

As part of a joint Australian National University and Canberra Archaeological Society program of archaeological investigation on Springbank Island in Lake Burley Griffin, ACT, our lithic artefact specialist Dr Oliver Macgregor conducted a workshop on stone knapping for the project’s public open day last April. Stone knapping involves the manufacture and maintenance of stone tools by the careful removal of flakes using a variety of techniques. The day attracted a wide range of visitors aged from 4 to over 70, with many participating in a final day of site excavations. The program recovered traces of both Aboriginal and European occupation. Oliver’s knapping display revealed the specialised knowledge used by Springbank’s earliest occupants in creating a stone toolkit for early Canberra living.
The Springbank Archaeology Project is funded by ACT Heritage.
Photos courtesy of Iain Johnston