Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
6661032 
Journal Article 
Expertise in finding water and exploiting water resources in Australian prehistory 
Bandler, H; , 
1999 
WATER RESOURCES PUBLICATIONS 
LITTLETON 
39-48 
WOS:000165804900004 
Australians have beet living on the Australian continent since at least 40,000 years ago. Probably even some thousands of years before. Many significant environmental changes in climate, flora and fauna have occurred during that period of human occupation.Satisfying water demands has been a constant concern. Due to the fairly consistent low precipitation rate throughout the continent, along the coast but more so inland, to the very arid, dry desert areas. It was necessary to search, find and protect natural occurrence of water and water resources.Water retention was significant in naturally occurring rock pools which were extensively used and carefully guarded. An important source of water, particularly in the arid inland were so called native wells. Numerous such wells exist throughout the vast continent. Some native wells, formerly also Aboriginal occupation sites, have been traced in the Simpson Desert.To obtain food from water in numerous locations within the continent fresh water fish and eel trap systems were built to satisfy food requirements of the people. Coastal fish traps are in existence along most for the suitable seaboard locations, from the east coast to the west coast.The construction of the hydraulic structures was carried out with simple tools and limited materials. All these hydraulic structures built to satisfy water and food requirements of the people are some of the earliest sophisticated hydraulic structures of the world. 
Singh, VP; Soe, WI; Sonu, JH; 
1-887201-24-6 
International Conference on Water, Environment, Ecology, Socioeconomics and Health Engineering (WEESHE) 
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA