Tasmanian Devils Lived With Humans 45,000 Years Ago
New fossils found in Western Australia's Pilbara region reveal the carnivorous marsupials coexisted with people, with evidence including a 45,000-year-old tooth fragment
Tasmanian devils lived with people in outback Western Australia around 45,000 years ago, according to new fossils found in the region. The discovery was made at the Juukan 2 rockshelter, a site that has been used by people for at least 47,000 years.
The fossils found at the site include a jaw fragment from a Tasmanian devil, dated to between 6,900 and 7,300 years old, and a tooth fragment, dated to between 42,500 and 47,100 years old. These findings provide evidence that Tasmanian devils once inhabited the Pilbara region, an area where they were previously thought to be absent.
The Juukan 2 rockshelter is located on Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura Country in Western Australia's Pilbara region. The site has yielded a large number of animal bones, with over 8,000 cataloged to date. At least 10 bone specimens from the site show tooth-pit dimensions consistent with Tasmanian devils.
The discovery of Tasmanian devil fossils at the Juukan 2 rockshelter is significant, as it fills a gap in the record of the species' distribution across mainland Australia. Skeletal remains of Tasmanian devils have been found in deposits from southern Australia to the tropical north, but the Pilbara region was previously missing from this record.
## Why it matters The finding of Tasmanian devils at the Juukan 2 rockshelter provides insight into the history of human and animal interactions in the region. The site has been used by people for thousands of years, including through the dry Last Glacial Maximum, and its deposits preserve a detailed record of people, animals, and environmental change. The discovery also highlights the importance of preserving cultural and archaeological sites, such as the Juukan 2 rockshelter, which was damaged by mining blasting in 2020.
The Juukan 2 rockshelter is a unique site, with a record of human and animal activity that spans thousands of years. The discovery of Tasmanian devil fossils at the site demonstrates the importance of continued research and preservation of such sites, which can provide valuable insights into the history of human and animal interactions in the region.
