David, Bruno, Mialanes, Jerome, Mullett, Russell, Fresløv, Joanna, GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Delannoy, Jean-Jacques, Petchey, Fiona, Rogers, Ashleigh J., McDowell, Matthew C., Skelly, Robert J., Wong, Vanessa, Crouch, Joe, Green, Helen, and Ash, Jeremy (2024) Millukmungee 1: Stone artefacts and occupation at the junction of the Buchan and Snowy Rivers, GunaiKurnai Country, East Gippsland (Victoria, Australia). Australian Archaeology, 90 (2). pp. 182-213.

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Abstract

Recent excavations at Millukmungee 1, a limestone rock shelter along the upper bank of the Buchan River in GunaiKurnai Country (southeastern Australia), uncovered archaeological evidence of Mid- to Late Holocene occupation spanning c. 5000 years. Here we report on the stone artefacts and faunal remains, especially in light of a paucity of published details on artefact types and technologies for this part of southeast Australia. Results indicate that this part of the site was occupied only rarely from 5590–5050 cal BP (the uncertainty range for the oldest artefact from the excavation) to 2340–2030 cal BP. During this period, most of the artefacts were made from silcrete, quartz, chert, and quartzite. Small backed artefacts are present during this phase, all dating between 4570–1940 cal BP. A single, much larger backed artefact (elouera) dates to later, ≤290 cal BP. After 1960 cal BP, activities focussed on the production of flakes from locally available quartz and, to a lesser extent, hornfels; large pebbles obtained from the nearby Buchan River channel were flaked during this period. Occupation ceased with the onset of settler colonialism in the mid-1800s CE.

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