'Humans arrived in Australia 65,000 years ago'

SYDNEY: The arrival of humans in Australia took place at least 65,000 years ago, much earlier than previous estimates, a study published today said.
The finding is based on a treasure trove of thousands of Aboriginal artefacts unearthed in the Northern Territory rock shelter called Madjedbebe, surrounded by World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.
The study in the journal Nature said people arrived on the Australian continent before the extinction of megafaunas such as giant wombats and short-faced kangaroos.
The timing of humans' first arrival in the country has been a subject of debate for decades, with earlier estimates putting Aboriginal people in Australia between 47,000 and 60,000 years ago.
Scientists say the discovery by a team of archaeologists and dating specialists has major global significance for the history of human evolution.
The discovery included a wealth of artefacts such as ground-edge axes, grindstones, flints and ochre – a natural earth pigment in yellow, orange and brown that is used as a painting material – as well as evidence of fireplaces.
"The site contains the oldest ground-edge stone axe technology in the world, the oldest known seed-grinding tools in Australia and evidence of finely made stone points which may have served as spear tips," said Chris Clarkson, an associate University of Queensland professor who led the study.
"Most striking of all, in a region known for its spectacular rock art, are the huge quantities of ground ochre and evidence of ochre processing found at the site, from the older layer continuing through to the present," Clarkson said.
"People were really innovative, dynamic, artistic people," he said. – dpa