Archaeological discoveries in caves also tell us about our human ancestors.

Recent excavations of a cave in the Eneabba area by UWA PhD student Carly Monks have revealed that humans were using the entrance area as a shelter and stopping point many thousands of years ago. WASG members suggested this site for the dig

AncientHearth

The stratigraphy of a test pit showing an ancient hearth.

 

The baler (Melo sp.) is a large marine shell much prized by Aboriginal people, who used them to store water. These fragments of ancient baler shells found in Cape Range rockshelter caves indicate that the Jinigudira people used these caves for shelter while journeying across the Range between Exmouth Gulf and the Ningaloo coast.

AncientBalerShells1

AncientBalerShells2

 

Below are Aboriginal grinding dishes at rockshelter caves in the Cape Range.

AboriginalGrindingDishes

AboriginalGrindingDishes2