Assessment Questions 7.6

The archaeological record challenges the stereotype of Australian Aborigines as a homogeneous group with simple technology in the central desert. Contrary to the stereotype, the ancestors of native Australians arrived by watercraft around 65,000 years ago in a planned, intentional migration. By 20,000 years ago, they had adapted to diverse habitats across Greater Australia, including coastal, temperate, and even extreme environments like the Great Sandy Desert and sub-Antarctic tundra in Tasmania. This diversity of adaptations reflects a rich and varied cultural landscape beyond the simplistic view of primitive desert dwellers.

Evidence from Koonalda Cave challenges the notion that the lives of native Australians were solely focused on subsistence. In the cave, there is fascinating ancient artwork, specifically a series of meandering lines made by human fingers dating back as much as 24,000 years ago. This discovery, akin to finger painting, suggests a form of artistic expression and creativity beyond the immediate quest for subsistence. Additionally, even older art, dated to 36,000 B.P. and 43,000 B.P., has been found at sites like Wharton Hill and Panaramitee North, indicating a rich cultural heritage that predates the stereotypes associated with primitive societies.