Tarragal Caves

Cave network and archaeological site in Victoria

Tarragal Caves

location in Australia

Location| near the towns of Tarragal and Cape Bridgewater, Victoria
Region| Australia
Coordinates| 38°19′7.1″S 141°24′28″E﻿ / ﻿38.318639°S 141.40778°E﻿ / -38.318639; 141.40778
Site notes
Excavation dates| 1970s
Archaeologists| Harry Lourandos

The Tarragal Caves are a network of large limestone caves and rockshelters which overlook the Bridgewater Lakes near the towns of Tarragal and Cape Bridgewater, Victoria in the Charles La Trobe and are near Discovery Bay Coastal Park. The caves were identified as important Aboriginal camping places early in the historic period, and were excavated in the late 1970s by Harry Lourandos,[1] revealing stratified deposits in the floor of 11,300 years old, along with shell midden deposits and earth ovens over 11,000 years old.[2]

Located just off the Bridgewater Lakes Road, and accessible in part by walking track, the cave openings form a series of galleries with clear views across the surrounding landscape and lakes.[3]

One of the caves extends under ground for over 400 m (1,300 ft)[dubious - discuss] and has a sinkhole opening to the surface so that there is a constant stream of air through the cave and rising up the hole. It is said that whenever Aboriginals approached this, they would[clarification needed] a piece of wood into the hole to "propitiate the demon supposed to reside within its profound and mysterious depths."[4]

Colonial administrator Charles La Trobe visited the site in 1845 and 1846, and had some of his men lower a rope ladder over the cliff so he could explore the caves. He also provided a detailed description in 1846, noting that "...the ‘natives’ referred to it as ‘Lubras’ Cave’" and that they "...knew the caverns well and ...had a superstitious dread of them, stating that the caverns below were inhabited by headless lubras". LaTrobe noted that when they came to the point under the sink hole there was a large pile of timber, assumed to be the items thrown down by Aboriginals over the ages. They then set fire to the pile lighting up the cave "... and displayed a magnificent vaulted chamber, bedecked with long glistening stalactites, and tenanted by vast numbers of bats, whose whirring, whizzing noise was probably that which the natives attributed to some supernatural being."[5]

An early etching depicting an Aboriginal family in the cave entrance was probably inspired by La Trobe's record.[6]

Pollen analysis of sediments in the cave has assisted in reconstructing the Pleistocene climate and environment of the region and understanding what resources were available to Aborigines.[7]

## See also

[edit]

* New Guinea II cave
* Buchan Caves
* Cloggs Cave

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lourandos, H. 1976 Aboriginal settlement and land use in south-western Victoria: a report on current field work. The Artefact l(4):174–93; Lourandos, H. 1983 Intensification: a Late Pleistocene-Holocene archaeological sequence from south-western Victoria. ArchaeoZogy in Oceania 18(2):81-94
2. ^ Ian D. Clark, 'The abode of malevolent spirits and creatures - Caves in Victorian Aboriginal social organization' Helictite, 40(1), 2007
3. ^ Photographs
4. ^ Chauncy in Smyth, R.B., 1878, The Aborigines of Victoria, with notes relating to the habits of the natives of other parts of Australia 2 Vols., Victorian Government Printer, Melbourne. Vol. 2:268-9
5. ^ Blake, L.B.J., 1975, Letters of Charles Joseph La Trobe, Government of Victoria, Victoriana Series No. 1. p 19
6. ^ Tarragal Caves overlooking the Bridgewater Lakes and Cape Bridgewater in the distance engraved by Thomas Ham, c. 1851, National Library of Australia nla.pic-an6016280
7. ^ Pollen Analysis of Sediments from the Bridgewater Caves, Archaeological Site, Southwestern Victoria, Lesley Head

Notes

* Josephine Flood, Archaeology of the Dreamtime, J. B. Publishing
* Phillip J. Habgood & Natilie R. Franklin, The revolution that didn't arrive: A review of Pleistocene Sahul, Journal of Human Evolution, 55, 2008

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Aboriginal Victorians

Peoples|

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* Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park
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* Grampians National Park
* Keilor
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* Mount William stone axe quarry
* New Guinea II cave
* Sunbury earth rings
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See also|

* Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register
* Victoria Archaeological Survey

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Prehistoric cave sites, rock shelters and cave paintings

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Europe

| Austria|

* Drachenhöhle
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Belgium|

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Bosnia|

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Finland|

* Wolf

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Vézère Valley World Heritage Site
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Reverdit
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Abri Audi
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Raymonden
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Rochereil
Vallonnet

Germany|

Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura World Heritage Site
Bockstein
Geissenklösterle
Hohle Fels
Hohlenstein-Stadel
Sirgenstein
Vogelherd

Other caves
Baumann's
Brillenhöhle
Kleine Feldhofer
Lichtenstein
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Gibraltar|

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Hungary|

* Baradla
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Italy|

* Addaura
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Jersey|

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Kosovo|

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Luxembourg|

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Malta|

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North Macedonia|

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Norway|

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Poland|

* Obłazowa
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Portugal|

* Aroeira
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Romania|

* Coliboaia
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Russia|

* Akhshtyrskaya
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Serbia|

* Hadži-Prodan's
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* Mala Balanica and Velika Balanica

Slovakia|

* Čertova pec
* Domica
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Slovenia|

* Betal
* Divje Babe
* Pekel
* Potok

Spain|

Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site
Altamira
Caves in Cantabria

Chufín
Covalanas
La Garma
Hornos de la Peña
Monte Castillo

El Castillo
Las Chimeneas
Las Monedas
La Pasiega
El Pendo
Tito Bustillo
Altxerri
Santimamiñe
Los Aviones

Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin World Heritage Site)
Araña
Roca dels Moros

Other World Heritage Sites
Atapuerca
Siega Verde

Other caves with decoration
Bacinete
Barranc del Migdia
Las Caldas
Los Casares
Maltravieso
los Murciélagos
Nerja
Niño
Ojo Guareña
Peñas de Cabrera
la Pileta
Praileaitz
Sidrón

Other caves
Ángel
Antón
Armintxe
Axlor
Bedmar
dels Bous
Don Gaspar
Guanches
El Mirón
Santa Catalina
del Valle

Switzerland|

* Bichon
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Ukraine|

* Verteba

United Kingdom|

* Aveline's Hole
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Asia

| Afghanistan|

* Darra-e Kur

|

Armenia|

* Areni-1

Azerbaijan|

* Allar
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Cambodia|

* Laang Spean

China|

* Baishiya
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East Timor|

* Jerimalai
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Georgia|

* Satsurblia

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* Ambadevi
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Indonesia|

* Harimau
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Iran|

* Bisitun
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Iraq|

* Hazar Merd
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Israel|

* Amud
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Japan|

* Kosegasawa
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* Tobayama
* Yamashita

Jordan|

* Iraq ed-Dubb

Laos|

* Tham An Mah
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Lebanon|

* Antelias
* Jeita
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* Nachcharini

Malaysia|

* Niah

Mongolia|

* Khoit Tsenkher

Myanmar|

* Padah-Lin

Pakistan|

* Sanghao

Palestine|

* Shuqba

Philippines|

* Callao
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Sri Lanka|

* Batadombalena
* Belilena
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Thailand|

* Pha Taem
* Spirit
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Turkmenistan|

Dzhebel

Turkey|

* Belbaşı
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* Yarımburgaz

Uzbekistan|

* Obi-Rakhmat
* Teshik-Tash

Vietnam|

* Con Moong
* Ngườm

Africa

| Algeria|

* Gueldaman

|

Botswana|

* Tsodilo
* Manyana Rock Paintings

Cameroon|

* Shum Laka

DR Congo|

* Matupi

Egypt|

* Beasts
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Kenya|

* Enkapune Ya Muto
* Njoro River

Lesotho|

* Liphofung

Libya|

* Haua Fteah
* Uan Muhuggiag

Morocco|

* Hercules
* Ifri N'Ammar
* Ifri N'Amr Ou Moussa
* Ifri Oudadane
* Jebel Irhoud
* Kelif el Boroud
* Taforalt

Mozambique|

* Ngalue

Namibia|

* Apollo 11
* The White Lady

Nigeria|

* Rop

Somaliland|

* Dhambalin
* Dhaymoole
* Laas Geel

South Africa|

Cradle of Humankind, World Heritage Site
Bolt's Farm
Cooper's
Drimolen
Gladysvale
Gondolin
Haasgat
Kromdraai
Makapansgat
Malapa
Minnaar's
Motsetsi
Plovers Lake
Rising Star
Sterkfontein
Swartkrans

Other caves
Blombos
Border
Boomplaas
Byneskranskop
Cango
Diepkloof
Elands Bay
Howieson's Poort
Klasies River
Melkhoutboom
Nelson Bay
Pinnacle Point
Sibudu
Stadsaal
Wonderwerk

Tanzania|

* Kondoa
* Bahi
* Mumba

Uganda|

* Nyero

Zambia|

* Kalemba
* Mumbwa

Zimbabwe|

* Bambata

North and South America

| Argentina|

* Cueva de las Manos

|

Aruba|

* Quadiriki

Belize|

* Actun Tunichil Muknal
* Barton Creek
* Midnight Terror

Brazil|

* Gentio
* Maquiné
* Pedra Pintada
* Peruaçu
* Rei do Mato
* Santo
* Toca da Tira Peia

Canada|

* Bluefish
* Charlie Lake

Chile|

* Fell
* Milodón

Colombia|

* El Abra
* Chiribiquete
* Piedras del Tunjo
* Sáchica
* Tequendama
* Tibitó

Cuba|

* Ambrosio
* Calero
* Centella
* Cura
* Patana
* Pluma

Curaçao|

* Hato

Dominican Republic|

* Pomier

Jamaica|

* Long Mile

Mexico|

* Chan Hol
* Coxcatlan
* Dzibilchaltún
* Las Flechas
* Frightful
* Guilá Naquitz
* Ox Bel Ha
* Oxtotitlán
* Sac Actun

Peru|

* Chivateros
* Guitarrero
* Pikimachay
* Qillqatani
* Toquepala
* T'uqu T'uquyuq

Suriname|

* Werehpai

United States|

* Arnold Research
* Baker
* Bonfire
* Bull Thistle
* Burnet
* Cherry Creek
* Colorado Millennial
* Danger
* Daugherty's
* Dry Creek
* Durango
* Dust
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* Fort Rock
* Franktown
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* Graham
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* Lovelock
* Mammoth
* Mantle's
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* Martz
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* Modoc
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* On Your Knees
* Paisley
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* Rockhouse Cliffs
* Russell
* Sandia
* Shoup
* Sisyphus
* Stanfield-Worley
* Tainter
* Tomaquag
* Trail Creek
* Trinchera
* Ventana
* Wilson Butte

Oceania

| Australia|

* Abrakurrie
* Acheron
* Ballawinne
* Beeton Shelter
* Beginner's Luck
* Blanche
* Bone
* Burrup
* Cave Bay
* Cliefden
* Cloggs
* Devil's Lair
* Eagles Reach
* Fossil
* Gabarnmung
* Gwion Gwion
* Jenolan
* Koongine
* Koonalda
* Kutikina
* Mackintosh 90/1
* Madjedbebe
* Mammoth
* Mannalargenna
* Mudgegonga
* Murrawijinie
* Murujuga
* Naracoorte
* New Guinea II
* Nunamira
* ORS 7
* Tarragal
* Ubirr
* Wargata Mina
* Warratyi
* Warreen
* Wellington

|

Guam|

* Gadao's
* Mahlac
* Talagi

Hawaii|

* Makauwahi

New Caledonia|

* Pindai

New Zealand|

* Moncks
* Ruakuri

Northern Mariana Islands|

* Chugai'

Papua New Guinea|

* Kilu

Samoa|

* Falemauga

Tuvalu|

* Nanumanga

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