Noala Cave
Basic information
Sample name: Noala Cave
Reference: T. Manne and P. M. Veth. 2015. Late Pleistocene and early Holocene exploitation of estuarine communities in northwestern Australia. Quaternary International 385:112-123 [ER 3698]
Geography
Country: Australia
State: Western Australia
Coordinate: 20° 27' 36" S, 115° 32' 24" E
Coordinate basis: based on nearby landmark
Time interval: Pleistocene - Holocene
Max Ma: 0.02722
Min Ma: 0.00873
Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)
Geography comments: "Noala Cave is located in the Montebello Islands, a group of approximately 265 small, low-relief islands, 20 km to the north of Barrow Island and about 50 km off the mainland coast of Western Australia".
Human occupation of the site ranges from the Late Pleistocene at 31,273 cal. BP, to the very early Holocene at 9677 cal. BP. There was a 15,000 year occupational hiatus during this time, with the site being used intermittently from 14,500 cal. BP until its abandonment.
Human occupation of the site ranges from the Late Pleistocene at 31,273 cal. BP, to the very early Holocene at 9677 cal. BP. There was a 15,000 year occupational hiatus during this time, with the site being used intermittently from 14,500 cal. BP until its abandonment.
Environment
Lithology: limestone
Taphonomic context: bird accumulation,cave,human accumulation,rock shelter
Archaeology: stone tools
Habitat comments: "During the last glacial maximum, the islands represented hinterland ranges, with the coastline an estimated 50 km further to the west. At 14–12,000 cal. BP, the coastline was located 10 km away, with the Barrow and Montebello Islands finally becoming isolated from the mainland at approximately 8300 cal. BP".
"Noala Cave is a small north-facing rockshelter located on a narrow rocky isthmus 30 m from the shoreline and 8 m above sea-level. The rockshelter is approximately 5 m deep and 1–2 m in height".
"A small lithic assemblage was recovered. The majority of artefacts comprise flakes, broken flakes and flake fragments. In addition, a single multi-platform core and an edge-altered flake were located".
"The microfauna remains were characterized by a high proportion of whole elements, suggesting that avian predators were likely responsible". Meanwhile, the larger, heavier species "are considered to have been harvested by people".
"Noala Cave is a small north-facing rockshelter located on a narrow rocky isthmus 30 m from the shoreline and 8 m above sea-level. The rockshelter is approximately 5 m deep and 1–2 m in height".
"A small lithic assemblage was recovered. The majority of artefacts comprise flakes, broken flakes and flake fragments. In addition, a single multi-platform core and an edge-altered flake were located".
"The microfauna remains were characterized by a high proportion of whole elements, suggesting that avian predators were likely responsible". Meanwhile, the larger, heavier species "are considered to have been harvested by people".
Methods
Life forms: bats,other large mammals,other small mammals,lizards,snakes
Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash
Sample size: 476 specimens
Years: 2013
Sampling comments: "A 1 m by 2 m excavation (Square 1 and 1A) was carried out towards the front of the cave near the dripline, along with a smaller 50 cm by 50 cm excavation (Square 2) also along the dripline".
"Bedrock in all three excavation squares was reached at a depth of 50–60 cm".
"While Squares 1 and 2 were dry screened through 6 mm and 3 mm mesh, Square 1A was wet screened using 1 mm mesh".
"Bedrock in all three excavation squares was reached at a depth of 50–60 cm".
"While Squares 1 and 2 were dry screened through 6 mm and 3 mm mesh, Square 1A was wet screened using 1 mm mesh".
Metadata
Sample number: 3886
Contributor: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-02-11 12:29:55
Modified: 2022-02-11 01:35:25
Abundance distribution
22 species
1 singleton
total count 476
geometric series index: 26.7
Fisher's α: 4.769
geometric series k: 0.8035
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.8824
Shannon's H: 2.4943
Good's u: 0.9979
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
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Register
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| Dasyurus hallucatus | 2 | 463 g |
| Perameles bougainville | 19 | |
| Isoodon auratus | 94 | |
| also 167 Peramelidae indet. | ||
| Macrotis lagotis | 34 | |
| Trichosurus vulpecula | 7 | 2.1 kg folivore |
| Bettongia lesueur | 99 | |
| Bettongia lesueur barrowensis | 4 | |
| "Bettongia barrowensis" - most likely a subspecies. | ||
| Lagorchestes conspicillatus | 6 | |
| Lagorchestes hirsutus | 10 | 1.5 kg |
| Osphranter robustus | 7 | 14 kg |
| "Macropus robustus" | ||
| Petrogale sp. | 11 | |
| also 44 Macropodidae indet. | ||
| Pteropus alecto | 2 | 609 g frugivore |
| Egernia sp. | 38 | |
| Tiliqua sp. | 1 | |
| Varanus sp. | 25 | |
| Agamidae indet. | 11 | |
| Antaresia sp. | 19 | |
| Liasis sp. | 11 | |
| Acanthophis sp. | 9 | |
| Demansia sp. | 4 | |
| also 43 Elapidae indet. | ||
| Boidae indet. | 57 | |