Ever since farmers began pulling bones of what they thought were rhinos, hippos and elephants from wells and creek banks during the earliest days of European settlement of Australia, we've been intrigued by the question of what caused the extinction of the megafauna. Some blame humans, suggesting that the first Aboriginal hunters swept across the continent killing off all the giant animals or that bushfires started by these hunters destroyed the habitats of the megafauna. Others contend that climate change of the last Ice Age was responsible. Indeed, the cause of this extinction is subject to much debate in the current scientific literature. This Symposium brings together many of the researchers in this field from around Australia to present their views on what caused the megafaunal extinction. Talks will be presented covering all aspects of the debate, including: palaeontology, palaeoclimate, dating techniques, bone taphonomy, sedimentological and archaeological evidence.
Presenters:
Prof. Tim Flannery, Macquarie University (2007 Selwyn Lecture)
Dr John Long, Museum of Victoria (Plenary Address)
Dr Judith Field, The University of Sydney
Prof. Peter Kershaw, Monash University
Julien Louys, The University of New South Wales
Dr John Magee, The Australian National University
Prof. Gifford Miller, University of Colorado
Dr Gilbert Price, The University of Queensland
Dr Gavin Prideaux, Flinders University
Dr Stephen Wroe, The University of New South Wales
Symposium Conveners: Dr Stephen Gallagher and Dr Matt Cupper, The University of Melbourne
Download a sampler of the conference handbook here.
