Bradshaw, Corey, Williams, Alan, Saltré, Frédérik, Norman, Kasih, and Ulm, Sean (2021) The First Australians grew to a population of millions, much more than previous estimates. The Conversation, 30 April 2021.

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Abstract

We know it is more than 60,000 years since the first people entered the continent of Sahul — the giant landmass that connected New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania when sea levels were lower than today. But where the earliest people moved across the landscape, how fast they moved, and how many were involved, have been shrouded in mystery. Our latest research, published today shows the establishment of populations in every part of this giant continent could have occurred in as little as 5,000 years. And the entire population of Sahul could have been as high as 6.4 million people. This translates to more than 3 million people in the area that is now modern-day Australia, far more than any previous estimate.

Item ID:	67977
Item Type:	Article (Commentary)
ISSN:	2201-5639
Funders:	Australian Research Council
Projects and Grants:	ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CE170100015)
Date Deposited:	06 May 2021 06:29
FoR Codes:	43 HISTORY, HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 4301 Archaeology > 430101 Archaeological science @ 50% 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4501 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history > 450101 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander archaeology @ 50%
SEO Codes:	13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1307 Understanding past societies > 130703 Understanding Australia’s past @ 100%
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