Summary

Stone was the heaviest and most durable material available to First Peoples across Australia. The use of metal was unknown until contact with Indonesian fisherman in the Northern Territory in the 17th century, and later with Europeans across Australia.
Lower grinding stones are slabs of stone that occur in many sizes and shapes, including oval, round and rectangular, which First Peoples used for crushing, grinding and pounding different materials. Over time and with use the lower grinding stone would develop a worn depression. The smaller upper stones are flat or rounded and are usually small enough to hold in one hand.
Roots, bulbs, seeds, berries and ochre were some of the things ground between the larger lower stone and smaller upper stone. Many plants had to be processed prior to being consumed. For example, Nardoo seeds had to be ground before being winnowed, and then made into a type of damper before being cooked in an open fire.

Physical Description

Pestle or upper grinding stone. Possible signs of use as a hammer stone.

Significance

Grinding stones were usually found where people lived and camped; the stones were sometimes left upside down, with the grinding surface facing the ground to preserve it from the weather. When moving camp or travelling long distances, heavy grinding stones, weighing several kilograms, were often left behind, hidden in a safe place to be retrieved at a later date.
Grinding stones used in the preparation of nuts and seeds are common to many parts of Australia. They are particularly prevalent in arid and semi-arid areas where First Peoples were reliant on grass seed for starch as a staple for subsistence.
The Wotjobaluk people of the Wimmera region of Victoria, where this stone implement comes from, were successful in their native title claim in 2005. Wotjobaluk Elder Jennifer Beer spoke of this historic win for her people;

'We know and have proven that we are the rightful people to talk with about our history, our land and our cultural heritage.' Aunty Jennifer Beer, 2005
Reference: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/past-gives-aborigines-strength/2005/12/13/1134236064303.html

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