Assessment Questions 7.4

1. How did the initial human population enter Australia, and what was their pattern of spread within the continent?

The initial human population entered Australia from the north and primarily spread eastward and to a lesser extent westward along the coast. This pattern of spread aligns with the coastal adaptation of the first inhabitants, who likely used watercraft in their migration onto the landmass of Sahul. As they moved inland, they followed major river systems, shifting their subsistence focus from marine to riverine resources.

2. What evidence suggests a shift in adaptive focus as the early Australians expanded away from the coast?

The Warratyi rock shelter provides evidence of a shift in adaptive focus as Australians expanded away from the coast. Located about 480 km north of modern Adelaide, this site, dated to at least 49,000 years ago, is situated in a mountainous region. Archaeologists recovered over 4,000 stone artifacts and butchered bones of an extinct herbivore (diprotodon) and fragments of an eggshell from an extinct, flightless bird (giant malleefowl). This site, far from the coast, reflects an early expansion into the interior, indicating a shift in subsistence strategies.