Using historical research to constrain the provenance and age of the first recorded collection of extinct Pleistocene large mammal fossils from the Naracoorte Caves, South Australia

Historical research has successfully linked the first recorded collection of extinct Pleistocene large mammal fossils from Specimen Cave, Naracoorte Caves (South Australia), to modern excavations, significantly enhancing its scientific value. By analyzing newspaper articles, reports, correspondence, and cave inscriptions, researchers confirmed that the 1908 collection originated from the same stratigraphic context as current digs, providing critical provenance and age constraints. Notably, a previously undiscovered cave inscription identified William Reddan as the first person to document these fossils, placing them within the established geochronological framework of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

Turner, N. K., & Reed, E. H. (2023). Using historical research to constrain the provenance and age of the first recorded collection of extinct Pleistocene large mammal fossils from the Naracoorte Caves, South Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 147(1), 143–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2023.2188442