Prehistorians' views on Aboriginal migration

Given their reliance on empirical evidence, prehistorians have generally — but not always — been cautious in their statements about Aboriginal migration. The few comments here do not do justice to differences of opinion between some individuals but very briefly indicate what appears to be a prevailing view. It is agreed that Aborigines arrived by sea; their ancestors passed out of South-east Asia through the islands; and the ultimate immigrants arrived not less than 40000 years ago. Since New Guinea was joined physically to Australia for about 100000 years before around 8000 BP, the most common belief now seems to be a first arrival in New Guinea and then land passage to the present Australian mainland (e.g. Jones, 1977; Mulvaney and White, 1987; Walker, 1972; White and O'Connell, 1982).

In exploring migration to New Guinea/Australia, given a lack of interest in economics, most attention has been paid to pathways across the islands (Allen et al., 1977); the question of means has dominated over those of motive and opportunity. Indeed, insofar as opportunity has entered the debate, prehistorians' observations on ice age conditions and consequent lowering of seas (which reduced the length and frequency of sea trips) have sometimes appeared contrary to present understanding. Any likely economic motivation has generally been submerged under an essentially non-Malthusian and culture-driven view of the world of hunter gatherers (Birdsell, 1972; Hassan, 1981).