Holocene and recent aeolian reactivation of the Willandra Lakes lunettes, semi-arid southeastern Australia

Indigenous populations in the Willandra Lakes Region of southeastern Australia did not abandon the area following the retreat of the lakes around 15,000 years ago, contrary to previous assumptions. Instead, they adapted to changing environmental conditions marked by aeolian reactivation and alluvial sheetwash deposition. The study reveals that arid phases, particularly in the early Holocene and the last millennium before European settlement, triggered significant aeolian activity, while recent increases in such activity correlate with pastoralism introduced by Europeans. By integrating geomorphological and archaeological data, this research challenges the narrative of human abandonment during environmental shifts and highlights the resilience of Indigenous strategies in response to a drying climate.

Fitzsimmons, K. E., Spry, C., & Stern, N. (2019). Holocene and recent aeolian reactivation of the Willandra Lakes lunettes, semi-arid southeastern Australia. The Holocene, 29(4), 606–621. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683618824790