Archaeologists from The Australian National University (ANU) have unearthed fragments from the edge of the world's oldest-known axe, found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Lead archeologist Professor Sue O'Connor said the axe dates back between 46,000 and 49,000 years, around the time people first arrived on the continent.
"This is the earliest evidence of hafted axes in the world. Nowhere else in the world do you get axes at this date," said Professor O'Connor from the ANU School of Culture, History and Language.
"In Japan such axes appear about 35,000 years ago. But in most countries in the world they arrive with agriculture after 10,000 years ago."
Professor O'Connor said this discovery showed early Aboriginal technology was not as simple as has been previously suggested. [Archaeologists find world's oldest axe in Australia | EurekAlert! | Australian National University | 10-May-2016]
How long before evidence is found of humans in Australia before they even left Africa?