WA: Scientist's Explore Time Capsule Caves
By Aleisha Preedy07 Apr 2009 4:52 PM
PERTH, April 7 AAP - A team of scientists is preparing to journey millions of years back into Australia's pre-history.
The scientists, from the West Australian Museum and Adelaide's Flinders University, will follow up on the discovery of the remains of ancient giant marsupials in the West Australian desert.
Bones of the prehistoric Australian megafauna were uncovered in previous expeditions to the Thylacoleo Caves, under the Nullabor Plain, two and half days drive from Perth near the South Australian border.
Flinders University vertebrate paleontologist Dr Gavin Prideaux said the last of three expeditions was carried out in 2002.
They uncovered the remains of an extinct marsupial lion, a giant wombat and a short-faced kangaroo.
On this occasion, the scientists will abseil into the caves to collect the remains of the extinct animals.
Dr Prideaux, who would not divulge the location of the find, described it as one of Australia's most important fossil locations.
He said the caves were a time capsule into Australia's prehistory.
"We expect that digging into sediment of the cave floors will uncover an unparalleled record of life in Australia going back perhaps millions of years," Dr Prideaux said.
"This will help to build up a detailed view of the evolution of Australia's iconic species and their arid environment."
