STONE AGE IX VICTORIA. 501 



jjossessions of considerable value. The pouncling-stoues, pestle-shaped, 

 perfectly rounded or with one tiat surface, are usti^^lly of hard, 

 smooth stone, such as quartz, diorite, dense basalt, or liii^estone. 



From the nature of the material generally used, tlie successful 

 manufacture of a stoae-axe must have been' a work of some difficulty. 

 There was the initial choice of suitable uiaterial, often no easy task. 

 When selected, the rough fragment was chipped into the requii-ed 

 shape by successive blows from a hard stone used as a hammer, the 

 stone being operated upon being held in the hand, and resting upon 

 an anvil-stone placed upon the ground. Thus chipped, slowly and 

 laboriously, but skilfully, the axe-head assumed shape, and was then 

 ground until both shape and edge were satisfactory upon a hai^d, 

 usually fragmental, sandstone or whetstone, but occasionally in the 

 mass {in situ), running water, where obtainable, being used in the 

 operation. 



Sharpening stones, ha'S'ing a perfectly sniootli concave surface, as 

 tlie result of lono- friction and use, and into wliich the axe-heads closely 

 fit, are sometimes found. Other stones, to judge by their shape and 

 suiface, seem to have been used as rasps for shaqiening. 



Where procurable, quartzite, on account of its clean fracture and 

 sharp edge, was used for making serviceable knives. Frequently 

 small rounded stones, quartz pebbles, kc, occur in the mirru-yongs ; 

 these may have been used in play, in ceremonial rites, in the practice 

 of massage, or the larger ones, as among the Maoris, may have been 

 employed in shaping nets. Bone implements, being more perishable, 

 are seldom found, and were probably but little used among Victorian 

 blacks. 



It seems to have been geiierally and too readily accepted that the 

 occupation of Australia by the black race w^as comparatively recent. 

 The evidence in support of this opinion is mainly negative, but 

 receives a reflected confirmation from the fact that the stone age is 

 still existent in parts of Australia. In considering this subject we 

 must remember that the native race was not a constructive one, and 

 had no architectural al)ility by which to leave evidences of antiquity. 

 It -was in that low stage of development in which only most imperfect 

 traces of existence could be left behind for after generations. Again, 

 veiy little has yet been done in Australia by the few interested to 

 systematically study this subject in the same way as* in the older 

 countries, with their numerous skilled obsen-ers and better facilities 

 for tracing man's development from the paleolithic age to the present 

 day. Yet, in Australia, we have the evident advantage of studying 

 the stone age still in existenoe, and contemporaneous with our own 

 civilisation. How far its evidences extend into the past is a matter 

 for present and future research. Almost every creek, river, lake, and 

 watercourse has some remains of the old native camps, whose study 

 will throw light upon the past of a vanishing, race. Our long coast 

 line of 8,000 miles in extent is rich in similar testimony. 



The great extent of these evidences of occupation, particularly 

 near the coast and along the banks of our large streams, tells of a 

 comparatively long period ; but as yet so little observation has been 

 made over the immense area on which our scanty population is settled 

 that the question of antiquity of the Australian race is no nearer 

 solution. Our river-valleys, gravel deposits, raised sea-beaches, and 



