Scientists to better understand the anatomy of a large fossilised tibia of a Diprotodon, an extinct giant marsupial, once abundant across Western Australia. Their results provide new perspectives that overturn traditional thinking about the contribution of Indigenous peoples to megafauna extinction. Canadian researchers initially found this bone during the First World War. Since then it’s opened up a lively discussion and debate about human butchery and the hunting practices of First Nations people.
Closer 2017-02-cut on the fossilized bone, showcasing evidence of human interaction. That means that Indigenous Australians hunted and butchered these enormous creatures. This narrow view perpetuated incorrect beliefs about the part First Nations people played in the megafauna’s extinction. Over the years this theory has become more popular and more favoured. Yet new evidence, published in the Royal Society Open Science journal, has presented strong and clear arguments to debunk these assertions.
Through the application of cutting-edge 3D-scanning technology, the research team performed a detailed analysis of the bone. They determined that it was extremely unlikely the incision had been made while the animal was living. In fact, the evidence strongly suggests the cut didn’t occur while the animal was still “fresh.” This unexpected conclusion forces us to reconsider how researchers interpreted this fossil in the past.
The multidisciplinary research team, which included experts from the University of New South Wales, Australian National University and Flinders University, was headed by Professor Mike Archer. Archer added that there is “absolutely no evidence” to indicate that Indigenous people hunted megafauna irresponsibly. Peters admits that Indigenous peoples ate a lot of animals. Beyond that, he argues, it is simply groundless to blame them for the extinction.
“First Nations people have been blamed for irresponsibly killing these megafauna, without a shred of hard evidence to back it up,” – Professor Mike Archer.
The study argues that the long-held idea that First Nations had a sustainable hunting practice isn’t entirely true. To further ensure their findings were accurate, the research team wanted to be sure this event had taken place. They argued that there is no strong research currently to support it. This statement points to an increasing imperative to reexamine historical interpretations through the lens of modern technological innovation.
To better grasp what these implications mean, Archer went in-depth on the implications of their findings. He said, “If humans really did drive Australia’s megafauna extinct through unsustainable hunting we would expect to find far stronger evidence of hunting or butchering in the fossil record. From a scientific perspective, we had just one bone to go on as hard evidence. Today, we have compelling evidence that the cut was not made while the animal was living.
Archer emphasized an important difference between anthropogenic and environmental threats to biodiversity. He claimed that climate change provides the better explanation for the extinction of these ancient beasts.
“There’s no merit, no benefit in over-killing food resources. So if the Indigenous people didn’t kill the megafauna, who did? Climate change is more plausible,” – Professor Mike Archer.
Australia experienced an extinction of its megafauna about 40,000 years ago. This certainly included amazing animals such as huge kangaroos and gigantic wombat-like animals standing two meters high and three meters long. The story behind this narrative usually aligns with how European settlers acted once they landed on new continents. They wiped out local biodiversity and installed non-native species.
“When Europeans arrived to new continents, they removed the local biodiversity and brought in the alien animals they valued. Those are the things that European people have always done and it’s been a disaster,” – Professor Mike Archer.
