Prehistory of Australia

John Mulvaney and Johan Kamminga take both chronological and regional approaches to describe 40,000 years of Australian Aboriginal cultures, languages, and practices. Discussing longstanding archaeological issues in light of recent discoveries, the authors address such topics as the timing of the first colonization, the mysterious extinction of many of the largest marsupials after the arrival of humans, and the interpretation of prehistoric rock art. Broad regional prehistories describe the emergence of toolmaking, the expansion of ceremonial exchanges, and the influence of Indonesian and Torres Strait islanders. The authors also address such contemporary issues as Aboriginal control over archaeological fieldwork and the repatriation of human remains.