AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES AND METEORITES

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract - Numerous mythological references to meteoritic events by Aboriginal people in Australia contrast with the scant physical evidence of their interaction with meteoritic materials. Possible reasons for this are the unsuitability of some meteorites for tool making and the apparent inability of early Aborigines to work metallic materials. However, there is a strong possibility that Aborigines witnessed one or more of the several recent (<5000 yrs BP) meteorite impact events in Australia. Evidence for Aboriginal use of meteorites and the recognition of meteoritic events is critically evaluated.