The Brremangurey pearl: A 2000 year old archaeological find from the coastal Kimberley, Western Australia

Title
The Brremangurey pearl: A 2000 year old archaeological find from the coastal Kimberley, Western Australia
Publication Date
2015
Author(s)
Szabo, Katherine
Koppel, Brent
Moore, Mark
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4768-5329
Email: mmoore2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:mmoore2
Young, Iain
Tighe, Matthew
Morwood, Michael J
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Australian Archaeological Association Inc
Place of publication
Australia
UNE publication id
une:17901
Abstract
A small marine pearl was recovered at the Brremangurey rockshelter, on the Kimberley coast, from layers dating to approximately 2000 years ago. In an area famous for its pearls and history of cultured pearl production, public interest centred on whether the pearl was as old as the layer in which it was contained, or whether it was a recent cultured pearl that had infiltrated down from above. The near-spherical shape of the pearl hinted at a possible cultured origin. Owing to the uniqueness and historic cultural significance of this find, non-invasive analytical techniques were used to investigate whether the Brremangurey pearl was cultured or natural. Midden analysis was further used to assess the likely origin of the pearl within the stratified deposits. Analysis confirmed that the pearl is of natural origin and a dense midden lens of 'Pinctada albina' shells is its likely origin.
Link
Citation
Australian Archaeology, v.80, p. 112-115
ISSN
2470-0363
0312-2417
Start page
112
End page
115

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