Dead Heart Beating? A Climate and Landscape History of Desert Australia

The Simpson, Strzelecki and Stuart Stony Deserts remain one of Australia’s least investigated regions despite intriguing potential for the presence of archaeological material and ample potential palaeo-environmental records. The palaeo-lakes in these regions have large lunettes (downwind dunes) on their northern and western edges which are unique repositories of significant archaeological and palaeontological material in other Australian locations such as at Lake Mungo. This project will undertake a systematic investigation of features using cutting edge methods to provide a comprehensive climate record for inland Australia in the Pleistocene, discover new archaeological sites and develop innovative new analytical and field techniques.