BY P'RITZ NOETLING, M.A., Ph.D., ETC. 



259 



place on that portion of the earth which is now occupied 

 by Bass Strait. Had the immigration taken place pre- 

 vious to the volcanic period, we must expect to find re- 

 mains of the race, such as their archaeolithic implements, 

 in beds overlaid by th^e basalts and lava streams. No 

 such traces have ever been found, though the tin-bearing 

 drifts, which are overlaid by volcanic rocks, have been 

 extensively worked. We must assume that the immigra- 

 tion took place after the young volcanic period. This 

 view fully harmonises with that of Gregory, who con- 

 clusively proved that the immigration of the human race 

 in Victoria must have taken place after the young vol- 

 canic period. Man, therefore, did not witness those 

 enormous volcanic outbursts which are chiefly respon- 

 sible for the production of the present outlines of 

 Southern Victoria and Northern Tasmania ; he arrived 

 after everything had quieted down. I have above pointed 

 out that the end of the volcanic period most probably 

 coincided with the 30-fathom line. During this period 

 Tasmania was still connected by a narrow isthmus with 

 the mainland, but a rise of five more fathoms is sufficient 

 to separate it permanently. 



The immigration of the Aborigines must therefore 

 have taken place after the young volcanic period, but 

 before that period which is represented by the 25-fathom 

 line. According to my calculations the immigration can- 

 not have commenced earlier than 7,000 years ago, and it 

 must have been finished 5,000 years ago. In other words, 

 the Aborigines cannot have arrived in Tasmania earlier 

 than 5,000 B.C., and not later than 3,000 B.C. 



The total number of years the Tasmanian race in- 

 habited this island can therefore be estimated at from 

 5,000 to 7,000 years. 



This may perhaps be a somewhat startling view, con- 

 trary to time-honoured notions (i), but if we want proofs 

 for a great antiquity not one is forthcoming. On the 

 other hand, my view is fully borne out by the investiga- 

 tion of the camping grounds. I, as well as numerous 



(i) One of the most favourite arguments in favour of a great 

 antiquity of the human race in Tasmania are the enormous shell 

 heaps. According to the prevailing views these shell heaps can 

 only have been formed in the course of a very long period. 

 Nobody has, however, taken the trouble to ascertain whether 



