Evidence of recent mangrove decline from an archaeological site in Western Australia

Abstract

AbstractMangrove‐associated molluscan material predominates in a 7000‐year‐old Aboriginal midden site on the subtropical north‐central coast of Western Australia at a locality now remote from significant modern mangroves. A palaeolagoon, separated from the ocean since about 5000 years bp, is the likely principal source of the shell midden material. An apparent decline of mangroves between Exmouth Gulf and the Gascoyne River delta since the Middle Holocene is attributed primarily to sedimentary processes, which have modified the initial, transgressive shoreline established around 7–6000 years bp, This may reflect similar processes reported from northern Australia.