Deep Time history Revision

The Theory of Evolution suggests that all living things are related and species change over time. From scientific perspective, the peopling of Australia is a story that starts with our evolution as a species. To confirm this hypothesis, we use the following dating techniques.

Relative dating: to determine relative (approximate) order of past events. This includes techniques such as; stratigraphy - looking at layers in the ground.

Absolute dating: determine absolute (true) date or date range. This includes techniques such as; radiocarbon dating (C14) and Optically stimulated luminescence.

Human evolution is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. One of the earliest defining human traits, bipedalism -- the ability to walk on two legs -- evolved over 4 million years ago. Other important human characteristics -- such as a large and complex brain, the ability to make and use tools, and the capacity for language -- developed more recently.

Out of Africa Theory:

Early humans first migrated out of Africa into Asia probably between 2 million and 1.8 million years ago. They entered Europe somewhat later, between 1.5 million and 1 million years.

Species of modern humans (Homo Sapiens) populated many parts of the world much later. For instance, people first came to Australia probably within the past 65,000 years and to the Americas within the past 30,000 years or so.

The First People of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands

Scientists generally believe that the first Australians made the journey from South-East Asia sometime during a long Ice Age period. It would have been possible to walk much of the way and still stay in sight of land when crossing the water. It is thought that the ocean levels were at their lowest approximately 55,000 years ago.

Birdsell (1977) proposed that people travelled from Asia to Australia via two possible routes that involved island hopping.

• Northern route via New Guinea

• Southern route via Flores and Timor

It is possible that the Aboriginal settlement of Australia occurred over many generations and that the first Australians travelled along different routes.

- Joseph Birdsell suggests that small groups of people settled the inland areas of Australia first and then spread rapidly across the continent as their population increased. Birdsell’s ‘fast-track model’ estimated that within 3000 years the settlement would have extended all the way to the eastern and southern coasts.

Ordinary stories: narratives which may describe a time when the sea level was lower than it is today, and the shoreline of a particular part of Australia was consequently further seawards. Such narratives describe what then happened, how the ocean rose, flooding familiar landscapes and transforming their environments and their livelihood possibilities.

Sacred myths: alluding to changes to coastal environments similar to those described in the narratives but explaining these changes in terms of the actions of particular individuals –sometimes superhuman, more often non-human (like God-like beings)

Dreaming: explains creation and the nature of the world, the place that every person has in that world and the importance of ritual and tradition. The Dreaming also teaches people about their country and where water, food and shelter would be found. The Dreaming is handed from one generation to the next through stories, music, dance and art. It tells of the time when the ancestral beings moved across the continent creating and moulding the land and its rivers, lakes, mountains and all living creatures.

The Dreaming established the laws and the nature of the relationships between different groups of Aboriginal people. The links between people were built upon their connections to the land and to the Dreaming. Aboriginal tradition taught people that the place of their birth and their clan established the country they belonged to.

Kinship: relates to relationships between people and between people and the land. The kinship system ensures everyone knows their responsibilities within the communities. Kinship relationships are more complex than the Western notion of family and involve strict rules and obligations. Kinship links are tied to spiritual belief as the Dreaming ancestors were considered to have genealogical links with living people and their land, and so are important in deciding each person’s kinship connection

Aboriginal Elders: would teach younger people about bush tucker, bush medicine and share their knowledge about the Dreaming through songs and stories. If there was a problem in the community, the Elders would make decisions together about how to settle things. Elders would also lead initiation ceremonies for younger people. A person did not just become an Elder when they got old. Respect and authority had to be earned by showing understanding and dedication to the community.

Marriage: For many Indigenous Australians, there were strict rules about marriage as part of kinship. Relationships in the Kulin nations had a lot to do with people’s totems. A marriage had to be between a man and a woman of different moieties (totems or symbols).

A totem is a special species of plant, insect, bird or animal that is held sacred and expresses the connection between the people and nature. The totem was inherited and represented the spirit world as it existed in daily life. A person shared a totem with other clan members and was given an individual totem around the time of their birth.

Initiation ceremonies: A general English translation of Indigenous Australian initiation ceremonies is to be put through the law; meaning that initiation passed on the knowledge of the Elders, the sacred lore of the Dreaming and the right to participate in the ritual and ceremonies of country. Initiation taught young people codes of conduct, customs and good manners. A person gained status with initiation.

Funeral customs: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples believed that with death a person’s spirit would return to the Dreaming ancestors. Funeral and mourning ceremonies differed according to clan and country, but they were all elaborate rituals that could last for many months. The ceremonies were a time to recognise the deceased and the Dreaming ancestors. The ceremonies surrounding death in all traditional Australian Indigenous communities expressed the powerful link between people and country.