The remains of an ancient wetland forest and Aboriginal artefacts have resurfaced at a popular Esperance beach , after winter storms eroded the land.

Rangers from the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation first observed the effects of erosion at Wharton Beach in August, which has seen old tree stumps resurface and exposed embedded Aboriginal crafting materials within the terrain.

To uncover the land’s history and heritage, the group had sent off tree samples to researchers at the University of New South Wales’ Radiocarbon Laboratory, which senior cultural advisor Doc Reynolds said uncovered “remarkable” findings.

“We did some carbon dating on one of the stumps that was exposed, and it came back that it last saw the light of day 7000 years ago,” he said.

Dr Reynolds

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