove worn into a piece of stone by repeated rubbing, E.G. using a piece of sand-stone for making a point. Absolute Age A dated specificate time in years, E.G. Radiocarbon Dating. Abstract Art Symbols (motifs) representing physical objects or spiritual beliefs. Activity Area A Geographical area where a specific enterprise was carried out. Adze A chopping tool with an edge at right angles to the shaft. Aeolian Landscape areas that have been affected by strong wind action and aridity causing sand sheet and low relief dunes – in which evidence of “man” have been discovered extensively. Aeolian Deflation Wind blown – reduction / disturbance of e.g. sand deposits. Aeolian Deposits Wind-blown deposits characteristics of relatively dry periods, E.G. interpluvials or glacials with low precipitation (Bordes 1968) (ref. 177). Aeolianite Fossil dune rock (Mount Cameron West rock engravings are cut into this rock). Agriculturalists A term used for the earliest European economic endeavours in Colonial Tasmania. Crops with some grazing - peasant farmers - c. 1807 - 1817>. Alaeontology Study of fossil remains of animals. Alternate Flaking Evidence on a stone artefact of flake dislodgment along the same margin, first from one direction then the opposite – e.g. first from the right then the left. The artefact being revolved in the hand during the process. Amelioration A state of improvement. Amorphous Shapeless, vague in design, as with fortuitous nondescript stone artefacts. Antechinus A small marsupial mouse. Anthropology The study of humans. Anthropomorph An artistic image of a human form. Anthropic Human Anvil Usually a pebble on which a core is rested during flaking. Anvil Technique So called “Block on Block”. The core is swung against an anvil to dislodge thick flakes (Bordes 1968) (ref. 117). Arboreal Animals that live in trees. Archaeological Dark Age So-called period, C.12,000 – 8,000 B.P. (88A:248). Archaeology The study of past human history from recovered materials found at sites. Archaeometry The Science of Archaeology. Aretes Fish bones. Arid Phase Between 26,000 and 12,000 B.P. a period of little rainfall and high winds. Artefacts Product of human art or workmanship. Assemblage A group of artefacts in close association with each other. Austral Montane Australian mountain vegetation. The Australian Core Tool & Scraper Tradition Now in doubt as a terminology, it represents the earliest periods of the Australian/Tasmanian Aborigines C.60,000 to 7,000 B.P. Large core and re- touched flake tools, a simplified analogy! Australoids One of the four (4) divisions of modern Man-Principle group is the Australian Aborigines, others occur in isolated pockets in South Eastern Asia. Autochthonous Springing from the land. Aves The class of animals – Birds. Avifauna Bird animals. Awl A drilling tool used for putting holes in skins for threading. Axis Line through centre of a stone tool – long axis meaning the longest distance, its length. Backing The removal of chips/small flakes from the opposing margin of a stone tools working edge. Enables it to be fitted/mounted on to a handle, usually wooden. Bipolar flaking technique often employed in the process. Badgers An early colonial term for wombats. Bands A social structure comprising about 40 individuals made up of family groups (Hearth Groups). In Tasmania a “Band” had its own “Name”. Basal Date The date obtained at the bottom of a deposit in a site. Base Camp A site used intensively for all facets of life each year over a longish period of time. Bass Basin Also known as the “Bassian Depression”, the area of greatest depth c. 92 – 83 metres in the centre of Bassiana. It has had various forms over the millennium, a lake (Lake Bass), bay (Bass Bay) or as a part of Bass Strait. Bass Bay The huge embayment formed in the Bass Basin after the Southern Ocean penetrated the Western Sill. Bass River My term for the large water course that connected the Indian/Southern Oceans to Lake Bass. Bass Strait The waterway that separates Tasmania from Victoria flooded Bassiana. Bassiana The land mass of the Pleistocene period that now comprises Bass Strait and its Islands. Bassian Depression See “Bass Basin”. Bassian Rise The Eastern end of Bassiana, now submerged except for the Furneaux Group of Islands. Bassian Sill (Rise) That area North of the Furneaux & Kent Groups that is the lowest section where “The Corridor” is cut, about 60 kilometres wide and 58 metres below the present sea level. Bathymetric Depths Depths at which land is immersed by the sea. B.C. A dating terminology meaning “Before Christ”, that is before the year “0”. B.C.E. A new “Political Correct” term replacing “B C” and meaning “Before the Christian Era” or “Before the Common Era”! Beach-Head A confined Coastal Base of an invading force. Biface The edge of a tool struck from two directions (E.G. an axe). “Big Men” A Papau New Guinea term for that person who by physical and/or mental power is recognised as the Leader. Bi-Marginal Parallel two sided margins on a flake and suitable for a working edge, usually secondary trimmed. Bi-Marginal Point Two side margins on a flake that meet to form a point. Biomantle A soil unit containing bioturbation. Biomass The amount of energy contained in a particular environment (E.G. forestry, island, etc). Biome A Geographical ecological unit (E.G. forest, island etc). Bio-production The amount of energy produced in a particular environment (E.G. forest, island etc). Bioturbation Natural disturbance of a site. Bipoint A bone tool with a point at both ends. Bipolar Artefacts Any stone artefact showing evidence of the bipolar flaking technique. Bipolar Flaking Flaking procedure on a stone (usually a pebble) when it is struck on one end and while the opposing end is on an anvil. Bipolar Technique See “Bipolar Flaking”. Biproducts Debitage, waste material such as chips, nondescript pieces and the like. "Birds Nests" A term to describe a round cluster of stones around a depression, deliberately arranged by Aborigines. Bivalves Molluscs that have two shells, often shaped like a butterfly when opened, E.G. mussels. Bivalvia A mollusc “Class” – those having two lateral valves – oysters, mussels. Black-Bushrangers Party-educated Aborigines remnants of Bands often, who returned to the bush to raid “Whites”. Black Line A military exercise to try and capture - confine the Tasmanian Aborigines to the Tasman Peninsula from 7th October to 1st November 1830.