Radiocarbon dates for coastal midden sites at Long Point in the Coorong, South Australia

This paper presents 29 radiocarbon dates from eight surface concentrations of shell and 10 test-pits across four shell middens at Long Point in the Coorong, South Australia. Results indicate that occupation of these sites was confined to the late Holocen

Direct Radiocarbon Dating Of Fish Otoliths From Mulloway (Argyrosomus Japonicus) And Black Bream (Acanthopagrus Butcheri) From Long Point, Coorong, South Australia

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates (n=20) determined on fish otoliths from mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) and black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) are reported from five sites at Long Point, Coorong, South Australia. The dates range from 2938–2529 to 326–1 cal. BP, extending the known period of occupation of Long Point. Previous dating at the sites indicated intensive occupation of the area from 2455–2134 cal. BP. Results provide a detailed local chronology for the region, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of boriginal use of Ngarrindjeri lands and waters. This study validates the use of fish otoliths for radiocarbon dating and reveals how dating different materials can result in different midden chronologies.This study was supported by funds from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (grant number 09/7435) awarded to BMG and MCFD, a Sir Mark Mitchell Research Foundation Grant awarded to LW, and Indigenous Heritage Programme funding. BMG acknowledges support from an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP110100716) and an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT100100767). SU is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project number FT120100656)