Jabiluka made news headlines in July with reports that a team of archaeologists had uncovered evidence confirming the colonisation of Australia at least 65,000 years ago.

The artefacts prove Aboriginal people lived in Australia up to 18,000 years earlier than current estimates. 

The discovery was made at the Madjedbebe rock shelter on the Jabiluka mine lease, located on the traditional lands of the Mirarr people. The mine lease is surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.

The ERA Communities team partnered with our Traditional Owners through the Relationship Committee providing support and assistance with this research project, and a number of ERA employees supported this project in various ways over it’s time.

Media coverage:

Sydney Morning Herald (20 July) - Aboriginal archaeological discovery in Kakadu rewrites the history of Australia

ABC (20 July) - Indigenous rock shelter in Top End pushes Australia's human history back to 65,000 years

National Geographic (20 July) - Indigenous archaelogy rewrites the history of Australia