Underwater 'time capsules' offer a unique window into Australia's prehistory, and scientists are hopeful that bones found within these caves will unlock crucial insights. The study, led by Griffith University, focuses on the environmental impact on fossils and developing tools to understand their formation and age. PhD candidate Meg Walker highlights the limited knowledge surrounding fossils in these cave systems, emphasizing the potential to link them to specific periods of dryness or wetness, which could reveal how ecosystems evolved over time.
The research team's expedition to Mount Gambier's underwater caves, including Green Waterhole and Gouldens Sinkhole, yielded animal bones dating back to the 1840s. This includes species like cows, kangaroos, emus, sheep, pigs, dingoes, rabbits, possums, and quolls, some of which have not been present in the area for over a century. The unique preservation in underwater caves, protected from land-based bacteria and weathering, has resulted in remarkably intact bones, akin to time capsules.
The team's collaboration with the Cave Divers Association of Australia and advanced divers like Joseph Monks has led to significant discoveries, including thylacoleo teeth and potential den remnants. However, careful decisions are made about which bones to recover, considering the caves' age and the potential impact of handling them. The findings from these underwater caves complement existing records, such as the nearby World Heritage Naracoorte Caves, by providing a continuous record of species and environmental changes over time.
As the research continues to lead the way in this field, scientists are optimistic about the potential to address knowledge gaps and understand species through time, changes to species, and potentially different extinctions. The pristine condition of the caves and the access they provide make this an exciting frontier for paleoenvironmental research.
