SESSION 12 - Silcrete as a lithic raw material in global context: global, sourcing and techno-economics
Australian silcretes: geological and archaeological variation and procurement and manufacture

Silcretes in Australia can be classified by geological origin, geography and physical composition. Each of these variables influence the physical characteristics of the source area, the overall abundance of the material, the quality (flaking properties) of the material and the ease of extraction or accessibility; factors which directly influence the decisions people made in the past to procure and work particular stone resources. This paper presents case studies from three distinct regions in Queensland and New South Wales examine how its geological variation impacted on its archaeological use.