48 



DISCOVERY OF AN ABORIGINAL CHIPPED 



FLAKE IN DEEP GROUND NEAR 



GLADSTONE. 



By W. H. Twelvetrees. 



Plate V. 

 (Read 10th July, 1916. Issued separately 8th August, 1916.) 



Up to the present, aboriginal worked flakes have 

 been recorded only from the surface of the ground, or in 

 shifting superficial sands such as the sand dunes of the 

 coasts. It has been recognised by every investigator who 

 has dealt with the question that the Tasmanian aboriginal 

 migrated to this island on dry land, and therefore prior 

 to its separation from Australia; the absence of the dingo 

 also has been appealed to as proof that at the time of 

 the migration the animal had not then entered Victoi4a. 



At the time of the separation the sea invaded the 

 north-eastern part of the island for many miles inland 

 from the present coast-line. The marine waters laved 

 the northern base of Mt. Cameron, and worked their way 

 round the eastern end of the mount, covering the ground 

 between the present Ringarooma and Mussel Roe rivers. 

 Residual hills and other deposits of marine grits attest 

 the former presence of the sea in this area. 



Subsequently the land rose and brought the old 

 marine drifts above sea level. The aboriginals, therefore, 

 must have witnessed both the invasion by the sea and its 

 retreat. It would consequently seem natural for the pre- 

 invasion deposits, such as the beds of fresh-water streams, 

 lagoons, and sea beaches, to contain aboriginal implements. 

 Beds of this nature could probably not be expected to 

 contain them in quantity ; nevertheless, the discovery in 

 them of stray examples may be anticipated. Possibly 

 some have already been found, but have not been recog- 

 nised by the discoverers. 



I happened to be at Gladstone last March when a 

 worked stone of chalcedony was brought to me as a strange 

 specimen found by Mr. Richards in working Richards's 

 and Murray's alluvial tin claim at the old Doone mine, 

 north of the Rinsjarooma River, and two miles from Glad- 



