Assessing the impact of mid-to-late Holocene ENSO-driven climate change on toxic Macrozamia seed use: a 5000 year record from eastern Australia

► Analysed toxic Macrozamia seed deposition in eastern Australia since 5000 cal BP. ► Intensity of use correlated with ENSO-driven inter-annual climatic variability. ► Provides direct evidence of subsistence response to ENSO-driven climatic variability. ► Offers evidence of complex-multi-dimensional cultural response to climate change. ► Suggests considerable impact on other aspects of the wider cultural systems.