A probable pleistocene occupation site in Central Western Tasmania

Exploration of a minor karst area in 1979-80, during investigation of the glacial chronology of Tasmania's central West Coast Range, has revealed evidence of probable human occupation in the form of burnt and split macropod bones in a small limestone cave. The cave lies beside the Nelson River 12 km east of Queenstown at an elevation of 240m. It has been suggested that this general area of inland western Tasmania was unoccupied in both prehistoric and historic times (Jones 1968. 1974). Although the Nelson River cave provides the first evidence for prehistoric man in the river valleys inland from the West Coast Range, it is hitherto unreported to an archaeological readership. This note briefly describes the site and places it in the context of what 1s presently known of the climate in the area at the time of occupation.