Throw any old log on the fire?

Research by BSc (Hon) Candidate: Fleur King (research grant 2015)

The archaeological site of Goddard Creek on the Koombooloomba Dam shows evidence of an intensive period of toxic nut processing by past Jirrbal people approximately 1200 years ago. The technology of toxic nut processing is one of the criterion upon which the Wet Tropics of Queensland was included on the National Heritage List. The cultural materials at this site include wood charcoal fragments which when analysed can provide a record of the vegetation selected for nut processing. This information also demonstrates the type and species of vegetation available in the region during the time of occupation. The taxa present within the macro-charcoal remains, combined with ethnohistoric and ethnobotanic records, allow an insight into patterns of Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples’ past behaviour.

The objectives of Fleur’s project “Rainforest Aboriginal firewood strategies: investigating palaeovegetation and firewood using charcoal analysis in tropical rainforest of the wet tropics in north east Queensland” were to: determine the types of plants collected for firewood which were used in tree nut detoxification processes; ascertain past vegetation types surrounding the archaeological site and to establish Aboriginal landscape use and mobility patterns in the south-west region of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This was done through an analysis of the Goddard Creek wood charcoal remains which included the development of a modern reference assemblage in order to assist the botanical identification of the charcoal fragments.

The study revealed that there were 91 different types of plants in the charcoal assemblage, of this only 37 types

were able to be identified. Wood selected appears to have been predominantly from trunks or larger branches or types that were able to be burnt green or were resistant to decay. There is an absence of charcoal from the toxic nut trees Endiandra palmerstonii(black walnut) and Beilschmiedia bancrofti(yellow walnut)which may represent preservation of these trees for nut harvesting. The types of plants available in the charcoal assemblage are reflective of the current vegetation at the site, simple notophyll vine forest. Notably, there is one occurrence of Eucalyptus resinifera, which is a non-rainforest species and in present times occurs over two kilometres away from the study site.

Whilst the bulk of the assemblage is representative of species selected for firewood, there are several instances of other species that may represent other uses of vegetation by Rainforest Aboriginal people. There is charcoal of an unidentified species of Citronella in the assemblage which was burnt from young branches and may represent use for smoke production in insect control. Argyrodendron is also present and is known historically for use as a firelighter. Calamus sp. known for use in basket manufacture and hut construction is present and may represent a discard event.