Prehistoric World

A new analysis in 2002 of Australia's oldest human remains suggested that humans arrived on the continent about 50,000 BC.

The evidence was based on a re-examination of the so-called Mungo Man skeleton, which had been unearthed in New South Wales (NSW) in 1974. Scientists stated that the individual had probably been buried about 40,000 BC, when humans had been living in the area for some 10,000 years.

The data probably came as a relief to palaeontologists who were supporting the 'Out of Africa' theory. Some had suggested the skeleton was 60,000 years old, challenging the popular idea that all people alive today are descended from a group which began to emigrate from Africa some 60,000-70,000 years ago.

Early wanderers

Under the 'Out of Africa' hypothesis, ancient people could not have arrived in Australia before about 50,000 years ago because their spread across the world from Africa was very slow.

Mungo Man's discoverer, James Bowler of the University of Melbourne, stated that the 2002 data corrected previous estimates for the date of human burials at the site. The study by his team showed that humans were present at Lake Mungo as early as 50-46,000 BC.

They found no evidence to support claims for human occupation or burials near 60,000 BC.

Oldest DNA

Lake Mungo is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

Two skeletons have been found in the area: 'Mungo I', the first recorded cremation, dated at about 24,000 BC, and 'Mungo III', the world's oldest ritual ochre burial, and source of the world's oldest mitochondrial DNA.

The 2002 analysis was based on the dating of sand which had been taken from the burial site. An earlier team, led by Alan Thorne, put the date at 60,000 BC based on samples which came from a site which was farther away.

That date was later discredited while the 50,000 BC date received further confirmation. However, new finds continue to be made with the result that an arrival date of 60,000 BC is now generally accepted, and with 65,000 BC now a distinct possibility.

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