Berberass: marine resource specialisation and environmental change in Torres Strait during the past 4000 years

Abstract

ABSTRACT Excavations at Badu 19 midden on the islet of Berberass in western Torres Strait have revealed a 4000 year antiquity for dugong hunting and finfishing, with major increases in intensities of site and regional land use and marine exploitation after 2600 years ago. We model the nature of late Holocene coastal resource specialisation and intensification in relation to changing demography and marine resource availability.