Aboriginal Australian Trade Networks

Timeline

1. c. 1331–1336Kimberley region · Western AustraliaOchre sources such as Wilgie Mia in the Kimberley region supplied inland and southern areas; ochre was used in rock art, body painting, and ceremonial exchange, and some quarries were regarded as sacred territory under strict management.
2. c. 1333–1338Queensland stone axe sources · QueenslandPolished stone axes produced at northern Queensland quarries (such as the Mulgrave River axe quarry) moved inland through trade networks; distant stone materials found at archaeological sites indicate exchange radii of hundreds to over a thousand kilometers.
3. c. 1335–1340Australian interior · AustraliaDifferent language groups exchanged pituri, shell necklaces, and story rights during ceremonial gatherings (corroborees); Songlines recorded trade routes crossing deserts and mountains, sustaining inter-group peace and resource distribution.