Underwater archaeologists uncover ancient Aboriginal sites off Australia's coast

The first confirmed underwater Aboriginal archaeological sites have been discovered off Australia's coast, with researchers forecasting the existence of many more waiting to be found.

Numerous ancient settlements were once located on dry land at the end of the Ice Age, when sea levels were much lower. However, as the seas rose, these areas were submerged, according to a recent study in PLOS ONE.

The coastline of Australia extended an additional 100 miles into the sea during the Ice Age, according to a team led by archaeologist Jonathan Benjamin from Flinders University. This suggests that many ancient sites could now lie underwater.

To investigate potential underwater sites, scientists deployed divers and employed various methods, including aerial surveys and underwater remote sensing technology.

Two significant sites were identified off the northwestern coast of Australia. One, located in Cape Bruguieres Channel, yielded artifacts that are at least 7,000 years old. The second site, Flying Foam Passage, contained a single artifact dating back 8,500 years.

While many artifacts were covered in marine growth, the team was able to identify various worked stone tools, including what may be two grinding stones.

The discovery demonstrates the effectiveness of these exploratory techniques for uncovering underwater archaeological sites, according to the researchers. They hope these methods will enable the systematic recovery and study of ancient artifacts.

The research team called on the Australian government to implement laws that would safeguard and oversee Aboriginal sites along the nation's coastline.

"Collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional owners and custodians to manage, study, and comprehend the archaeology of Australia's continental shelf is one of the final frontiers in Australian archaeology," said Benjamin.

"Our findings mark the initial phase in a journey of exploration, unlocking the archaeological potential of the continental shelves to bridge a significant gap in the continent's human history," he added.

A 2016 genomic study revealed that Aboriginal Australians are the world's oldest known civilization, with their lineage tracing back approximately 75,000 years.

The results suggest that Aboriginal people diverged from Eurasians 57,000 years ago, after a single migration out of Africa around 75,000 years ago.

The evidence suggests that Aboriginal Australians may have arrived on the continent as early as 31,000 years ago.