NATIVE MAMMAL REMAINS FROM WILGIE MIA ABORIGINAL OCHRE MINE EVIDENCE ON THE PRE-EUROPEAN FAUNA OF THE WESTERN ARID ZONE.

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract
Remains of native mammals were recovered in the course of an archaeological excavation in Wilgie Mia, an Aboriginal ochre mine in the arid upper Murchison region. Almost all the specimens were recovered from loose ochre matrix which had accumulated over approximately the last 1000 years. Most of the bones are probably the remains of owls' prey, a few may have been contributed by humans or dogs; some of the larger species may have died in the mine. The total sample represents about 100 individuals, far too small for any trends in species composition through the deposit to be detected.

Mammals identified included Pig-footed Bandicoot, Chacropus ecaudatus; both species of stick-nest rat, Leporillus apicalis and L. condilor; and the Long-tailed Hopping-mouse, Notomys longicaudatus. all of which are now very rare or extinct in western Australia, and have been recorded from very few localities. The Shark Bay Mouse, Pseudomys pracconis. is also recorded from this inland site. The distributions of the species in the fossil fauna arc discussed: all are known to occur in arid regions of Australia.

The fauna provides evidence on the original distributions of the mammals before they were affected by European man.