Lost Civilization: Unveiling the Ancient Inland Sea and Submerged Human Habitation in Northwestern Australia
Archaeological evidence reveals that a vast region in north-western Australia, now submerged, was once inhabited by First Nations peoples. The region, which connected the Kimberley and western Arnhem Land, covered nearly 390,000 square kilometers and contained archipelagos, lakes, rivers, and a large inland sea. The area could have supported a population of between 50,000 and 500,000 people at various times over the last 65,000 years. Rising sea levels at the end of the last ice age forced populations to retreat as the landscape drowned, leading to the development of new rock art styles. This research highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge and experience in environmental management and adaptation.