Walyunga slate 
321 
a telling change in width from the usual 120 pm - 
150 pm to about 240 pm. At point (2), a distinctive 
gap of 90 pm occurs between the two lines which 
are both c. 150 pm wide. Since the same tool was 
almost certainly used in creating the whole design, 
the comparison of the two points shows that where 
the groove direction changed significantly without 
raising and turning the tool, the groove width 
changed, but not where the tool was lifted before 
continuing in a new direction. It is therefore 
suggested that the steel point was somewhat 
flattened, but was preferentially applied in the 
direction of its smaller width. This would imply 
the use of a knife point or similar instrument that 
permits the user good control over tool point 
orientation relative to direction of application. 
Side B also bears numerous taphonomic marks, 
including on the fracture surfaces where they are 
most common along the outer edges. Some of the 
curved marks on the flat face may be tool made, 
but they are too faint and discontinuous to permit 
secure identification. 
SUMMARY 
This examination of the small engraved slate 
object from Walyunga suggests that it has a 
relatively long (in terms of the events documented 
on its surface being spread over many decades) 
and complex history. It is probably a fragment of a 
roofing tile, presumably imported from Britain 
during the 19th century. It was subsequently 
engraved with a steel point, possibly of a knife, on 
both sides. Neither the grid pattern on side A nor 
the motifs on the specimen's second face are typical 
of traditional Aboriginal graphic production. The 
designs on side B convey the impression that they 
may have formed part of a children's drawing, as 
their 'geometric' elements can be found in the work 
of juvenile artists. The grid pattern, however, 
reveals a steady hand and good control of the 
engraving tool, and is probably by an adult hand. 
One possible explanation would be that this 
pattern was part of a game board. 
After its use as an engraving slate, the specimen 
was broken and its long taphonomic history began. 
This involved considerable mechanical wear 
through transport in or on a very abrasive 
sediment of irregular, often angular quartz grains. 
Trampling or rubbing against other hard surfaces 
occurred repeatedly, and more recently the object 
was buried in its final shape, at least partly, in the 
top of the sandy sediment. 
It follows from this that it cannot be 
demonstrated that the artefact has been used by 
Aboriginal people, therefore its occurrence at the 
Walyunga occupation site may be fortuitous. One 
should not rule out the possibility, however, that 
the object has been used as a slate by Aboriginal 
children during the nineteenth century. I have 
detected no evidence that would clarify this point. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
My thanks are expressed to Mr Charles Dortch 
and the Western Australian Museum, for making 
this specimen available for detailed analysis. I also 
thank Mr Peter Bindon, Mr George Kendrick, Dr 
Patricia Vinnicombe and Mr Dortch for 
constructive comments on a draft of this paper. 
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Manuscript submitted 6 January 1997; accepted 11 July 
1997. 
