Notes on a series of "pounders" from certain localities of the west coast of Tasmania

All students and collectors of Tasmanian stone implements are more or less familiar with the type generally known as "Pounder" or hammer-stone, which occurs on most of the ancient native camping grounds along the East Coast, the estuary of the river Derwent, and in the wind-blown sand pits of the Midlands. This type is fairly well represented in the collection at the Tasmanian Museum. For example, the Ovate or true hammer-stone were chosen from the beaches and beds of streams for their handy shape and suitability for the delivery of hard fracturing blows, evidence of such usage being plainly marked at their extremities.
There is also another type, typical of the East Coast camps in particular. This is distinguished by its somewhat elongated shape, best likened to that of a small Banana, or perhaps better, to the white Passion-fruit of temperate climes.
This last-mentioned type was probably used for breaking open the shells of the Green Whelk (Turbo undulatus) which figured so largely as an article of food with the natives whilst they were roaming the coast-line.