Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Ancient Landscape Beneath Great Barrier Reef Reveals Human Past
Scientists found an ancient landscape under Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
It once had rivers, lakes, beaches, and estuaries.
First Nations people lived there nearly 65,000 years ago.
At that time, the ocean was about 80 meters lower than it is today.
The area was a large coastal plain beside forests.
Rising seas began covering it around 7,000 years ago.
Scientists used sonar from a research ship to map the hidden land.
They also worked with Darumbal and Woppaburra people to connect scientific findings with cultural knowledge.
Sediment samples may help show what the landscape was like long ago.
Scientists mapped submerged rivers, lakes, estuaries, and beaches beneath Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The landscape was inhabited by First Nations people nearly 65,000 years ago, when sea levels were about 80 meters lower.
The ancient coastal plain began submerging approximately 7,000 years ago as sea levels rose.
Researchers identified the landscape during a 24-day voyage aboard the vessel Investigator off Queensland.
More than 20 seabed sediment cores will be studied for fossils and evidence of past climate, vegetation, and sea-level change.
- Who
- Scientists, with help from Darumbal Traditional Owners of Sea Country and the Woppaburra people, investigated the submerged landscape.
- What
- Researchers discovered and mapped an ancient coastal landscape containing rivers, lakes, estuaries, and beaches.
- When
- The landscape was inhabited nearly 65,000 years ago and began submerging about 7,000 years ago; the discovery occurred during a 24-day voyage.
- Where
- Beneath the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
- Why
- Researchers aim to reconstruct the region’s past climate, sea levels, vegetation, reef development, and human history.
- Location
- Beneath Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland
- Estimated human occupation
- Nearly 65,000 years ago
- Past sea level
- About 80 meters below present levels
- Submergence
- The landscape began submerging approximately 7,000 years ago
- Research vessel
- Investigator
- Voyage duration
- 24 days
- Sediment samples
- More than 20 cores collected from the seabed