Devil's Lair and southwestern archaeological sequences
Devil's Lair (archaeological site label)
This southwestern sequence illustrates how improved dating can change an archaeological account. Stone objects, organic preservation, and the history of museum research must be read alongside the limits of individual samples.
Evidence and local histories
Changing landscapes and connections
The southwestern landscape and its resources changed through glacial and later environments. One cave does not represent all coastal or inland households.
Social organization and community scale
An excavated cave does not identify a named regional capital or one political community lasting across its entire sequence.
Living heritage, later transformation, and care
The collection uses a historical excavation label, not a replacement for living Noongar place knowledge or custodianship. No access permission or personal ancestry inference follows.
The 2001 study used improved pretreatment and independent checks to support a deeper occupation chronology.
The dating review compares successful and unreliable samples rather than assuming every charcoal fragment dates deposition.
The museum's account describes Merrilees's role in the excavation and study of regional fauna and archaeology.
A concise, sourced timeline
These milestones are orientation points, not a complete history.
-
Occupation leaves a material sequence
Deposits include cultural evidence later examined with several dating approaches.
-
Museum excavation and analysis
The museum's research history places the excavation within a particular institutional period.
Food, craft, landscapes, and knowledge
Languages named in this profile
- Earlier spoken languages cannot be identified from these archaeological objects alone.
Language family: Language relationships require dated linguistic evidence; material styles are not language families or biological populations.
Revised charcoal treatment
Multiple chronological methods
Museum research history
Cited Traditional Owners, researchers, museums, governments, AIATSIS, and UNESCO did not author or endorse this atlas. These are original attributed summaries, not community-approved cultural knowledge or legal advice. No artifact, art, burial, sacred-site, or human-remains imagery is included. Respect Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, access restrictions, and community authority; use the site's contact channel for corrections or concerns.
Ask about this reviewed profile
The guide can explain and connect facts already present on this page. It cannot search the open web, establish identity or citizenship, or evaluate ancestry and genetic information.
AI-generated interpretation of genetic similarity, not proof of ancestry. Informational only, not professional advice.
Read full notice
Before you continue: the analysis you are about to generate is produced by an AI model. AI output can be incomplete, inaccurate, or simply wrong. It describes statistical genetic similarity to reference populations and is not proof of ancestry, ethnicity, identity, or descent. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and is not medical, diagnostic, genealogical, legal, or other professional advice. Do not rely on it to make health, financial, legal, or family decisions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, DNA Genics, S.L. accepts no liability for any loss or decision arising from your use of this AI output.
Sources used for this page
Prioritize public Traditional Owner and community-controlled sources alongside accountable archaeological studies, museums, and heritage authorities. Compare dated evidence and interpretation rather than treat a heritage summary or one publication as an uncontested account.
-
C1
The AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia
AIATSIS · Institutional heritage resource · Undated; accessed 2026-10-20
-
C2
Indigenous water
Zena Cumpston; Australia State of the Environment · Indigenous-authored environmental synthesis · 2021
-
C3
AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies · Indigenous research ethics framework · 2020
-
C4
Radiocarbon analysis of the early archaeological site of Nauwalabila I, Arnhem Land, Australia: Implications for sample suitability and stratigraphic integrity
ANU Research Portal; Quaternary Science Reviews · Peer-reviewed dating study · 2001
-
C5
Radiocarbon dating of human occupation of Australia prior to 40 ka BP: Successes and pitfalls
Quaternary Science Reviews; University of California repository · Peer-reviewed dating study · 2001
-
C6
Mabuygiw Garkaziw Kupay Torres Strait Islander Corporation
MGK, community-controlled organization · Institutional heritage resource · Undated; accessed 2026-10-20
-
C7
World Heritage
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism, Gunditjmara owned · Institutional heritage resource · Undated; accessed 2026-10-20
-
C8
Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps (Baiame's Ngunnhu)
Australian Government, DCCEEW · National Heritage record · Updated 2026-03-19
-
C9
Walking in the footsteps of our ancestors
Mungo National Park and Traditional Tribal Groups · Institutional heritage resource · Undated; accessed 2026-10-20
-
C10
Third anniversary of destruction at Juukan Gorge
PKKP Aboriginal Corporation · Traditional Owner heritage statement · 2023-05
-
S1
Early human occupation at Devil's Lair, southwestern Australia 50,000 years ago
ANU Research Portal; Quaternary Research · Peer-reviewed chronological study · 2001
-
S2
Radiocarbon dating of human occupation of Australia prior to 40 ka BP: Successes and pitfalls
Quaternary Science Reviews; University of California repository · Peer-reviewed dating study · 2001
-
S3
Duncan Merrilees (1922-2009)
Western Australian Museum · Museum research history · 2009
Editorial review: October 20, 2026