Spearhead found on Rottnest Island

An glass spearhead, believed to have been used by indigenous prisoners, has been discovered on Rottnest Island.

A 19th century glass spearhead has been found on Rottnest Island, off Perth's coast.

The spearhead is believed to have been used by indigenous men and boys to hunt while they were imprisoned on the island, supplementing their vegetarian diet with snakes and the small marsupial quokka.

Indigenous studies professor Len Collard, from the University of Western Australia, said he was digging around the sand with his feet during a class trip when the spearhead glinted in the light.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world