Riversleigh and Cuddie Springs: Extinction of Late Pleistocene Megafauna

P. Taçon, P. Gordon, M. Archer, C. MacGregor

Ongoing archaeological and palaeontologic research at Cuddie Springs, New South Wales and Riversleigh, Queensland is being linked under a large umbrella project that will explore the Late Pleistocene history of both regions to better answer questions about megafaunal extinctions.

Lawn Hill Gorge, one of three regions to be investigated for rock-art in north-west Queensland.

Archaeological investigations near Riversleigh will search for megafaunal-human associations.

Cuddie Springs is a long-term Centre project in conjunction with Judy Field (University of Sydney) and Richard Fullagar (Australian Museum/University of Wollongong).

Riversleigh research has been coordinated by Mike Archer since the 1970s but now operates through the Australian Museum's CREATE Research Centre. The new project will construct a clear picture of faunal change during the Late Pleistocene. Archaeological excavation at Riversleigh, in north-west Queensland and palaeontologic excavation at Cuddie Springs, in northern New South Wales will complete a picture of the animals, people and environment of the prehistoric period at each site. With this information, the roles of climate and people in the extinction process can be assessed. As part of the project, the Aboriginal ethno-history of the Riversleigh - Lawn Hill area will be recorded and a comprehensive study of the region's rock-art will be undertaken. Preliminary discussion with Waanyi Aboriginal elders took place in May 2000. Judith Field (University of Sydney), Mike Archer (Australian Museum) and Andrew Border (Environmental Protection Authority, Queensland) are the principal investigators but Richard Fullagar, Paul Taçon, Phil Gordon, Colin MacGregor and others are participating. A first season of fieldwork was completed in mid-2002.

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