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KIMBERLEY POINTS
LATE STONE AGE
NORTHWESTERN AUSTRALIA
EST. A.D. 500 TO EUROPEAN CONTACT
PAGE 3 OF 3 PAGES
COPYRIGHT MARCH 31, 2004 PETER A. BOSTROM
A Kimberley point made of glass.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
KIMBERLEY SPEAR POINT
LATE STONE AGE
KIMBERLEY REGION, NORTHWESTERN AUSTRALIA
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   This Kimberley point is made from a beautiful piece of green glass.  It still has a lot of the original hafting resin still attached to the base indicating that it was once probably attached to the end of a foreshaft for a spear. This point is very thinly flaked. It has very uniform serrations along the edges and a needle sharp point. This Kimberley point measures approximately 2 inches (5 cm) long.

     An early style of Kimberley point is called the Kimberley Dentate point. These points range in size from 2 inches (5 cm) to 4 1/4 inches (11 cm) long. These leaf shaped points have large notch-like serrations that are as much as 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep to 3/8 inch (9 mm) wide.
     The smaller Kimberley points, 2 inches (5 cm) or smaller, were used for hunting and many of the larger examples were used for trade. Even before the Europeans arrived, Kimberley points were prized by people living as much as 1400 kilometers away for their aesthetic qualities and mythological significance. Away from the Kimberley region, they became male prestige items and were hafted onto short handles and used as knives. They were used in ceremonial activities such as circumcision operations.

A Kimberley point made of quartzite.
 KIMBERLEY SPEAR POINT
LATE STONE AGE
NORTHWESTERN AUSTRALIA, POINT GEORGE IV
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   This point was probably once hafted onto the end of a spear on a foreshaft. It was collected in the northwest region at Point George IV. This point is bifacially flaked and is serrated.  Some of the hafting resin is still evident on the base. This point is made of semi- translucent brown quartzite and it measures 2 inches (5 cm) long.

  There was a fairly large demand for Kimberley points by the Europeans during the late 1800's and into the early 1900's for souvenirs and curiosity items. Most of these were made of glass because it was easy to flake and the finished point was beautiful to look at. Many of these points were even made by inmates of Broome Prison for sale to visitors.

Boy holding kangaroo.
AUSTRALIA 1950'S

   The picture on the left shows a primitive structure and an aboriginal woman holding a baby she had just delivered. Notice the small drawing on the roofing tin ("enlarged image"). It depicts a freshly cut tree stump with a new tree growing behind it with grass and another small object. The picture on the right shows a boy holding Australia's most famous marsupial. These pictures were taken sometime in the 1950's.

     Kimberley points were still being made when the Europeans arrived in Australia. Observations of the people making them have been a valuable contribution to the study of lithic technology. The fact that Kimberley points impressed both aboriginal tribes and people of the industrial world with their artistic and mythological qualities is rather unique. One thing for sure, they will probably always continue to impress people with their exquisite design and craftsmanship, not to mention their cultural history.

"REFERENCES"

1949, Mitchell, S.R., "Stone-Age Craftsmen, Stone Tools & Camping Places of the Australian Aborigines" pp. 62-64.
1963, Tindale, Norman B. & Lindsay, H.A., "Aboriginal Australians", pp. 36-37.
1999, Mulvaney, John & Kamminga, Johan, "Prehistory of Australia," pp.89, 95, 238-241.
2000, Moore, Mark, "Chips Vol. 12 #3, "Kimberley Spear Points of Northwestern Australia," pp. 5-17.

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