The finding has pushed back the previous estimation regarding the existence of homo sapiens in Australia by 18,000 years. A team of archaeologists from the University of Queensland has been excavating the sites situated in a rock shelter in Majedbebe, Northern Territory since 2012. The archaeologists discovered stone tools and weapon, which indicated an advanced understanding of tools making.
They have published the findings of in the Nature which made significant changes to the history and understanding of human migration to Australia. The findings of advanced stone tools baffled scientists as many of the stone tools, including axes, only appeared in other civilizations 20,000 years later.
Associate professor of the University of Queensland, Chris Clarkson told the Sydney Morning Herald that the ancient stone tools axes were found in perfect shape. The axes were declared as the oldest stone axes that made with polished and sharpened edges.
"Now we know humans were living in northern Australia a minimum of 65,000 years ago," Clarkson said regarding the stone tools found in the excavation. "The search will be on to discover each of the steps they took on the way."
In order to confirm their conclusion, the archaeologists used more than just radiocarbon dating examinations. They also used additional examination technique, called optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). This technique analyzes the mineral grains in the stone tools artifact to determine the last time the artifact was exposed to the light, thus determining the time when the artifact was buried.
This discovery has proved another theory that the Australian Aborigines were the first people in the world that sailed the ocean in a major maritime migration. It is because no human being has ever recorded to undertake such a journey in 65,000 years ago.
Aborigines possible sailed for at least 55 miles in the open ocean from Africa to reach Papua New Guinea. Afterward, they could have walked from Papua New Guinea to Northern Australia, because the sea level was very low during that time.
