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Human occupation of northern Australia by 65,000 years ago

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Clarkson

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • Zenobia Jacobs

    (Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Wollongong
    Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong)

  • Ben Marwick

    (Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong
    University of Washington)

  • Richard Fullagar

    (Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong)

  • Lynley Wallis

    (Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame)

  • Mike Smith

    (Centre for Historical Research, National Museum of Australia)

  • Richard G. Roberts

    (Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Wollongong
    Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong)

  • Elspeth Hayes

    (Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong)

  • Kelsey Lowe

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • Xavier Carah

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • S. Anna Florin

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • Jessica McNeil

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland
    Harvard University)

  • Delyth Cox

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • Lee J. Arnold

    (School of Physical Sciences, the Environment Institute and the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide)

  • Quan Hua

    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation)

  • Jillian Huntley

    (Place, Evolution, Rock Art, Heritage Unit, School of Humanities, Griffith University)

  • Helen E. A. Brand

    (Australian Synchrotron)

  • Tiina Manne

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • Andrew Fairbairn

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • James Shulmeister

    (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland)

  • Lindsey Lyle

    (University of Washington)

  • Makiah Salinas

    (University of Washington)

  • Mara Page

    (University of Washington)

  • Kate Connell

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • Gayoung Park

    (University of Washington)

  • Kasih Norman

    (School of Social Science, University of Queensland)

  • Tessa Murphy

    (University of Washington)

  • Colin Pardoe

    (Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Language, The Australian National University)

Abstract

The time of arrival of people in Australia is an unresolved question. It is relevant to debates about when modern humans first dispersed out of Africa and when their descendants incorporated genetic material from Neanderthals, Denisovans and possibly other hominins. Humans have also been implicated in the extinction of Australia’s megafauna. Here we report the results of new excavations conducted at Madjedbebe, a rock shelter in northern Australia. Artefacts in primary depositional context are concentrated in three dense bands, with the stratigraphic integrity of the deposit demonstrated by artefact refits and by optical dating and other analyses of the sediments. Human occupation began around 65,000 years ago, with a distinctive stone tool assemblage including grinding stones, ground ochres, reflective additives and ground-edge hatchet heads. This evidence sets a new minimum age for the arrival of humans in Australia, the dispersal of modern humans out of Africa, and the subsequent interactions of modern humans with Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Clarkson & Zenobia Jacobs & Ben Marwick & Richard Fullagar & Lynley Wallis & Mike Smith & Richard G. Roberts & Elspeth Hayes & Kelsey Lowe & Xavier Carah & S. Anna Florin & Jessica McNeil & Dely, 2017. "Human occupation of northern Australia by 65,000 years ago," Nature, Nature, vol. 547(7663), pages 306-310, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:547:y:2017:i:7663:d:10.1038_nature22968
    DOI: 10.1038/nature22968
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    Cited by:

    1. Sarah E. Freidline & Kira E. Westaway & Renaud Joannes-Boyau & Philippe Duringer & Jean-Luc Ponche & Mike W. Morley & Vito C. Hernandez & Meghan S. McAllister-Hayward & Hugh McColl & Clément Zanolli &, 2023. "Early presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia by 86–68 kyr at Tam Pà Ling, Northern Laos," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Anna Normyle & Michael Vardon & Bruce Doran, 2022. "Ecosystem accounting and the need to recognise Indigenous perspectives," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Rob Cooke & Ferran Sayol & Tobias Andermann & Tim M. Blackburn & Manuel J. Steinbauer & Alexandre Antonelli & Søren Faurby, 2023. "Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Matthew James Cook & Gabriela Guizzo Dri & Prishanee Logan & Jia Bin Tan & Antoine Flahault, 2020. "COVID-19 Down Under: Australia’s Initial Pandemic Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Sangha, Kamaljit K & Evans, Jay & Edwards, Andrew & Russell-Smith, Jeremy & Fisher, Rohan & Yates, Cameron & Costanza, Robert, 2021. "Assessing the value of ecosystem services delivered by prescribed fire management in Australian tropical savannas," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    6. Stoeckl, Natalie & Jarvis, Diane & Larson, Silva & Larson, Anna & Grainger, Daniel & Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation,, 2021. "Australian Indigenous insights into ecosystem services: Beyond services towards connectedness – People, place and time," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).

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