SYDNEY, June 18 (Xinhua) -- A collaboration by top Australian universities published on Tuesday has revealed new insights into how people first arrived on the Australian continent tens of thousands of years ago.
The study showed humans arrival in Australia to be the result of several large, planned migrations, which utilized complex watercraft and technologies, island hopping south to West Papua.
"We know that Aboriginal people have lived here for more than 50,000 years," study author, Professor Michael Bird from James Cook University said.
"This research offers a greater understanding of how migration events took place and further evidence of the marine and navigation capabilities used to make these deliberate journeys."
Researchers from Flinders University, James Cook University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Adelaide and University of Wollongong used sophisticated modelling techniques to determine likely routes, as well as what size of group would be required to make such a migration viable.
Using mathematical modelling, and taking into account fertility, longevity and past climate conditions, the team proved the likelihood of either one mass migration of at least 1,300 people, or smaller successive migrations averaging 130 people, every 70 years for about 700 years.
"This suggests planned and well-organized maritime migration, rather than accidental arrival," Professor Corey Bradshaw from Flinders University said.
At the time due to lower sea levels, New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania formed a mega-continent known as Sahul, meaning early inhabitants could have walked to Australia's Southernmost tip from current day West Papua.
The study also showed a likely path that the seafarers would have taken to reach Sahul.
"A northern route connecting the islands of Mangoli, Buru, and Seram into West Papua New Guinea would probably have been easiest to navigate and survive," Bradshaw said.
