How did the Aborigines get to Australia?

Not everyone understands the same thing about the term "Aboriginal"

In German, Aborigines is a collective term for all Australian natives, without taking their different languages ​​and customs into account.

• In the English-speaking world, the name initially applied to the natives of a certain area in Italy. Century for the original inhabitants of Australia. The English finally got away from that and saw Aborigines as a swear word. You are now using the term "Aboriginal".
• The white Australians differentiate between Aborigines and the "Torre Strait Islanders", the indigenous people of the Torres Strait (the strait between New Guinea and Australia).

The Aborigines themselves name themselves after their different languages. This is the name of the people and theirs language in southeastern Australia "Koori", in central Australia "Anangu" etc.

You came to Australia - but under what circumstances?

There are numerous theories about the settlement by the Aborigines, some of which represent contrary views.

• Extensive DNA studies led scientists to believe that the Aborigines were descendants of immigrants from Africa. These would have been over Europe and Asia spread to Australia.
• This is contradicted by the fact that at the presumed point in time about 100,000 to 130,000 years ago there was no land bridge to Australia. The sea could not be crossed by swimming. The existence of seaworthy ships at such an early stage is also unlikely. Therefore, this theory was largely rejected again.
• A modification of this theory is also based on immigrants, which, however, are affected by the Toba disaster (an unproven, massive volcanic eruption) around 75,000 years ago predominantly are extinct. According to this thesis, another wave of immigration "increased" the population again.
• Measurements with the thermoluminescence method showed a likely first settlement around 45,000 BC. With the help of the radiocarbon method, data from 38,000 BC were determined.
• Researchers developed a credible thesis on the basis of genetic studies. After that, the Aborigines evolved from African immigrants. The experts put the point in time at 62,000 to 75,000 years.
• It is also convincing that the first humans came to Australia during the last ice age. Back then, the sea level was around 60 meters lower than it is today. Because of this, there were several land bridges connecting New Guinea, Tasmania, and Australia.

These were just a few examples of the various theses. Ultimately, none is one hundred percent secure. How the Aborigines came to Australia will probably remain a mystery.