Since when are Australians in Australia?

2003/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Paleontologia
• Giza zientziak
• Arkeologia

Researchers point out that the man arrived in Australia 50,000 years ago. Thanks to another dating of Australia's oldest human footprint, a new study of the skeleton called Mungo 3 has obtained evidence in favor of the Out of Africa theory (outside Africa). According to the Out of Africa theory, all human beings are heirs to a group that was born 100,000 years ago in Africa. Therefore, it would be impossible for man to arrive in Australia before 50,000 years ago.

However, according to the current date, the Mungo 3 skeleton was 62,000 years old, so the Out of Africa theory was questioned. These datations of the man of Mungia, Horibai, have changed many times: In 1974, when they discovered it, in the first dating they made they realized that it was 30,000 years old; later, in the decade of the 90, of 42.000-45,000 years and in 1999 of 62.000-68,000 years.

The last dating, therefore, brings back data in favor of the Out of Africa theory. Hopefully the real antiquity of Australians, now yes.