Steven & Evan Strong: Out-of-Place Artifacts in Australia
In May 2022, a copper-alloy seal bearing early Chinese inscriptions was discovered near Tortilla Flats, Northern Territory, Australia. Preliminary metallurgical and epigraphic analyses suggest the object predates any known modern or colonial Chinese presence in the region. The artefact, associated with Daoist deity worship, may indicate ancient maritime connections between Asia and northern Australia. This paper summarises the discovery, expert opinions, initial analyses, and recommendations for future study and preservation.
What Has Been Found
A square-shaped cast metal seal (90mm2, 20g) with eight Chinese characters and two side markings, believed to represent the “Tiger-tamer Marshal Zhao of the Dark Altar” (玄壇伏虎 趙公元帥)—a Daoist deity linked to wealth, protection, and navigation. The artefact bears the hallmarks of imperial-level craftsmanship, including a nine-fold casting method and complex copper-zinc alloy composition consistent with early high-temperature metallurgy.
Who Found It
The seal was discovered by John Miltenburg in collaboration with local researchers. The initial academic interpretation and contextual analysis were later undertaken by Ed Liu (Chinese scholar) and Ian Hudson and team, with external review and correspondence with Dr Luk Yu-ping, Curator of Chinese Paintings and Prints at the British Museum.
When It Was Found
The discovery occurred in early May 2022 during surface exploration of the wetlands area surrounding Tortilla Flats, Northern Territory, approximately 110 km south of Darwin.
Where It Was Found and in What Circumstances
The seal was recovered from wetlands heavily embedded in clay, located between two creek systems near Tortilla Flats. The location’s hydrological conditions likely preserved the artefact by limiting exposure to air and corrosive elements. There is no evidence of modern habitation, trade, or military activity in the immediate vicinity that would explain the seal’s presence through known historical channels.
