Expertise in finding water and exploiting water resources in Australian prehistory

Abstract

Australians have been living on the Australian continent for at least 40,000 years, probably even some thousands of years longer. Many significant environmental changes in climate, flora and fauna have occurred during that period of human occupation. Satisfying water demands has been a constant concern. Due to the fairly low precipitation rate particularly in the dry desert areas, it was necessary to search for, find and protect all natural sources of water. The water resources of naturally occurring rock pools were extensively used and carefully guarded. Important sources of water, particularly in the arid inland, were the so-called native wells. Numerous such wells exist throughout the vast continent. Some native wells, indicative of Aboriginal occupation, have been traced in the Simpson Desert in numerous locations within the continent. Fresh water fish and eel trap systems were built to satisfy food requirements of the people. Coastal fish traps still exist along most of the suitable seaboard locations, from the east to the west coast. The construction of these hydraulic structures was carried out with simple tools and limited materials. All of these hydraulic structures were built to satisfy water and food requirements of the people: they are some of the earliest sophisticated hydraulic structures in the world.

Keywords:

• Australian water resources
• water supply
• fish traps
• Australian prehistory