ai50kh;i\al workshops — kthkkiu(;e and \vnnKLE(;(;K. l'o( 



shaped. They are verv varial)le in size and also in composition ; 

 a large number of them had ah-eady been tested as to suitability 

 for cores or from which instruments had l^een manufactured. 

 The rest of the ground was covered witli innumerable chips, Hakes, 

 cores, together with a fair sprinkling of carefully-worked weapons, 

 as well as others upon which much labour had evidenth' been ex- 

 pended, and yet through a Haw in the stone, or want of care or 

 skill on the part of the opei-ator, proved to be " wasters.'" 



There is ample evidence that many of the sand dunes were at 

 one time much higher than they are now, and also that in some 

 parts thev had been covered with vegetation interspersed with 

 native camping groinids, upon which ^-ast quantities of shells were 

 deposited ; in course of time the vegetation w^as covered by sand 

 drifts, other shell heaps formed at the summit, and the whole 

 again buried. The period of time required for these various 

 changes must have been very great, and it has I'equired a still 

 greater lapse of time to produce the present condition. The 

 shells, probably owing to the rainfall, have in many instances 

 been dissolved and the constituent lime deposited around the 

 roots and stems of the plants which lived on the surface. Many 

 instances proving the correctness of the \'iews as above related may 

 be seen on the coast at Maroubra and Bondi, but more especially 

 at Cronulla and Bellambi. In other spots the beds of sliells are 

 still visible, but in various stages of decay, either having been 

 accumulated more recently or protected by thick layers of black 

 soil and covered wuth vegetation. Tlie edges of some of the 

 sand cliffs at Cronulla, ]Maroubra and Bellambi afford many sec- 

 tions illustrative of the above remarks. These cliffs are gradually 

 being denuded by the action of the wind, and constant falls are 

 taking place, leaving the shells and stones either at the foot of a 

 cliif or around the base of some large mound on which vegetation, 

 soil and other shells and stones are still in situ. The sand and 

 soil are then rapidly blown away, leaving the shells and stones 

 scattered about the surface ; a gale from one (juarler will cover 

 the area, and windy squalls from another will lay it bare. 



TIT. — Deschiptiox of thk Implements a\u Weapons. 



The \arious stone implements obtained from the '' workshops, 

 camping grounds, kitchen-middens, and alluvial deposits will now 

 be described in the order of importance as exhibiting flaking, 

 chipping, or skill in manipulation. Opinions as to the uses of the 

 implements, with a few exceptions, must be taken as speculati^'e. 



