iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

I just had a discussion with some friends about NAGPRA laws here in America and I mentioned to them that a similar situation existed in Australia. We all were wondering what the laws are in Australia regarding citizens hunting and collecting prehistoric artifacts like stone tools, spears axes etc. Can ordinary Australians go onto public or private land and hunt for artifacts? This is a popular hobby in America, but I know nothing about how it's done in Australia. Thanks!

Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier buddy. Stone artifacts are "problematic" in Australia, there are laws protecting sites of archaeological significance like stone quarries and places were stone tools were manufactured. Its illegal here to collect such things in the field. In the case of private lands, I don't know whether legislation protecting these sites override private ownership laws. But stone artifacts do exist in collections... stone spearheads, stone axes, cylcons, stone flints and knives, grinding stones, stone tjurrunga, stone fishnet sinkers (had one of those once), etc.

There's a good documentary called "Spear in the Stone" which focusses on Yolngu conceptualisation of stone and its living essence.

Hope that helps!

G