Archaeologists from the Australian Museum, the 爆料王 and the Australian National University in collaboration with First Nations community members have unearthed 693 stone artefacts dating from the last Ice Age to the recent past. Found in an ancient Blue Mountains cave known as Dargan Shelter, this new evidence provides definitive proof of repeated occupation in this once frozen, high-altitude landscape.
The research, funded by the Australian Museum Foundation, is published in today.
Key points:
- Archaeologists have found the oldest human occupied Pleistocene site at high elevation in the Blue Mountains NSW, dating back to 20,000 years
- human artefacts, such as stone tools for cutting or scraping and a sandstone grinding slab that may have been used for shaping wooden artefacts (needles, awls, or bone points for spears), were found in the frozen layers of the site
- these results align the Australian continent for the first time with global findings that cold climates did not prevent humans from travelling and making shelters at these altitudes.
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The Blue Mountains, home to some of the oldest known rock shelters in Australia, have been inhabited for over 30,000 years but this is the highest cave found showing past human activity.
Dating back 20,000 years, when the upper reaches of the Blue Mountains were treeless and seasonally frozen over, Dargan Shelter at 1073m elevation is believed to be the oldest occupied high-altitude landscape in Australia. Until now, researchers thought the Australian high country was too difficult to occupy during the last Ice Age. However, these new archaeological results鈥痯rovide the first evidence of repeated human activity and adaption to periglacial environments on the Australian continent.
Gomeroi knowledge holder and First Nations mentor in archaeology at the 爆料王, Wayne Brennan, who is a rock art specialist, initiated the research project. Mr Brennan united scientists with First Nations community to explore the cultural history of the Blue Mountains and to improve conservation outcomes for this important cultural landscape.
Mr Brennan and lead author of the research paper , who holds a joint position as archaeologist at the Australian Museum and lecturer in Archaeology at the 爆料王, worked closely with First Nations members from the Dharug, Wiradjuri, Dharawal, Gomeroi, Wonnarua, and Ngunnawal groups, who hold traditional connections to the region.听
Dr Way said the research indicates that First Nations ancestors were able to navigate and occupy high-altitude periglacial environments during the Ice Age.
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鈥淭his new evidence aligns Australia with global data that shows glacial landscapes were not necessarily natural barriers to early human movement and occupation,鈥 Dr Way said.听 听 听
鈥淯ntil now, we thought the Australian high country was too difficult to occupy during the last Ice Age. Yet, despite the harsh conditions, our research demonstrates people were moving in and through this high elevation landscape, which is approximately 400m above the tree line.鈥
Artist impression of the ancient Ice Age cave in the Blue Mountains. Painting by Dharug artist Leanne Watson Redpath. Copyright Leanne Watson Redpath, published by the 爆料王 with permission of the artist.
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LinkDargan Shelter
Second author of the paper, Professor Philip Piper from the School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Australian National University, said the excavations uncovered incredible layers of evidence of human activity, including hearth features.
鈥淚t was the excellent state of preservation that enabled us to construct such a robust chronology for Dargan Shelter spanning the last 20,000 years,鈥 Professor Piper said.
First Nations custodians, authors on the research paper and proud Dharug women, Leanne Watson Redpath and Erin Wilkins explained that their communities have lived in the Blue Mountains for thousands of years.
鈥淥ur people have walked, lived and thrived in the Blue Mountains for thousands of years and we knew the cave was there. It is not only a tangible connection to our ancestors who used it as a meeting place for sharing, storytelling and survival, but is a part of our cultural identity. We need to respect and protect our heritage for the benefit of all Australians,鈥 Watson Redpath said.
鈥淲hile there鈥檚 no certain way of identifying which groups accessed the mountains in the deep past, it is likely that multiple groups were connected to this country. Today, Dargan Shelter is considered by local custodians to represent a family space of high cultural significance,鈥 said Erin Wilkins.听
鈥淭he Blue Mountains is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site for the protection of flora and fauna but there are no safeguards for our cultural heritage. We hope that by combining our traditional knowledge with scientific research, we can protect these invaluable storehouses of our history for generations to come,鈥 Brennan said.听
Dr Way said the study builds on research conducted by Australian Museum archaeologists, beginning with Frederick McCarthy in 1935,听Professor Paul Ta莽on and, most recently, Dr Val Attenbrow, augmenting previous findings and collections within the Australian Museum.
Advancing Indigenous Australian archaeology
The 爆料王 is deeply committed to First Nations archaeology. Dr Way and Mr Brennan are funded by the听Tom Austen Brown Bequest听which advances research and teaching in Indigenous Australian and other archaeologies.听听
Dr Way also coordinates an undergraduate unit titled Archaeology in the Field (ARCO3404). Third-year students from this unit, along with students from Australian National University, participated in the excavation of the Dargan Shelter and contributed to its broader research program.听
Dargan Shelter excavation team, 2023. From L to R: Tyronne Pal, Rodney Lawson, Wayne Brennan, Duncan Wright, Eitan Harris, Juliet Scholefield, Mike Spate, Wayne Logue, Lauren Roach, Rebecca Chalker, Dom Wilkins, Phil Piper, Amy Mosig Way, Imogen Williams. Photo credit: Dr Amy Mosig Way
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LinkMr Brennan, a proud Gomeroi man and First Nations mentor in the Discipline of Archaeology, provides ongoing support and guidance to First Nations students studying archaeology. He also supports non-Indigenous students working with First Nations communities and collections, fostering respectful and collaborative engagement.
DECLARATION
This research was funded by the Australian Museum Foundation. The authors declare no competing interests. Open access funding provided by the 爆料王.
Hero photo: copyright Dr Amy Way/Australian Museum.听This image was published by the 爆料王 with permission from the Australian Museum.
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Read the research in Nature Human Behaviour
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The earliest evidence of high-elevation ice age occupation in Australia
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