Archaeologists have confirmed an Aboriginal site in the path of a major Tasmanian highway contains the oldest evidence of human habitation in the southern hemisphere.
About 3 million Indigenous artefacts were discovered at the Jordan River levee north of Hobart.
The State Government commissioned archaeologists to examine the site after the Aboriginal community raised concerns that construction of the Brighton bypass could damage it.
The site's archaeological director, Rob Paton, says the final report on the dig confirms some artefacts are about 40,000 years old.
"They're stone artefacts, they're used for day to day living, cutting and sharpening. It's that day-to-day stuff that really is rarely found," he said.
More, with a photo at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/26/2883080.htm?section=business
with thanks to SteveDut for the update
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