We can only speculate. During the history of man there has not been an overland route to Australia, this much we know. Therefore humans arrived by sea. The world was very different 60,000 years ago, locked in the grip of the Pleistocene when much of North America, Europe, and Asia were covered with glaciers up to two miles thick. There was so much sequestered ice that sea levels were 400 feet lower than today. The result was Indonesia connected to Asia, probably as far south as today's island of Timor, at the time only 50 miles from Australia.

I say only 50 miles. Think back to prehistoric times-the first Eurasians migrating slowly southward to the tip of Timor. Imagine that first vision of the vast and moody sea and the myths and superstitions which inevitably sprang up around it. Then consider that even in the relatively enlightened time of Columbus, only 500 years ago, sailors were afraid to sail out of sight of land for fear of sea monsters and falling off the edge of the earth, among other things. And they had seaworthy vessels and 3000 years of sailing history in their blood by then. But a primitive campsite in a remote corner of Kakadu National Park confirms that in some mysterious manner the peopling of Australia began at least 60,000 years ago, 57,000 years before there is any evidence of maritime travel, anywhere in the world! In the ensuing interval the glaciers melted, raising sea levels and submerging the landing beaches, and any archaeological evidence that might have told the story. (next photo)