Knowra Prehistory of Australia Prehistory of Australia The history of human societies in Australia before written records, reconstructed from archaeology, oral traditions, environmental evidence, and other sources. It includes the deep histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Sahul : The prehistoric landmass joining Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania when sea levels were lower. Its exposed land bridges and coastlines formed the setting for the earliest settlement.
Australian archaeology : The study of Australia’s past through material remains, landscapes, and archaeological methods. It supplies much of the evidence used to reconstruct precolonial histories.
Aboriginal Australians : The Indigenous peoples of mainland Australia and many surrounding islands, comprising diverse nations and communities. Their societies and histories span the entire period considered here.
Australian Aboriginal fire management : Indigenous practices of using fire to manage vegetation, habitats, and resources in Australia. Fire shaped ecosystems and food resources through deliberate, place-specific practices.
Late Pleistocene extinctions in Australia : The disappearance of many large animal species in Australia during the late Pleistocene. These extinctions frame debates about human impacts and climate change.
Indigenous Australian genetic history : The study of genetic ancestry and population history among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Genetic evidence complements archaeology in tracing population continuity and deep ancestry.
Radiocarbon dating : A method for estimating the age of once-living material from its remaining carbon-14. It helps date organic remains and occupation layers, within its effective age range.
Torres Strait Islanders : The Indigenous peoples of the Torres Strait Islands, with distinct languages, cultures, and histories. Their maritime societies are an essential part of Australia’s precolonial past.
Australian Aboriginal aquaculture : Indigenous Australian practices for cultivating, trapping, and managing aquatic foods and habitats. Fish traps and engineered waterways show sustained environmental knowledge and food production.
Megafauna of Australia : The large-bodied animals that inhabited Pleistocene Australia, including giant marsupials and reptiles. Their presence and disappearance shaped the environments in which early societies lived.
Show all 30