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Australia
By David Dent
53k BC - 50k BC During this period the first humans migrated to Australia from the islands of Indonesia. It is believed that they came in bamboo rafts from Indonesia and also from southern China.
48k BC - 44k BC In Australia about 85% of the land-dwelling megafauna weighing over 100 pounds went extinct about this time. It was later suspected that systematic burning of the forests by humans contributed to the extinction. Some 55 species died off including the 230-pound flightless "thunder bird" called Genyornis.
45k BC The extinction of most of Australia’s large animals occurred about this time, shortly after the arrival of humans.
40.7k BC In 1992 rock engravings in South Australia are carbon dated at 42,700 years.
40k BC - 2000 Sea level seems to have dropped at least four times in this period.
38k BC - 1996 Scientists in Australia said that they found a shrub in Tasmania that began growing 40,000 years ago. Dubbed "King's Holly," the plant clones itself and now covers 2 secluded river gullies in the remote southwest.
35k BC In 2008 archeologists unearthed tools dating back at least 35,000 years in a rock shelter in Australia's remote northwest, making it one of the oldest archaeological finds in that part of the country.
35k BC A piece of a stone axe dating to this time was discovered in 2010 on sacred Aboriginal land in Australia, the oldest object of its type ever found. Archeologists said the discovery is evidence that Aboriginal Jawoyn people from Arnhem Land could have been the first to grind axes to sharpen their edges.
35k BC - 23k BC In Australia Aboriginal rock paintings were made as far back as this time.
16k BC The last major glaciation reaches its maximum. The English channel was dry; Australia adjoined Tasmania and New Guinea. Venice lay 200 miles from the sea.