Indigenous history still alive with spearhead arte...

A 10-year-old boy has found an Indigenous artefact while playing in bushland east of Mount Isa, but the discovery has come as no surprise to his family.

Key points: An Indigenous artefact used as a spearhead has been found in Mount Isa bushlandNundji Cerr, 10, found it while walking with his familyHis grandfather, Doug Bruce, says many artefacts remain on Kalkadoon land and are a good lesson for generations to come

Nundji Cerr and his family walk and camp on country every week to learn more about their Kalkadoon heritage.

Nundji's grandfather Doug Bruce said a sharp-edged stone that Nundji found earlier this month was made from local quarry rock and would have been used as a spearhead or knife.

"The young fella spotted it and knew what it was, instantly," Mr Bruce said.

"There's a lot that still remains here on Kalkadoon country.

"With that particular stone, you could put spinifex wax on it or turn it into a knife or mount it up on to a spear tip for your hunting purposes."

Doug Bruce takes his children and grandchildren out on country at least twice a week.(

ABC North West Queensland: Kemii Maguire

) From Adelaide to Isa

Mr Bruce said that the spearhead was difficult to date.

The word "artefact" is colloquially known as anything that was previously used by Indigenous ancestors, including stone weapons and clap sticks. 

Although a tradition that stems back hundreds of thousands of years, artefacts are still being made by Indigenous people, including Mr Bruce. 

He said the spearhead was a good lesson in traditional Kalkadoon culture living on.

Kalkadoon country in north-west Queensland.(

ABC North West Queensland: Kemii Maguire

)

"We were always known as the Kalkadoon Warriors, one of the strongest tribes on the land," he said.

"Since recent mining has come in, they've been dominated a fair bit. Not so strong now. But you still get some people living out bush today."

Pitta Pitta men meeting in Boulia — a large trading point between northern and southern tribes — in 1908.(

Supplied: Queensland State Library George Wood

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Areas around Mount Isa, rich in stone materials such as granite, are said to be ancient quarrying sites for Kalkadoon tribes.

"If you go onto Calton Hills, north of Mount Isa, south, or on the current Glencore mine site in Mount Isa there's big (historic) factories where they quarried the knives," Mr Bruce said.

"So they traded that all over Australia."

Trading took place as far away as Atherton Tablelands, down to South Australia, and into Western Australia.

Boulia was known as a middle ground for trading with other tribes reaching north-west Queensland for weapons in exchange for other materials or food.

"As far as Adelaide would trek up, (they) brought their bags and their ochre. Northern tribes towards Burketown brought their shells south," Mr Bruce said.

"Kalkadoon was one of the last discovered tribes, so a lot of history still remains here."

Grandfather Doug Bruce is very close to his family, and still creates art and artefacts. (

ABC North West Queensland: Kemii Maguire

) Keeping stories alive

Mr Bruce takes his extended family camping and for on-country walks at least twice a week to teach them their cultural history. 

"It's our responsibility, and to keep our stories alive," he said. 

It was no a surprise that Nundji found something of significance, he said, as most of his grandchildren were trained and experienced in finding historic tracks and sites.

Nundji Cerr and friends camping after a long day of walks and artefact finding.(

Supplied: Glenda McCulloch

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He said that, in their visits to local waterholes, his family members often find signs of ancient life and bush food.

"I think some of the other Kalkadoon elders have that knowledge in their head, but not many do site visits," he said.

"It's not something you go to school [to] learn."

Mr Bruce's family and his wife have been heavily involved in cultural talks at schools as well as painting and working with community members with disabilities. 

He hopes that Kalkadoon stories and culture can be shared more frequently. 

The skills could also help people in modern times, he said, when money was tight. 

"Monetary wise, it's pretty fragile with the 2008 economic meltdown, and now COVID," he said.

"It's handy to know where there's a couple of waterholes, and how to catch a feed."