Ancient Fire Management in Tasmania: Earliest Evidence of Humans Shaping the Landscape
New research reveals how Aboriginal Tasmanians used fire to transform their environment over 41,000 years ago.
Human Arrival in Tasmania: A Turning Point in Environmental History
Over 41,000 years ago, some of the earliest human inhabitants of Tasmania, the Palawa/Pakana people, employed fire as a tool to reshape and manage their environment. This practice, discovered through the analysis of ancient mud deposits, represents the earliest evidence of humans using fire to transform Tasmania’s landscape.
Researchers from the UK and Australia, led by Dr. Matthew Adeleye from Cambridge University, have unearthed this groundbreaking evidence in the form of charcoal and pollen embedded in sediment. Their findings, published in Science Advances1, reveal that this environmental manipulation occurred 2,000 years earlier than previously thought.
"Australia is home to the world's oldest Indigenous culture, enduring for over 50,000 years," said Adeleye. "Earlier studies documented fire use on the Australian mainland, but similar records for Tasmania were lacking."
A Land Bridge to the Past: Human Migration into Tasmania
During the last Ice Age, Tasmania was connected to mainland Australia by a land bridge spanning the Bass Strait. This connection allowed early human communities to migrate southward, reaching what would become the southernmost point of human habitation during that era. The land bridge remained intact until about 8,000 years ago, when rising sea levels isolated Tasmania.
Ancient mud samples collected from modern Bass Strait islands, which were part of this land bridge, provided researchers with vital evidence. The sediments contained a sharp increase in charcoal, dating back 41,600 years, followed by significant vegetation changes around 40,000 years ago.
Fire as a Tool for Landscape Transformation
The sudden rise in charcoal levels indicates deliberate burning of dense, wet forests by early Aboriginal Tasmanians. This practice likely served to create open spaces for subsistence activities, cultural purposes, or both.
"Fire is an important tool," explained Adeleye. "It would have been used to promote vegetation or landscapes vital to their way of life."
As the forests adapted to repeated burning, fire-tolerant species such as Eucalyptus began to dominate, particularly in the wetter regions of the Bass Strait. This transition underscores the profound impact of human activity on Tasmania’s ecosystems during the late Pleistocene.
Parallels with Sahul: Migration and Fire Management
The use of fire to shape the landscape likely originated during early human migrations across Sahul, the ancient landmass comprising modern-day Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. As they journeyed across this glacial landscape, humans developed sophisticated techniques to clear vegetation and manage their environment.
"These early Tasmanian communities were the island's first land managers," said Adeleye.
Ancient Practices, Modern Relevance
Today, Aboriginal Australians continue to use controlled burns, known as cultural burning, for land management and cultural practices. These traditional methods contrast with modern fire suppression policies and could provide valuable insights into managing wildfires and restoring pre-colonial landscapes.
"If we’re going to protect Tasmanian and Australian landscapes for future generations, it’s crucial to listen to Indigenous communities and integrate their knowledge into contemporary land management strategies," emphasized Adeleye.
The study, supported in part by the Australian Research Council, highlights the enduring connection between Aboriginal peoples and their environment—a relationship that has shaped landscapes for tens of thousands of years and offers lessons for sustainable land stewardship today.
Adeleye, M. A., Hopf, F., Haberle, S. G., Stannard, G. L., Mcwethy, D. B., Harris, S., & Bowman, D. M. J. S. (2024). Landscape burning facilitated Aboriginal migration into Lutruwita/Tasmania 41,600 years ago. Science Advances, 10(46). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp6579