Trample damage of stone flakes as an index of occupation intensity: a case study from Magnificent Gallery

Abstract

A comparative index of trampling intensity was used in the analysis of the stone artefact assemblage at Magnificent Gallery (southeast Cape York Peninsula, Northern Queensland), to take into account the inter-related processes of flake breakage and sedimentation.  This demonstrated a late decrease in the proportion of broken flakes, which largely reflected associated increases in sedimentation rates, rather than decreased occupational intensity.  The analysis took into account the inverse relationship between sedimentation rate and frequency of flake breakage.  the results indicate that people may have visited the site more frequently and/or for longer periods in the past 1,000 years.