Great Barrier Reef researchers discover submerged prehistoric landscape

A scientific expedition along the Queensland coast has revealed a prehistoric landscape hidden beneath the Great Barrier Reef. Using high-resolution sonar mapping and sediment sampling, researchers and Indigenous custodians have reconstructed a submerged world of rivers, lakes, estuaries, and beaches.

The research, conducted by scientists from the University of Queensland alongside the Darumbal and Woppaburra traditional owners, shows that this coastal plain was inhabited by Indigenous peoples before rising sea levels submerged the area approximately 7,000 years ago. The study aims to combine scientific data with cultural knowledge to better understand the history of the region and the people who lived there during a time when sea levels were significantly lower.