7. NOTES ON THE HUNTING STICKS (LUGHKANA), 

 SPEARS (PERENNA), AND BASKETS (TUGH- 

 BR AN A) OF THE TASMANIAN ABORIGINES. 

 PL IX., X., XL. XII., XIII., XIV.. XV. 



By Fritz Noetling, M-A., Ph.D., Etc. 



(Read July 10th. 1911.) 



INTRODUCTION. 



In the pajJcrs previously published in the Society's 

 journal I have conclusively proved, and it can now be con- 

 si.Iered as an established fact, that the stone relics of the 

 Aborigines represent implements only, and not weapons. 

 This is a fact of the greatest importance, and its signifi- 

 cance will only be fully realised when we apply it to the 

 study of archaeolithic man in Europe- The Tasmanian 

 Aborigines had made at least one great invention, viz.. they 

 had discovered that a certain kind of rock yielded sharp- 

 edged flakes when broken. (1). They also found that 

 these sharp-edged flakes could be used for most of the re- 

 quirements of their simple life. But here again we come 

 upon one of those curious psychological pi'oblems that are 

 so difiicult to explain. The Aborigines had undoubtedly 

 discovered that these flakes were excellent cutting imple- 

 ments, as thev have generally a fine edge, and often enough 

 terminated in a sharp ])oint To us it seems easy enough 

 to turn the good qualitie.s of the sharp flakes to other uses 

 than merely as tools. The instinct of self-presei-A'ation is 

 paramount in all hviman beings, and. as has often been 

 stated, it is the mother of all those inventions that have 

 changed the life of our prehistoric ancestors into that of 

 modem mankind. A modern mind cannot understand 

 how it was possible that such a suitable material as the 

 siliceous rocks from which the implements were 

 manufactured, was not also used for weapons. 



(1) This si>eins very iiisigniflc-ant to u.-^, yet It was ii great Invention, 

 wtien wo con.sider that protmhly previously to tlie use of sliarplv-edged, 

 artiflclnlly detached flakes, only thin cohininHr pieces of diabase or 

 similar volcanic rocks which had a naturally sharp edge were used as 

 Implements by human beings. 



