Thylacines in Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) Archaeology
The Tasmanian aboriginals, the Palawa, were composed of many different tribes prior to the early 19th century genocide. Early Europeans failed to properly study the Palawa, their culture, traditions, etc., but did at least record parts of many of their different tribal languages (see Appendix 2). Whose linguistic differences show that their tribial divisions must have arisen centuries, if not millennia, before Europeans arrived. Moreover, different tribes appear to have had different relationships with the thylacine, from revering them to hunting and eating them. And it is the latter that is the aim of the present project. As part of my attempted exhaustive treatment of the early European thylacine literature (1642-1850), a very few sources alight upon aboriginal relationships and experiences with thylacines. Particularly the diary of George Augustus Robinson, who was Chief Protector of aboriginals for about a decade, roughly aligning with the 1840's. But they are quite dissatisfactory in determing more fully the normative attitudes of each tribe towards the species.
Thylacine remains in archaeological contexts would seem then to be a good proxy for tribes that did not revere the species. Particularly if there is evidence of consumption. While the absence of such remains is a good proxy for tribes that revered the species. However, we need to be extremely cautious because there may be other reasons that the species is present or absent in the archaeological record of a particular tribe. For example, there is an historical (1803-1930) paucity of records of living thylacines from much of the south-west of the island. Two main competing hypotheses may be raised to explain this absence. Firstly, the south-west has been said to be relatively unsuitable for the species to hunt as it tends to favour open plains which are notably absent. The second hypothesis is that the aboriginals from the south-west drove the species to local extinction, presumably as food. Therefore, the presence or absence of the species from the archaeological and palaeontological record of the south-west can help to adjudicate on this question.
However, there are other possible reasons that thylacine remains may be present or absent in an archaeological context. A tribe that reveres the species may nevertheless consume them during a famine. Or engage in ritual/ceremony with the bones. While tribes that do not find eating thylacines to be taboo may not consume them if other species are abundant or the local thylacine population had suffered a decline or local extinction. Therefore, it is probable that the exact relationships that each tribe had with the species are sadly irretrievable. However, we may just find overarching patterns in the presence/absence of thylacines from Tasmanian archaeological contexts and so it seems to me to be worth a shot. Who knows what we might discover.
Central Tasmania
Allen, Jim, Cosgrove, Richard and Brown, Steve. (1988). New archaeological data from the Southern Forests Region, Tasmania: A preliminary statement. Australian Archaeology 27: 75-88. [thylacine absent; Tasmanian emu absent]
Cosgrove, Richard, Allen, Jim and Marshall Brendan. (1990). Palaeo-ecology and Pleistocene human occupation in south central Tasmania. Antiquity 64(242): 59-78. [thylacine absent; Tasmanian emu present (Nunamira Cave, Site ORS 7)]
Northern Central Tasmania
McWilliams, R., Allen, J., Cosgrove, R. and Holdaway, S. (1999). Archaeological database. Report of the Southern Forests Archaeological Project, VOL. 3. CD-ROM (ISBN 1864465034). Bundoora: Archaeological Publications, Department of Archaeology, La Trobe University. [thylacine present (Warragarra rockshelter); Tasmanian emu presence unknown]
North-West Tasmania
Fletcher, J. A. (1925). A cave of the Aborigines. The Tasmanian Naturalist 1(4): 11-12. [thylacine absent; Tasmanian emu absent]
Western Tasmania
South-Western Tasmania
Cosgrove, Richard. (1999). Forty-Two Degrees South: The Archaeology of Late Pleistocene Tasmania. Journal of World Prehistory 13(4): 357-402. [thylacine absent; Tasmanian emu present]
Cosgrove, R. and Allen, J. (2001). Prey Choice and Hunting Strategies in the Late Pleistocene: Evidence from Southwest Tasmania, pp. 397-429. In: Anderson, A., Lilley, I., and O’Connor, S., eds., Histories of Old Ages: Essays in Honour of Rhys Jones: Pandanus Books, Canberra, Australia. [thylacine present; Tasmanian emu present]
Garvey, Jillian M. (2006). Preliminary zooarchaeological interpretations from Kutikina Cave, south-west Tasmania. Australian Aboriginal Studies 2006(1): 57-62. [thylacine absent; Tasmanian emu present]
Garvey, Jillian M. (2007). The wallaby hunters of ice age Tasmania. Australasian Science 28: 30,32-33. [thylacine absent; Tasmanian emu present]
Southern Tasmania
Conclusion
The Tasmanian emu is present in all papers in which the thylacine is present, but not vice versa (the possible exception is (McWilliams, 1999) in which the thylacine is present, but I have no access so I don't know if the Tasmanian emu is present as well). The Tasmanian emu seems to be restricted at present to sites in the south-west and central Tasmania. In contrast, the thylacine is very rare in archaeological sites, mirroring the situation on the mainland. Little can currently be gleaned from this unless or until further remains are uncovered that extends the geo-temporal record of the species in archaeological sites.
Appendix 1: Vegetation changes due to Aboriginals
Cane, Scott and Stockton, Jim. (1977). The discovery of Tasmania and man's effect on the environment. The Tasmanian Naturalist 51: 1-8.
Ellis, R. C. (1984). Aboriginal influences on vegetation in the northern highlands. The Tasmanian Naturalist 76: 7-8.
Appendix 2: Palawa (Tasmanian aboriginal) names for the thylacine
NB: The names given here were transcribed by English-speaking authors from Palawa spoken word and therefore are not perfectly accurate.
| Name | Tribe | Location | Reference/s |
| cab.ber.rone.nen.er | (unknown) | east coast | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] |
| cab.berr.one.nen.er | (unknown) | east coast |
George Augustus Robinson's journal entry for 31 August 1833. Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1966). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834. Hobart: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. [p. 786] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (2008). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834 (second edition). Hobart: Quintus Publishing / Launceston: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. xviii + 1162 pp. [p. 822] |
| can.nen.ner | Brune (Bruny) | Bruny Island (south-east) |
George Augustus Robinson's journal entry for 31 August 1833. Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1966). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834. Hobart: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. [p. 786] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (2008). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834 (second edition). Hobart: Quintus Publishing / Launceston: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. xviii + 1162 pp. [p. 822] |
| clin.ner | (unknown) | north coast |
George Augustus Robinson's journal entry for 31 August 1833. Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1966). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834. Hobart: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. [p. 786] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (2008). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834 (second edition). Hobart: Quintus Publishing / Launceston: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. xviii + 1162 pp. [p. 822] |
| corrina | north-east | Freeman, Carol J. (2005b). Figuring extinction: Visualizing the thylacine in zoological and natural history works 1808-1936, 2 volumes. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Tasmania: Hobart, Australia. [p. 13 of volume 1] | |
| crimererrar | (unknown) | (unknown) | Norman, Rev. James. (1910). Aborigines of Tasmania - the Norman vocabulary. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania [1910]: 333-342. [p. 341] |
| crīmerērrar |
Norman, Rev. James. (1890). Appendix A: Norman's Vocabulary, pp. i-vii. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. [p. v] Norman, Rev. James. (1899). Appendix A: Norman's Vocabulary, pp. i-vii. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. v or 294/403] |
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| cri'mĕrērrăr | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| ka-nuna | Roth, H. Ling. (1899). Appendix F: Tasmanian-English Vocabulary, pp. lii-lxxxiii. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. liv or 343/403] | ||
| ka-nunnah | (unknown) | southern or south-eastern |
Milligan, Joseph. (1859). Vocabulary of dialects of the Aboriginal tribes of Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 3: 239-274. [p. 263 'Tiger, V.D.L., (Thylacinus cynocephalus)'] Milligan, Joseph. (1890). Appendix C, pp. xxi-lxvi. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. [p. liii] Milligan, Joseph. (1899). Appendix C, pp. xix-xlvii. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. xxxviii or 327/403] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] |
| kan.nen.ner | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| kān.nĕn.nĕr | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| kaparunina | not applicable (see next column) | Island wide. This is the name used in the composite language pawala kani used throughout lutruwita (Tasmania) | http://tacinc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Three-Capes-Welcome.pdf |
| kul.len.ner | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| lagunta | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| lagūnta | "Tribes from Oyster Bay to Pitwater" | "Tribes from Oyster Bay to Pitwater" |
Milligan, Joseph. (1859). Vocabulary of dialects of the Aboriginal tribes of Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 3: 239-274. [p. 263 'Tiger, V.D.L., (Thylacinus cynocephalus)'] Milligan, Joseph. (1890). Appendix C, pp. xxi-lxvi. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. [p. liii] Milligan, Joseph. (1899). Appendix C, pp. xix-xlvii. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. xxxviii or 327/403] Roth, H. Ling. (1899). Appendix F: Tasmanian-English Vocabulary, pp. lii-lxxxiii. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. lvi or 345/403] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] |
| ?langunta | Likely an orthographic error, used at the start of editions of the journal Kanunnah, e.g. volume 3 (1 October 2008): https://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/128567/KANUNNAH3.pdf | ||
| laoonana | (unknown) | southern or south-eastern |
Milligan, Joseph. (1859). Vocabulary of dialects of the Aboriginal tribes of Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 3: 239-274. [p. 263 'Tiger, V.D.L., (Thylacinus cynocephalus)'] Milligan, Joseph. (1890). Appendix C, pp. xxi-lxvi. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. [p. liii] Milligan, Joseph. (1899). Appendix C, pp. xix-xlvii. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. xxxviii or 327/403] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] |
| larn.ter | (unknown) | Oyster Bay (east coast) |
George Augustus Robinson's journal entry for 31 August 1833. Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1966). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834. Hobart: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. [p. 786] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (2008). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834 (second edition). Hobart: Quintus Publishing / Launceston: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. xviii + 1162 pp. [p. 822] |
| launana | Roth, H. Ling. (1899). Appendix F: Tasmanian-English Vocabulary, pp. lii-lxxxiii. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. lvii or 346/403] | ||
| ?legunta |
An orthographic error for lagūnta (Milligan, 1859) used by (Paddle, 2000:153,167, 2002:153,167): Paddle, Robert N. (2000). The Last Tasmanian Tiger: the History and Extinction of the Thylacine. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [hardback] Paddle, Robert N. (2002). The Last Tasmanian Tiger: The History and Extinction of the Thylacine. Oakleigh, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. [paperback] |
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| loarina | Roth, H. Ling. (1899). Appendix F: Tasmanian-English Vocabulary, pp. lii-lxxxiii. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. lix or 348/403] | ||
| ?loarinna | Orthographic error for 'loarinnah'? No known reference apart from recent online sources that either give no reference, or the reference cited only uses 'loarinnah'. | ||
| loarinnah | (unknown) | north-western or western |
Milligan, Joseph. (1859). Vocabulary of dialects of the Aboriginal tribes of Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 3: 239-274. [p. 263 'Tiger, V.D.L., (Thylacinus cynocephalus)'] Milligan, Joseph. (1890). Appendix C, pp. xxi-lxvi. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. [p. liii] Milligan, Joseph. (1899). Appendix C, pp. xix-xlvii. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. xxxviii or 327/403] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] |
| lon.er.nin.er | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| lon.er.nine.er | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| lone.nin | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] | ||
| low.er.nin.ner | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 311] | ||
| lowe.nin | (unknown) | Cape Grim (north-west) |
George Augustus Robinson's journal entry for 31 August 1833. Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1966). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834. Hobart: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. [p. 786] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (2008). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834 (second edition). Hobart: Quintus Publishing / Launceston: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. xviii + 1162 pp. [p. 822] |
| lowerina | Roth, H. Ling. (1899). Appendix F: Tasmanian-English Vocabulary, pp. lii-lxxxiii. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. lx or 349/403] | ||
| lowerinna | (unknown) | northern |
Anonymous. (1842). Aboriginal languages of Tasmania. Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science, Agriculture, Statistics, &c. 1(4): 308-318. [p. 318] Roth, H. Ling. (1899). Appendix B: Vocabularies, pp. vii-xviii. In: The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [pp. xvii or 306/403] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] |
| lowewinna |
Roth, H. Ling. (1890). Appendix B: Vocabularies, pp. viii-xix. In: The Aborigines of Tasmania. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. [p. xviii] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] |
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| mar.mer.ner | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] | ||
| poi.drer.wun.ne | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] | ||
| roun | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] | ||
| war.ter.noon.nen.er | Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] | ||
| war.ter.noon.ner | (unknown) | Cape Portland (north-east) |
George Augustus Robinson's journal entry for 31 August 1833. Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1966). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834. Hobart: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. [p. 786] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (1976). A Word-list of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages. Launceston: Author in association with the Government of Tasmania. [p. 312] Plomley, Norman James Brian. (2008). Friendly Mission: The Journals of George Augustus Robinson 1829-1834 (second edition). Hobart: Quintus Publishing / Launceston: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. xviii + 1162 pp. [p. 822] |
| wāthĕrrūngĭnnă | "various Tribes" | (unknown) |
The journal entry (for 15 October 1832?) of George Washington Walker. Walker, George Washington and Walker, James Backhouse. (1898). Notes on the aborigines of Tasmania, extracted from the manuscript journals of George Washington Walker, with an introduction by James B. Walker, F.R.G.S. Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1897: 145-175. Walker, George Washington. (1899). Appendix E, pp. xlix-lii. In: Roth, H. Ling. The Aborigines of Tasmania, second edition. Halifax, England: F. King & Sons. [p. li or 340/403] Walker, James Backhouse. (1902). Early Tasmania: Papers read before the Royal Society of Tasmania during the years 1888 to 1899. Hobart, Tasmania: John Vail, Government Printer. [the son of George Washington Walker] |