Prehistory of Australia

From ArticleWorld

The prehistory of Australia refers to a time some 45 000 years ago, with some estimates going back as far as 60 000 years. At that time, the sea levels were much lower that they are now and Australia and New Guinea were united by an extensive land bridge. It is theorized that people first navigated the shorter distances between the Sunda Islands to reach the Australia and New Guinea land mass and then spread across the rest of Australia via the land bridge.

The sea levels rose at the end of the last glacial period – reaching current levels about 6 000 years ago - but by then, Australia, New Guinea and some of the closer Indonesian islands shared many animal and plant species.

Adapting to a new land

The hunter-gatherers began to adapt and shape the new land to their specifications. They used fire to drive game, open up thick forest and to encourage a new green growth to attract their prey. As a result of this extensive use of fire, vegetation changed in that where there was once dense growth, a more open forest took its place and where there was once open forest, grasslands took its place. Eucalypts, acacia and grasses became the predominant species in many areas due to the fact that they are more fire resistant.

Approximately 60 species of animals were driven to extinction including many of the megafauna such as large marsupial herbivores, flightless birds and carnivorous kangaroos. Whether this was a result of fire or hunting is unknown, but the once popular theory that it was due to climate change has fallen out of favour.

The land became more arid with less rainfall and lower temperatures. About 13 000 years ago with the end of the Pleistocene period, the sea level began rising, resulting in the separation of the Torres Strait, Kangaroo Island and Tasmania from the mainland.

Culture and technology

In the last 5000 years, the climate changed for the better with both temperatures and rainfall increasing. Trade between the tribes on the mainland and with other islands included flint, precious stones, spears and food. That there was contact between the tribes is also evidenced by the commonality of religious ideas and stories. Rules and responsibilities were stressed and political power was held by community elders. Though feuds were common, warfare was not and this may be due to the alliances formed through marriage or blood. Intermarriage was kept to a minimum and so the tribes needed to have contact with other tribes, sometimes even overseas ones.

Recent pre-history

In 1788, it is estimated that there were about half a million Aboriginal people in Australia, though some would put the figure higher. They comprised hundreds of cultural and language groups, with some living in semi-permanent settlements and practicing advanced land management. Most of the aboriginal culture is still a mystery to Europeans.