Madjedbebe initial occupation chronology

Record summary

A Nature study led by Chris Clarkson reported human occupation at Madjedbebe, formerly Malakunanja II, by about 65,000 years ago, based on stratigraphy, optically stimulated luminescence, radiocarbon, and associated artefacts. The claim would substantially extend the accepted chronology for Aboriginal settlement of Australia and is important for comparisons with Southeast Asian dispersal models. Its significance remains debated because the deepest layers are difficult to excavate and date, and critics have questioned site formation, artefact association, and the reliability of the oldest ages.