When and how was Australia settled?
A)Fossil evidence from Lake Mungo in New South Wales suggests that Australia was settled as early as 100,000 years ago by Melanesian settlers who crossed the exposed land bridges connecting the Pacific islands.
B)An interglacial period around 70,000 B.P.allowed the seafaring people of Tasmania to navigate to the Australian mainland.
C)A glacial period around 50,000 B.P.exposed a land bridge connecting Asia and Australia,making it possible for humans to cross over on foot.
D)Humans crossed the narrow straits separating Asia and the then-continent of Sahul (Australia,New Guinea,and Tasmania),perhaps in primitive watercraft,around 50,000 B.P.
E)Fossil evidence from Lake Mungo in New South Wales suggests that Australia was settled around 50,000 B.P.by humans following big game from Asia.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most widely accepted theory is that humans crossed the narrow straits separating Asia and the continent of Sahul (Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania), around 50,000 B.P., perhaps in primitive watercraft.

Note: While option A mentions settlement in Australia 100,000 years ago, this theory is not widely accepted and there is limited evidence to support it. Option B refers to settlement by the seafaring people of Tasmania, but does not explain how the rest of Australia was settled. Option C is similar to option D but refers to a glacial period instead of an interglacial period. Option E mentions settlement around 50,000 B.P but does not explain how humans arrived in Australia.

When and How Was Australia Settled