Over 41,000 years ago, some of the initial humans to arrive in Tasmania utilized fire to alter and control the landscape, which is around 2,000 years earlier than earlier estimates.
A research team from the UK and Australia conducted studies on charcoal and pollen found in ancient sediment to understand how Aboriginal Tasmanians modified their environment. This represents the oldest documentation of humans using fire to influence the Tasmanian ecosystem.
During the initial phase of the last ice age, early human migrations from Africa were progressing well — humans made it to northern Australia approximately 65,000 years ago. When the first Palawa/Pakana (Tasmanian Indigenous) groups arrived in Tasmania (referred to as Lutruwita by the Palawa), it marked the southernmost point humans had ever inhabited.
These early Aboriginal societies employed fire to penetrate and alter dense, moist forests for their own needs, a fact supported by a notable rise in charcoal found in ancient sediments dating back to around 41,600 years ago.
The researchers, whose findings were published in the journal Science Advances, believe these results not only enhance our understanding of how humans have been modifying the Earth’s environment for tens of thousands of years but also shed light on the deep connection between Aboriginal peoples and the landscape, which is essential for contemporary landscape management in Australia.
Currently, Tasmania is located about 240 kilometers off the southeast coast of Australia, separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. However, during the last ice age, a vast land bridge connected Australia and Tasmania, allowing people to walk to the island. This bridge remained intact until approximately 8,000 years ago, when rising sea levels after the last ice age eventually isolated Tasmania from the Australian mainland.
“Australia boasts the world’s oldest Indigenous culture, which has persisted for over 50,000 years,” stated Dr. Matthew Adeleye from Cambridge’s Department of Geography, who led the study. “Previous research has indicated that Aboriginal groups on the Australian mainland utilized fire to shape their environments, but we lacked similarly detailed environmental records for Tasmania.”
The researchers analyzed ancient sediment collected from islands in the Bass Strait, which today are part of Tasmania, but were part of the land bridge connecting Australia and Tasmania during the last ice age. The low sea levels of that time allowed Palawa/Pakana groups to migrate from the Australian mainland.
The study of the ancient sediment revealed a sudden spike in charcoal around 41,600 years ago, followed by a significant transformation in vegetation about 40,000 years ago, as evidenced by the presence of various types of pollen.
“This suggests that these early inhabitants were clearing forests through burning to create open areas for survival and potentially cultural practices,” explained Adeleye. “Fire served as a crucial tool, likely used to foster the types of vegetation and landscapes that were significant to them.”
The researchers believe that humans probably acquired the technique of utilizing fire to clear and manage forests during their journey across the glacial landscape known as Sahul, which included present-day Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and eastern Indonesia, as part of the broader migration from Africa.
“As natural environments adapted to these controlled burnings, we observed the spread of fire-resistant species like Eucalyptus, particularly on the wetter eastern side of the Bass Strait islands,” Adeleye noted.
Today, Aboriginal communities in Australia continue to practice fire management techniques for landscape maintenance and cultural purposes. However, the use of such burning, referred to as cultural burning, for tackling severe wildfires in Australia remains a contentious issue. The researchers assert that understanding these ancient land management methods could aid in defining and restoring pre-colonial landscapes.
“These early Tasmanian communities were the island’s first land stewards,” said Adeleye. “To safeguard Tasmanian and Australian landscapes for future generations, we must listen to and learn from Indigenous peoples who are advocating for a more significant role in the ongoing management of Australian landscapes.”
This research received partial funding from the Australian Research Council.
