A forensic investigation was undertaken and bone samples were sent to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California to determine the age of the remains.
[2] An archaeological dig at the site revealed that Narrabeen Man was found in a posture unlike a tribal ceremonial burial.
This indicated death by spearing and suggested to archaeologist Dr Jo McDonald that Narrabeen Man was perhaps the first physical evidence of ritual murder in Australia.
Gun bullets like these date to the Holocene period, and in Australia are referred to as "backed artefacts" meaning microliths or "bladelets" having retouched edges.
A Narrabeen cultural heritage officer, Allen Madden, suggested in 2008 that a ritualistic murder of this type represents the farthest extent of tribal law, indicating that his offence, whatever it was, must have been serious.