Arrival of Humans in AustraliaArrival of Humans in Australia

The arrival of humans in Australia is placed at The arrival of humans in Australia is placed at 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, with a possible 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, with a possible range of up to 70,000 years ago. The earliest range of up to 70,000 years ago. The earliest human remains found to date are that of human remains found to date are that of Mungo ManMungo Man which have been dated at about which have been dated at about 40,000 years old.40,000 years old.

How Aborigines LivedHow Aborigines Lived

Aborigines lived as Aborigines lived as Hunter-gatherersHunter-gatherers. They . They hunted and foraged for food from the land. hunted and foraged for food from the land. Aboriginal society was relatively mobile, or Aboriginal society was relatively mobile, or semi-nomadicsemi-nomadic, moving due to the changing , moving due to the changing food availability found across different areas food availability found across different areas as seasons changed.as seasons changed.

Photo of a hand made Aboriginal Photo of a hand made Aboriginal HomeHome

Aboriginal BeliefsAboriginal Beliefs In traditional Aboriginal belief systems, a creative In traditional Aboriginal belief systems, a creative

epoch known as the epoch known as the DreamtimeDreamtime stretches back into a stretches back into a remote era in history when the creator ancestors remote era in history when the creator ancestors known as the known as the First PeoplesFirst Peoples traveled across the land, traveled across the land, creating and naming as they went. Indigenous creating and naming as they went. Indigenous Australia's oral tradition and religious values are Australia's oral tradition and religious values are based upon reverence for the land and a belief in this based upon reverence for the land and a belief in this Dreamtime. The Dreaming is at once both the ancient Dreamtime. The Dreaming is at once both the ancient time of creation and the present-day reality of time of creation and the present-day reality of Dreaming. There were a great many different groups, Dreaming. There were a great many different groups, each with its own individual culture, belief structure, each with its own individual culture, belief structure, and language.and language.

Ceremonial GatheringsCeremonial Gatherings

Songs and dances were exchanged often at Songs and dances were exchanged often at large ceremonial gatherings when many large ceremonial gatherings when many people gathered together and when trade people gathered together and when trade goods were also exchanged. These gatherings goods were also exchanged. These gatherings often occurred at a time and place when there often occurred at a time and place when there was plenty of food.was plenty of food.

CeremonyCeremony

Ceremony is the underlying basis of Ceremony is the underlying basis of Indigenous song, music, dance and visual arts. Indigenous song, music, dance and visual arts. Ceremony contains many significant elements, Ceremony contains many significant elements, some of which are specifically related to some of which are specifically related to depicting Dreaming stories. Sometimes these depicting Dreaming stories. Sometimes these expressions of music, art, song, dance and expressions of music, art, song, dance and performance are seen as separate commodities performance are seen as separate commodities in the Western world. However, from an in the Western world. However, from an Aboriginal perspective they are all part of a Aboriginal perspective they are all part of a complex whole. complex whole.