1. The early peopling of Australia
Teachers Notes- The easiest way to use these presentations in your class is to ask students to make notes. The slides have been purposefully designed to contain enough information for the students to be able to write down the information word for word but not contain too much information that they are still writing when you want to move on. Please print out these pages including the “notes section” (you will find this option on the print window under the heading “Print What”. The notes will provide helpful definitions of technical terms and further information related to the slide being presented. At the bottom of each notes page is information about what is on the next slide so that teachers can relate the slide presented to the upcoming slide where necessary.
Next Slide: Multiple Choice Quiz
Dialogue Education
THIS CD HAS BEEN PRODUCED FOR TEACHERS TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM. IT IS A CONDITION OF THE USE OF THIS CD THAT IT BE USED ONLY BY THE PEOPLE FROM SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PURCHASED THE CD ROM FROM DIALOGUE EDUCATION. (THIS DOES NOT PROHIBIT ITS USE ON A SCHOOL’S INTRANET).

2. Multiple Choice Quiz
Click on the image above for a game of “Multiple Choice Quiz”. Try playing the game with your students at the start and the end of the unit. Make sure you have started the slide show and are connected to the internet.
Next Slide: You Tube Video- The Incredible Human Journey

3. You Tube Video- The Incredible Human Journey Australia part 1 of 6
Click on the image to the left. You will need to be connected to the internet to view this presentation.
Enlarge to full screen.
Next Slide: Much of our knowledge about the earliest people ….

4. The early peopling of Australia
The First Australians
Much of our knowledge about the earliest people in Australia comes from archaeology.
Archelogy studies prehistoric people and their cultures.
The physical remains of human activity that have survived in the archaeological record are largely stone tools, rock art and ochre, shell middens and charcoal deposits and human skeletal remains. These all provide information on the tremendous length and complexity of Australian Aboriginal culture.
Next Slide: Much of our knowledge about the earliest people ….
Next Slide: The earliest definite human remains

5. The early peopling of Australia
The earliest definite human remains found to date in Australia are that of Mungo Man which have been dated at about 40,000 years old.
The time of arrival of the ancestors of Indigenous Australians is a matter of debate among researchers, with estimates ranging as high as 125,000 years ago.
Next Slide: The consensus among scholars ….

6. The early peopling of Australia
The consensus among scholars for the arrival of humans in Australia is placed at 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, with a possible range of up to 70,000 years ago.
Next Slide: It is generally believed that Aborigines ….

7. The early peopling of Australia
It is generally believed that Aborigines are the descendants of a single migration into the continent, although some propose that there were three waves of migration.
Next Slide: There has always been an ocean ….

8. The early peopling of Australia
There has always been an ocean separating Asia and Australia.
At times this distance was reduced but the earliest travellers still had to navigate across large stretches of water.
Next Slide: For much of its history Australia …

9. The early peopling of Australia
For much of its history Australia was joined to New Guinea, forming a landmass called Sahul.
Next Slide: These countries were finally separated …

10. The early peopling of Australia
These countries were finally separated by rising sea levels about 8,000 years ago.
Evidence supports the close ties between these two countries – the Indigenous peoples from these regions are more closely related to each other than to anyone else in the world, suggesting a recent common ancestry.
Next Slide: There are a number of likely paths

11. The early peopling of Australia
There are a number of likely paths of migration across Asia and into Sahul.
There are a number of likely paths of migration across Asia and into Sahul. These are based on the shortest possible route and take into consideration the land bridges that would appear during times of low sea levels. However, travel may have also occurred when sea levels were high. High sea levels would have reduced the amount of usable land and increased the population pressure. During these times it may have been necessary to expand into new areas.
Next Slide: Changing sea levels have significantly affected….

12. The early peopling of Australia
Changing sea levels have significantly affected the geography of South-east Asia and Australia and the migration patterns of prehistoric peoples.
During times of low sea levels the travelling distance between Timor and Sahul would have been reduced to about 90 kilometres. Present sea levels are higher than they have been for most of the last million years. When water is locked up in the polar ice caps (known as an Ice Age) the sea level drops. When the climate becomes warmer, the ice melts and the sea level rises again.
Next Slide: The settlement of Australia ….

13. The early peopling of Australia
The settlement of Australia is the first evidence of a major sea crossing and rates as one of the greatest achievements of early humans.
However the motive and circumstances regarding the arrival of the first Australians is a matter for conjecture. It may have been a deliberate attempt to colonise new territory or an accident after being caught in monsoon winds.
Next Slide: The lack of preservation of any ancient boat ….

14. The early peopling of Australia
The lack of preservation of any ancient boat means archaeologists will probably never know what kind of craft was used for the journey.
None of the boats used by Aboriginal people in ancient times are suitable for major voyages. The most likely suggestion has been rafts made of bamboo, a material common in Asia.
Next Slide: The earliest dates for human ….

15. The early peopling of Australia
The earliest dates for human occupation of Australia come from sites in the Northern Territory.
Next Slide: A rock shelter in Arnhem Land ….

16. The early peopling of Australia
A rock shelter in Arnhem Land has been dated to around 55,000 years old and is currently gaining support as Australia’s oldest site.
The Malakunanja II Rock Shelter
Next Slide: Over the last decade, a significant number

17. The early peopling of Australia
Over the last decade, a significant number of archaeological sites dated at more than 30,000 years old have been discovered in Australia.
Next Slide: By this time all of Australia…

18. The early peopling of Australia
By this time all of Australia, including the arid centre and Tasmania, was occupied.
The drowning of many coastal sites by rising sea levels has destroyed what would have been the earliest occupation sites.
Next Slide: Bibliography

19. Bibliography
Bowern, Claire and Harold Koch (eds.) Australian Languages: Classification and the comparative method. John Benjamins, Sydney.
Chris Gibson, Peter Dunbar-Hall, Deadly Sounds, Deadly Places: Contemporary Aboriginal Music in Australia, pp. 120–121 (UNSW Press, 2005).
Dixon, R.M.W The Rise and Fall of Languages. CUP.
Judy Campbell: Invisible invaders. 2002, ISBN
Hughes, Helen (November 2008). "Who Are Indigenous Australians?". Quadrant. Retrieved December 16, 2009. 
"Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda". Uncommonlives.naa.gov.au Retrieved  
"GF's Koori History Website - Koori History Images s". Kooriweb.org Retrieved  
"Australian War Memorial - Encyclopedia“. Awm.gov.au. Retrieved  
"Timeline". Indigenousrights.net.au Retrieved  
"Civics | Sir Douglas Nicholls“ Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au Retrieved  
Wikipedia- indigenous Australians-
Zuckermann, Ghil'ad, "Aboriginal languages deserve revival“, The Australian Higher Education, August 26, 2009.