Rock find “rewrites” Australia human history

Excavations of a rock shelter in Australia’s Northern Territory suggest Aboriginal people reached the continent at least 65,000 years ago, up to 18,000 years earlier than archaeologists previously thought

Possible route of human migration from Africa

Archaeological sites
Ancient dry land

Madjedbebe Artifacts dated to 65,000 years ago support suggested dates of more than 45,000 years for other Australian archaeological sites

Nauwalabila
NORTHERN TERRITORY
INDONESIA
AUSTRALIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Mimbi Caves
Carpenter’s Gap
Fitzroy River
Lake Mungo
Lake George
Huon Peninsula
Darling River
Murrumbidgee River

625 miles
1000km

Team used technique called luminescence dating to determine age of sediments containing artifacts – which include what researchers say are world’s oldest ground-edge stone axes 
Devil’s Lair

Sources: AAAS, BBC
Picture: Chris Clarkson/Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation