Wasp nests help date ancient aboriginal art

Charcoal incorporated into mud wasp nests has timestamped important indigenous art in Australia's Kimberley region...

13 February 2020

Presented by Chris Smith.

Production by Chris Smith.

Mud-wasp_Damien_Finch.jpg

Wasp nests near the paintings have given scientists a major breakthrough on Kimberley rock art.

Credit:

Damien Finch, University of Melbourne

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Ancient wasp nests have enabled scientists to, for the first time, accurately pinpoint the ages of rock paintings dating back thousands of years in a remote part of Australia. And the picture that emerges is one of the continent’s earliest human inhabitants getting to grips with climate change. Speaking with Chris Smith, Damien Finch is based at the University of Melbourne but works in what’s arguably one of the most beautiful places on Earth..