Assessment Questions 7.5

1. When did human beings first occupy Tasmania, and what was the environmental context of the island at that time?

Human beings first occupied Tasmania when it was still connected to the Australian continent. Archaeological evidence shows occupation as early as 35,000 years ago at Wareen Cave and 30,000 years ago at the ORS7 site, as well as at Acheron, Bone, Bluff, and Nunamira Caves in south-central Tasmania. The environment of Tasmania at that time resembled a frozen tundra, similar to Upper Paleolithic Europe.

2. What archaeological sites in Tasmania provide evidence of early human occupation, and what notable features are found in Kutikina Cave?

Sites like Wareen Cave, ORS7 site, Acheron, Bone, Bluff, and Nunamira Caves in south-central Tasmania show evidence of early human occupation dating back to 35,000 to 30,000 years ago. Kutikina Cave, initially occupied at 20,000 years ago, is particularly rich, with over 75,000 stone flakes and tools recovered from a small sample of the site. The tools include steep-edged scrapers similar to those found at Lake Mungo. The faunal assemblage in Kutikina Cave is dominated by the remains of large wallabies and wombats, with no evidence of larger, now-extinct Pleistocene animals that were typical in mainland Australia.