Waikato samples were pre-treated following standard AMS protocols (UCI KCCAMS, 2011a, b). Following pre-treatment, charcoal (∼2 mm fragments) samples were converted to CO2 in sealed quartz tubes by oxidation at 800°C, using pre-baked CuO in the presence of silver wire to absorb any SOx and NOx produced. Shell (< 3 mm fragments, 35-45 mg) were etched in 0.1M HCl at 80°C to remove ∼45% of the surface. Cleaned shells were then tested for recrystallization by Feigl staining (Friedman, 1959) to ensure either aragonite, or a natural aragonite/calcite distribution was present in the shell (e.g. Nerita sp.). CO2 was collected from shells by reaction with 85% H3PO4. Cryogenically separated CO2 was then reduced to graphite with H2 at 550°C using an iron catalyst. δ 13 C was measured either on a LGR Isotope analyser CCIA-46EP or a Thermos Scientific MAT252 IRMS. Pressed graphite was analysed at the Keck Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, University of California on a NEC 0.5MV 1.5SDH-2 AMS system (Southon et al., 2004). At ANSTO, after visual inspection for the presence of any powdery, potentially extraneous, calcite deposition shell surfaces were physically cleaned by abrasion of 10-25% of thickness with a Dremel ® tool followed by chemical etching of another 10% with 0.5M HCl for 1-5 minutes under sonication at room temperature (Hua et al., 2001). Feigl

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Existing models of coastal occupation, in one form or another, embrace the assumption that changes in mean sea level were the prime driver for shifts in coastal resource productivity of consequence to coastal foragers. Focusing on the North West Shelf of Australia, this paper considers the role of physical sedimentary processes in understanding both past coastal resource productivity and the archaeology of drowned coastal landscapes. From a review of up-to-date literature on sea-level related coastal formation process related to the North West Shelf, we describe the complex interplay of sea-level change and sedimentary processes in determining (i) coastal resource availability, and (ii) archaeological site preservation potential through time. We argue that human behavioral models that have been linked solely to changes in sea level change from ca. 45 ka onward along the Australia continental shelf have inadequately accounted for local sedimentary regimes. It is not past sea-level per se, which is of relevance to coastal productivity and human behavioral ecology models but changes in tidal regimes, coastal configurations and sedimentation. We conclude that our understanding of maritime adaptations for Sahul (Greater Australia) remain incomplete without investigating former coastlines and archaeological information that now lies submerged offshore. C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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