Resin-mounted wallaby teeth reveal rare 1,200-year-old ornaments in Queensland
While sorting through animal bones in a rock shelter in Queensland, Australia, archaeologists came across a tooth where something was "not quite right." Stuck to the tip of its root was a blackish-brown ball of glue-like resin. Eleven more teeth with the same sticky substance were found, making them the only known instance of this type of tooth ornament found outside burials in northeastern…
In a rock shelter in Queensland, Australia, archaeologists discovered resin-mounted teeth belonging to wallabies that date back approximately 1,200 years. These teeth, found at the Windmill Way site, are the only known instances of this type of tooth ornament outside of burials in northeastern Australia, and the first of their kind discovered in the Cape York Peninsula.
The resin, which serves as a protective casing for the teeth, is made from grass-tree gum. While similar tooth jewelry is common in other parts of Australia, it is unclear whether it was widespread or known in the peninsula. The discovery highlights the cultural continuity and resilience of Australia's First Nations people, and demonstrates how people utilize clothing, jewelry, and artifacts to reinforce their cultural identity.
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