New radiocarbon dates from Kirriri 4: extending the 2,500 BP signature for the onset of the Torres Strait Cultural Complex to south Western Torres Strait, Northeast Queensland

Abstract

This paper presents new radiocarbon dates from an excavation undertaken on the island of Kirriri in Kaurareg Country in south Western Torres Strait (northeastern Queensland). AMS radiocarbon determinations for the Kirriri 4 site places an early phase of major cultural activity to c. 2,700 to c. 2,300 cal. BP, and a more recent phase to c. 500 cal. BP. The earlier phase corresponds with the timing of the establishment of the Torres Strait Cultural Complex c. 2,500 years ago. The Kirriri 4 dating results are significant as they represent the southern-most island distribution of this cultural complex and play a key role in better understanding the nature and timing of settlement, maritime specialisation and other cultural transformation occurring in the broader region.

KEYWORDS:

• Torres strait
• Torres Strait cultural complex
• radiocarbon dating
• interregional interaction
• timing of settlement

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are extended to the Kaurareg Aboriginal community and the Kaurareg Aboriginal Native Title Claim Group who have supported LMB’s archaeological research on their country since 2002, and for their kind invitation to undertake the Kirriri project. Thanks go to John Mills, Gordon Hammond, Loretta Adidi, Guy Savage and Harry Seriat for their assistance with excavation and surveys. Thanks also to the Hammond Island Community Council for logistical support, and three anonymous reviewers who provided valuable feedback on the original manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by Australian Research Council (ARC) grant [DP0984998].