The discovery of the oldest pottery ever found in Australia on Jiigurru (Lizard Island) off the coast of Queensland is rewriting the history of Aboriginal Australian communities. Traditionally, it was believed that Aboriginal Australians had no knowledge of pottery production prior to European settlement. However, this groundbreaking discovery challenges those long-held assumptions, revealing a complex history of cultural exchange and technological innovation far predating British colonization.
The Discovery: Unearthing Pottery Shards
The excavation took place on Jiigurru, an island that holds significant cultural importance for the Dingaal and Ngurrumungu Aboriginal communities. This research project was spearheaded by James Cook University’s Distinguished Professor Sean Ulm, who is a Chief Investigator for the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH). The project was carried out in partnership with the traditional owners of Jiigurru, showcasing a collaborative approach between archaeology and Indigenous knowledge.
Archaeologists spent two years conducting a detailed excavation of a 2.4-meter-deep midden on Jiigurru, uncovering evidence of ancient occupation. The site yielded an array of remains, including shellfish and fish, which suggested that the island had been inhabited for over 6,000 years. However, it was a discovery made less than a meter below the surface that would prove revolutionary: pottery shards dating back 2,000 to 3,000 years, marking the oldest pottery ever found in Australia.
The discovery of these pottery fragments fundamentally shifts our understanding of the technological capabilities of Aboriginal Australians. According to Professor Ulm, this find challenges the previously held belief that Aboriginal communities lacked pottery-making knowledge before the arrival of Europeans. Instead, the discovery points to a much deeper history of cultural exchanges and technological innovation among Indigenous communities long before British colonization.
The Significance of the Pottery Discovery
The pottery shards discovered on Jiigurru provide key insights into the history and culture of Aboriginal Australians. Geological analysis of the ceramics indicates that the pottery was locally produced, with clays and temper materials sourced directly from Jiigurru itself. This suggests that the Indigenous people living on the island were not only capable of producing their own pottery but also had an intricate understanding of the materials they were working with.
The timing of the pottery’s creation is particularly significant. The pottery found on Jiigurru coincides with a period when the Lapita people of southern Papua New Guinea were also known to be producing pottery. The overlap in the timing of these two cultures’ pottery production suggests that there were long-distance cultural exchanges between Aboriginal communities in North Queensland and the pottery-making communities of New Guinea. These interactions point to an advanced level of maritime capabilities and suggest that Aboriginal Australians were deeply involved in trade and cultural networks that spanned vast distances.
Professor Ulm noted that the pottery’s age overlaps with the rise of the Lapita culture in the Pacific, a seafaring civilization known for its distinctive pottery. This connection further strengthens the theory that Aboriginal Australians were part of a wider network of maritime exchange across the Coral Sea, facilitated by advanced canoe technology and open-sea navigation skills.
A Collaborative Approach to Research
The collaboration between archaeologists and traditional owners is one of the most unique aspects of this discovery. Dingaal clan member and Walmbaar Aboriginal Corporation Chairperson Kenneth McLean emphasized the importance of working together with archaeologists to uncover and share the knowledge of his people. He said, “Working in collaboration with archaeologists and traditional owners, and working on country is something that’s never been done before for my people… we can look after the country together.”
This partnership not only allows for a deeper understanding of the archaeological findings but also helps in preserving the cultural integrity of the site. Ngurrumungu Elder Brian Cobus echoed this sentiment, stating, “Every bit of knowledge we gain helps us tell the story of country. Research projects like this help us all to understand country better and help us to understand how to look after country.”
For the traditional owners, this research represents more than just archaeological interest; it is a way to connect with their ancestors and ensure that the history and cultural significance of their land are properly acknowledged and preserved.
Expanding the Understanding of Aboriginal Australian Maritime Capabilities
The discovery of pottery on Jiigurru provides a wealth of information about the sophisticated maritime networks that existed among Indigenous Australian communities, particularly in North Queensland. Professor Ulm noted that this find underscores the advanced maritime capabilities of First Nations communities in the region. The pottery suggests that the people of Jiigurru were not isolated but were instead actively participating in long-distance trade networks, exchanging goods, ideas, and technologies with neighboring communities in New Guinea.
This discovery challenges the outdated notion that Indigenous Australians were isolated from the rest of the world and had little contact with other cultures. Professor Ulm emphasized that this find gives us a glimpse into the widespread trading system that Aboriginal Australians were a part of. He explained, “We think that the ancestors of contemporary traditional owners were engaged in a very widespread trading system. So, they traded technology, goods, and ideas, knew how to make pottery, and made it locally.”
This network of exchange was likely facilitated by advanced canoe voyaging technology and the ability to navigate the open sea. The discovery suggests that Aboriginal Australians were actively involved in the exchange of not only goods but also cultural practices and innovations, such as pottery-making, with neighboring regions across the Coral Sea.
A New Chapter in Australian, Melanesian, and Pacific Archaeology
The discovery on Jiigurru has significant implications for the broader fields of Australian, Melanesian, and Pacific archaeology. CABAH Chief Investigator Professor Ian McNiven from Monash University noted that the evidence points to a long history of connections across the Coral Sea. These connections were likely facilitated by the seafaring skills of Aboriginal Australians, which were essential in establishing a Coral Sea Cultural Interaction Sphere. This network linked the coastal communities of eastern north Queensland, southern New Guinea, and the Torres Strait, enabling the exchange of objects, technologies, and ideas for over 3,000 years.
Professor McNiven also highlighted that this discovery provides crucial new insights into the interactions between Australian and New Guinean coastal communities. Pottery, along with other objects such as cone-shell body adornments and bamboo smoking pipes, serves as evidence of a widespread sharing of culture and technologies across these regions. The presence of pottery in particular suggests that the exchange of technological knowledge, including the craft of pottery-making, was an integral part of this broader cultural network.
Conclusion: Rewriting the History of Aboriginal Australia
The discovery of the oldest pottery in Australia on Jiigurru is more than just an archaeological breakthrough—it is a momentous step in rewriting the history of Aboriginal Australia. This find challenges long-standing misconceptions about the technological capabilities of Aboriginal communities before European settlement, providing compelling evidence of long-distance cultural exchanges and technological innovations that predate British colonization by thousands of years.
By uncovering these pottery shards, researchers have not only shed light on the past but also provided a deeper understanding of the complexity and richness of Indigenous Australian cultures. This discovery helps to dismantle outdated colonialist stereotypes, revealing the sophistication and innovation that characterized Aboriginal communities long before European contact.
The collaboration between traditional owners and researchers ensures that this knowledge is preserved and passed down to future generations. The findings on Jiigurru will undoubtedly continue to inspire new avenues of research and deepen our understanding of Australia’s ancient past, highlighting the critical role that Indigenous communities have played in shaping the history of the region.
More information: Sean Ulm et al, Early Aboriginal pottery production and offshore island occupation on Jiigurru (Lizard Island group), Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Quaternary Science Reviews (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108624