The First Australians: Beginning of the Dreamtime Quiz

Answer: India

The topic of the origins of the Aborigines has been debated for quite some time; however, a genetic study in 2009 has greatly strengthened the case for believing that the migration began in Asia or Africa. The study took place in India, and found genetic similarities between ancient Indians and Aborigines.

A 2011 study of DNA samples taken from hair concluded that sometime between 62,000 and 75,000 years ago Aboriginal ancestors split from the ancestors of the European Asia population group, about 24,000 years before the European and Asian groups split off from each other. It is believed that modern Aborigines are the direct descendants of the first migration to leave Africa 75,000 years go. These ancestors, after leaving Africa, migrated to South Asia before traveling on to Australia.

The Aborigines believed the world was created during the Dreamtime. The stencil hand print represented the spiritual signature of the person who put it on the wall.

Please note: When the term aborigine is used to denote a specific group of people, it is spelled with a capital "A".

Answer: 40,000-80,000 years ago

Archaeologists have had a difficult time agreeing on a possible date of arrival, and that is why there is such a wide margin. Reliable dating techniques, such as radiocarbon dating, is limited to a maximum age of approximately 40,000 years. Thermoluminescence dating can be used for older artifacts, however, the accuracy of this technique has not been fully established.

The kangaroo was a common subject in Aborginal art and an important figure in Dreamtime myths concerning the creation of landforms.

Answer: True

In fact, the Aborgines are quite possibly the oldest living population outside of Africa. They may also be the oldest continuous culture in the world, along with cultures such as the San, who still live in South Africa today.

The picture is entitled "Panel of simple figures with boomerangs", and dates from between 4,000-2,000 BC. The oldest piece of Aboriginal art, found in Northern Territory, dates back to approximately 26,000 BC.

Answer: 400+

As time went on, the different groups of ancient Aborigines spread across the Australian continent, and developed their own unique languages and cultures. The three main cultural areas were the Northern, Southern, and Central, which was the most sparsely populated due to lack of resources.

Each distinct group had its own variation of stories about the Dreamtime, as well as a very complex kinship system with rules about marriage. Corroborees, annual gatherings, were held: many groups would come together in order to arrange suitable marriages, as well as trade and exchange news.

Answer: It is still uncertain how the Aborigines originally travelled to Australia

Actually it is possible that the first Australians either migrated across a land bridge or came by boat. There is not enough evidence to prove either possibility. It is known that humans reached Tasmania about 40,000 years ago by traveling over a land bridge that existed until the seas rose about 12,000 years ago.

The rock painting in the picture is believed to be 10,000 years old. Aborigines today believe it was painted by the Mini spirits.

Answer: Mungo Man

Found near Lake Mungo in 1974, Mungo Man is conidered to be the oldest human found to date in Australia. As is the case in dating prehistoric remains, his age is disputed, however, most believe he is at least 40,000 years old. Many discoveries of stone tools dating to 50,000 years ago have been made in the lake area.

Uluru, shown in the picture, is located in central Australia. Aborigines believed it was formed during the Dreamtime. Archaeological evidence shows that it has been a sacred Aboriginal site for approximately 10,000 years.

Answer: False

It is believed that dingos originated in Asia, possibly in Thailand, and were introduced to Australia through trade approximately 3,500 BC. The dingo was the only domesticated animal on mainland Australia, and Aborigines relied on it for hunting and warmth at night.

Often kept as pets, dingos were also connected to the Dreamtime. It was believed that dogs could see the supernatural and ward off evil spirits. There is even evidence that dogs were buried with their owners to protect them from evil after death.

Answer: Spear

It is estimated that Aboriginal groups spent anywhere from 1/2 to 2/3 of the day hunting for food. Both men and women participated, with the women digging and collecting edible roots, berries, seeds, etc., and the men concentrating on hunting a variety of animals. Birds, lizards, and snakes are examples of smaller animals hunted, while kangaroos and emus represent larger prey. Spears and a throwing stick, called a woomera, were typically used. Cooperative hunting expeditions also took place, with some of the men driving prey toward spearsmen. Even though there was a division of labor between men and women, the first priority was food - no matter who obtained it!

According to the Dreamtime myth, one animal hunters were careful NOT to kill was the Rainbow Snake, one of the creatures that had shaped the earth.

Answer: Murray River Valley

Although Aborigines maintained successful communities in all parts of Australia, it stands to reason that the area in the Murray River Valley, one of the few rivers on a dry continent, would be densely populated. The water drew many kinds of animals to the region, and the river supported many types of fish. In addition, there were communities in the region whose economies were based on eel farming!

After the Rainbow Snake created the landforms, it sank back down into the water to cool off and rest. Some days later, after a huge rainstorm, it would rear back up and arch its body through the clouds and across the plains to a new watering hole.

Answer: Spread of disease

The wave of European epidemic diseases (chickenpox, smallpox, influenza, measles) came within weeks of the British arrival in 1788. It is estimated that smallpox alone killed approximately half of the Aboriginal population. The loss of land and water rights came next, with British colonists reasoning that because they were nomads, Aborigines would be happy with land anywhere, and the best land and water could be used for colonial farming or grazing. Lastly, the loss of kinship ties occurred as disease, loss of land and water, intermixing of the groups, and war decimated the population of Aborigines. Approximately 90% lost their lives between 1788 and 1900.

Was this the end of the Dreamtime? It is believed that European colonization did not end the Dreamtime, but ushered it into another phase.