Underwater Cave Bones Reveal New Clues to How Extinct Giants Were Deposited
Scientists studying submerged caves in South Australia have identified unique preservation patterns on animal bones, creating a method to trace how extinct megafauna entered these underwater sites.
A Griffith University research team examined animal bones recovered from the underwater caves of Green Waterhole and Gouldens Sinkhole in South Australia. Using radiocarbon dating and a suite of techniques—from macro-scale spatial analysis to elemental composition and preserved protein studies—they identified preservation "fingerprints" tied to environmental variables such as ambient light, algae growth and bacterial activity.
Bones near well-lit entrances displayed algae-derived markings, while those from permanently dark zones remained largely pristine. Comparisons with specimens from terrestrial caves highlighted contrasting degradation patterns, enabling the scientists to devise a systematic method for interpreting how megafauna remains entered and survived in submerged settings. The findings, published in PLOS One, provide paleontologists worldwide with a new tool for reconstructing ancient ecosystems. The project also involved specialist divers from the Cave Divers Association of Australia.
Why it matters
It gives scientists a reliable way to study how extinct giant animals were deposited and preserved in underwater caves.
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