Musket balls and other maritime artefacts that may date back to 1799 have been donated to the Queensland Museum for permanent preservation.
The artefacts, including 48 musket balls, were removed illegally from the Bribie Island National Park by a man with a metal detector.
Archaeological experts from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) examined the artefacts, and concluded the morphology was consistent with late-18th to mid-19th century material culture.
Based upon notes recorded by Captain Matthew Flinders, the items may have been in his possession in July 1799.
As the first British explorer to enter Moreton Bay, Flinders spent two weeks in the area on HM sloop Norfolk.
On 16 July 1799, the Flinders crew is believed to have fired a musket at Skirmish Point and then left behind a shot belt containing musket balls.
According to his notes, Flinders was also at White Patch on 23 July 1799
DETSI Cultural Heritage Coordinator Dr Anthony Simmons said the artefacts could be associated with the incidents recorded in Flinders's notes.
"The musket balls and maritime artefacts could be physical evidence of historical events, and it is important that they be preserved," Dr Simmons said.
"DETSI remained in possession of the artefacts during our investigation into their removal from the Bribie Island National Park, and now it is time for them to be accepted by the Queensland Museum.
"Under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992, people must report the discovery of significant archaeological artefacts to DETSI.
"When the man offered the artefacts for sale, a concerned member of the public contacted DETSI. Following our investigation, the man was issued with a caution."
The items include:
- A hand-wrought nail with a four-sided shank used for construction and repairing boats
- A plum bob or pointed weight attached to a string that is used to find a vertical reference line
- 48 small lead shot musket balls – drop made or mould made
- Decahedron metal ball potentially used as a ship's ballast
