The Pleistocene Peopling of Greater Australia: A Re-examination

Abstract

The problem concerning the initial Pleistocene peopling of Australasia is reviewed in light of recent findings that suggest this settlement may be earlier than the conventional view of 35,000 to 40,000 BP. Methods including anthropogenically interpreted paleoecological changes and the application of luminescence dating techniques clearly suggest people settled this continent earlier than the applicable limits of conventional radiocarbon analysis. Early luminescence ages at the Ngarrabullgan Cave (David et al. 1997), Malakunanja II (Roberts et al. 1994), Nauwalabila I (Roberts et al. 1994), and Jinmium (Fullagar et al. 1996) clearly indicate that the initial phase of Australian prehistory must be re-examined and radiocarbon ages may no longer be an applicable methodology utilized to obtain ages for the initial settlement of Australia.