Aboriginal Australian trade networks

Timeline

1. 1035–1040Queensland stone axe quarries · QueenslandGreenstone axes from Queensland quarry sites circulated through inter-tribal ceremonial exchange to inland and coastal settlements hundreds of kilometers away. Ochre, shell necklaces, spear shafts, and other goods moved along established trade routes, with exchange following complex kinship and tribal ceremonial rules.
2. 1038–1040Australian inland trade routes · AustraliaSeasonal gatherings and trade fairs connected desert peoples with communities of the Murray-Darling river system and the northern coast. Beyond material exchange, songs, dances, and creation myths spread along trade routes, making the trade network a vital mechanism for sustaining continental-scale social identity and cultural continuity.