A collaborative team from the UK and Australia studied charcoal and pollen in ancient mud samples to reveal how the first Aboriginal Tasmanians impacted their landscape. This analysis provides the oldest known evidence of human-mediated fire usage for land management in the region.
During the last ice age, migrations from Africa had already brought humans to northern Australia by about 65,000 years ago. The Palawa/Pakana (Indigenous Tasmanians) settled in Tasmania, or Lutruwita, at the southernmost extent of human habitation at that time.
Findings indicate that fire was strategically used to clear dense, wet forests, as evidenced by an increase in charcoal around 41,600 years ago in the ancient mud deposits. The study's lead author, Dr. Matthew Adeleye from the University of Cambridge's Department of Geography, explained that earlier research had demonstrated similar practices on the mainland, but detailed records for Tasmania were lacking until now.
The ancient samples were collected from islands within the Bass Strait, which connected Tasmania to mainland Australia until about 8,000 years ago, when rising sea levels submerged the land bridge. Pollen analysis revealed a shift in vegetation approximately 40,000 years ago, further supporting the evidence of landscape management by burning.
"Fire was used to clear forests and create open spaces for subsistence or cultural needs," said Adeleye. This practice likely originated during migration across the glacial terrain of Sahul, which included present-day Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and eastern Indonesia.
Dr. Adeleye added, "Adaptation to fire led to the proliferation of fire-tolerant species, such as Eucalyptus, particularly in the wetter eastern regions of the Bass Strait."
Today, cultural burning remains a part of Aboriginal traditions, aiding landscape management and cultural activities, though its role in preventing severe wildfires is debated. The researchers believe that insights into these ancient methods could inform modern efforts to preserve and restore pre-colonial landscapes.
"These early inhabitants were Lutruwita's original land managers," said Adeleye. "To protect future generations' access to these landscapes, it is essential to involve Indigenous communities in current land management practices."
Research Report:Landscape burning facilitated Aboriginal migration into Lutruwita/Tasmania 41,600 years ago
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