Scientists have known for a while that modern humans, or Homo sapiens, lived in Africa around 200,000 years ago. Australia, by comparison, was believed to have been settled much later, some 40,000 years ago, making it one of the last places humans reached after crossing significant stretches of open sea.
But the discover of a cluster of blackened stones in southern Victoria may push back the arrival of humans in Australia theory to around 120,000 years ago. The findings presented to the Royal Society of Victoria could reshape our understanding of human history on the continent. If confirmed, this discovery suggests that people were exploring and settling “down under” far earlier than we ever imagined.
Intrigued? Click through the following gallery to uncover the story behind the stones.