Lead (Pb) isotope signatures for silcrete sources from the Willandra Lakes region, Australia: A pilot study of a new method for provenancing silcrete artefacts

A pilot study demonstrates that lead (Pb) isotope analysis can effectively differentiate silcrete sources within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Willandra Lakes Region, Australia. The research reveals distinct Pb isotope signatures between silcrete sources, enabling potential provenance tracking of artefacts. While intra-source variation lacks spatial patterning, inter-source differences are clear, particularly for more distant sources. This method offers a promising new approach to investigate how silcrete was utilized and transported across landscapes in prehistoric times.

Kurpiel, R., Pickering, R., Maas, R., & Stern, N. (2019). Lead (Pb) isotope signatures for silcrete sources from the Willandra Lakes region, Australia: A pilot study of a new method for provenancing silcrete artefacts. La Trobe. https://doi.org/10.26181/28880924