Underwater archaeologists find ancient First Peoples sites off Australian coast

Underwater archaeologists and Indigenous rangers have identified sites off the northwestern coast of Australia where First Peoples lived more than 9,000 years ago. Archaeology Magazine reported that the discovery was announced in a statement by Flinders University. The team included divers working alongside Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation rangers. [1]

The research team mapped a submerged area covering approximately 772,000 square miles that was inundated when global sea levels rose. Archaeology Magazine stated that one specific site features a freshwater spring alongside ancient stone tools. These tools were crafted from raw materials collected from a nearby island before the land was submerged. [1]

Submerged settlements provide critical evidence regarding human adaptation to prehistoric climate change and rising water levels. For comparison, the underwater site of Pavlopetri off southern Greece is roughly 5,000 years old and represents the oldest known submerged city in the world, complete with streets and stone buildings. [1][2]