Did Tasmanian devils live alongside humans?
Archaeological evidence from the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia confirms that Tasmanian devils lived alongside humans as far back as 45,000 years ago. Researchers identified fossilized remains, including a jaw bone and tooth fragments, within cave shelters used by ancient hunter-gatherers. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized, close interspecies relationship where the marsupials scavenged carrion accumulated by human populations in the Pilbara region.
How did these animals interact with human settlements?
Analysis of over 260 digested bone fragments and ten specimens with distinct gnaw marks suggests that Tasmanian devils acted as a natural cleanup crew for ancient human camps. By consuming rotting meat and food scraps, these highly adaptable scavengers likely helped reduce disease risks for the people living in the area. This discovery expands the known historical range of the species, which eventually disappeared from the mainland after being outcompeted by dingoes.
