The potential for discovery of new submerged archaeological sites near the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia

Ward, Ingrid; Larcombe, Piers; Mulvaney, Ken; Fandry, Chris

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.03.032

Cited by 50 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The Leeuwin Current has a major influence on the biogeography of the State's marine flora and fauna, and is responsible for the occurrence of tropical biota at latitudes where these species are not typically found (Pearce & Walker 1991). These regional oceanographic conditions are likely to have varied through the post-glacial transgression and Holocene but not necessarily in a straightforward manner (Gingele et al 2001;Wyrwoll et al 2009;Ehlert et al 2011; see also Ward et al 2013). Other defining characteristics of the region are the regular occurrence of tropical cyclones, the macrotidal regime (mean spring range of 5.6 m and mean neap range of 1 m), and the low level of freshwater and sediment input.…”

Section: Present Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, tidal range at these earlier phases was almost twice as much as today in some regions (Rudnick & Ferrari 1999;Egbert et al 2004). These conditions would have allowed for more expansive (intertidal) sedimentary environments and, in fact, a greater carrying capacity for economic marine resources (see also Ward et al 2013).…”

Section: Dynamic Coastlines Dynamic Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potentially exploitable and possibly resourcerich intertidal habitats would have existed through the post-glacial transgression, despite a decrease in tidal range (Ward et al 2013). In addition to large tidal ranges, tidal current speeds are likely to have been strongest during the middle phase of the Holocene transgression; however, considerable local variation was displayed owing to the varying topography and coastal configuration (Ward et al 2013).…”

Section: Dynamic Coastlines Dynamic Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to large tidal ranges, tidal current speeds are likely to have been strongest during the middle phase of the Holocene transgression; however, considerable local variation was displayed owing to the varying topography and coastal configuration (Ward et al 2013). The question, therefore, becomes one of scale, as highlighted by Cosgrove (2012), who argued the need for greater explanation of the links between the scales of an 'observed phenomenon' and archaeological processes.…”

Section: Dynamic Coastlines Dynamic Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indurated deposits are common occurrences in the Dampier Archipelago and, as exemplified on Enderby Island and in Watering Cove, embedded in many of them are stone artefacts and marine mollusc shells of species commonly eaten by humans (Dortch 2002, p. 39). This potential is all the more significant given that evidence of littoral and marine resource use in pre-LGM times is scarce A geoarchaeological approach is not only fundamental to understanding the development of these islands groups as they became sequentially isolated from the mainland through transgressive events, but is also critical to identifying sedimentary units that have the greatest likelihood of preserving archaeological sites (Ward & Larcombe 2008;Ward et al 2013). Such work is aimed at improving the geoarchaeological understanding of the area, thereby supporting improved prospection and management of the submerged and very probably rich archaeological landscape.…”

Section: Islands As Records Of Post-glacial Landscape Changementioning

confidence: 99%

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To the islands born: the research potential of submerged landscapes and human habitation sites from the islands of NW Australia

Ward

Veth

Manne

2015

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This paper focuses on the continental shelf of NW Australia, and on models for change in littoral and offshore environments of relevance to human occupation over the last 50 kyr. Major island groups occur on the shelf including the Montebello and Barrow islands, and those of the Dampier Archipelago. At lowest sea level around 22 ka, these would have been uplands that then became progressively isolated by subsequent sea-level rise. By integrating archaeological and zooarchaeological records from excavations on these islands with the geology and geomorphology, we interpret palaeoeconomic resource potential in relation to changing sea level and coastline morphology. The preservation potential for submerged archaeological sites and features is also assessed. Current archaeological evidence from these offshore islands indicates that the submerged coastal landscape is likely to have been a potentially rich environment for resources and human occupation, even at times of lowest sea level and regional aridity. Should any exploration of submerged archaeology be carried out in this region, it is likely to be rewarding, offering unique insights into Late Pleistocene coastal occupation.

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Section: Present Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dynamic Coastlines Dynamic Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dynamic Coastlines Dynamic Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dynamic Coastlines Dynamic Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Islands As Records Of Post-glacial Landscape Changementioning

confidence: 99%

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To the islands born: the research potential of submerged landscapes and human habitation sites from the islands of NW Australia

Ward

Veth

Manne

2015

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Coastal occupation before the “Big Swamp”: Results from excavations at John Wayne Country Rockshelter on Barrow Island

Ditchfield

Manne

Hook

et al. 2018

Archaeology in Oceania

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In this paper, we present a terminal Pleistocene/early Holocene archaeological record from John Wayne Country Rockshelter (JWCR), located on Barrow Island in north-western Australia. The rock shelter was used between 15000 and 7000 calBP, and provides insights into how Aboriginal people interacted with a changing coastal landscape throughout postglacial sea-level rise. The faunal record reflects this fluctuating local landscape. The late Pleistocene faunal assemblage largely consists of arid plains terrestrial fauna, and then transitions to a diverse marine invertebrate taxa midden. This record demonstrates coastal resource use throughout the terminal Pleistocene, before the expansion of mangrove forests across northern Australia. The stone artefact assemblages indicate varied expedient reduction patterns. The assemblages include artefacts manufactured from local limestone and non-local sources. Our analyses indicate that occupation durations at JWCR were longer during the late Pleistocene compared to the early Holocene, when productive mangrove environments became proximal. The implications of these results are twofold. First, effective use of coastal plain environments was probably just as important for coastal occupation as marine resource procurement. Second, the presence of relatively dense marine faunal assemblages is not necessarily a reliable proxy for individual coastal-site occupational intensity under conditions of local resource productivity.

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Holocene Paleo‐Geographic Reconstructions of the Ramore Head Area, Northern Ireland, Using Geophysical and Geotechnical Data: Paleo‐Landscape Mapping and Archaeological Implications

2014

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We present early to mid-Holocene paleo-geographic reconstructions for the Ramore Head area (Northern Ireland). This coastal area is characterised by Mesolithic occupation (c. 10-6 ka) and preserved early-mid Holocene peats both on-and offshore. This paper improves on previous reconstructions by employing a backstripping methodology which removes accumulated recent deposits from identified buried paleolandsurfaces instead of using modern topography as an analogue to the past landscape. Paleo-landsurfaces are identified offshore from seismic profiles supplemented by cores, and onshore through legacy borehole records. The paleo-landsurface can be traced offshore to depths of -2 to -19 m and is buried by <5 m of modern sediment. It extends onshore under the coastal town of Portrush and is buried <2.5-10 m below modern ground level. The identified paleo-landsurface is combined with sea-level curves from recent Glacio-Isostatic-Adjustment models to reconstruct marine transgression during the early-mid-Holocene.Comparison is also made with reconstructions based on modern topography. Together, the identified paleo-landsurfaces and revised reconstructions can assist future site prospection on-and offshore and delimit high potential areas for heritage management. Revised reconstructions also allow placement of extant archaeology into a more accurate context of landscape change and help develop insights into localscale site location patterns.2

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The potential for discovery of new submerged archaeological sites near the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia

Cited by 50 publications

References 53 publications

To the islands born: the research potential of submerged landscapes and human habitation sites from the islands of NW Australia

To the islands born: the research potential of submerged landscapes and human habitation sites from the islands of NW Australia

Coastal occupation before the “Big Swamp”: Results from excavations at John Wayne Country Rockshelter on Barrow Island

Holocene Paleo‐Geographic Reconstructions of the Ramore Head Area, Northern Ireland, Using Geophysical and Geotechnical Data: Paleo‐Landscape Mapping and Archaeological Implications

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