55,000 - 60,000 BP

At a site in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, a rock shelter was used by people about 60,000 years ago.

45,000 BP

Rock engravings discovered in South Australia date back 45,000 years.

35,500 BP

Around 35,500 years ago at Willandra Lakes, western New South Wales, an Aboriginal family left a midden of mussel shells, charcoal and ash from a dinner camp.

30,000 BP

A man from Lake Mungo area was buried in a shallow grave about 30,000 years ago.

29,500 BP

The Devil's Lair, a cave in the south-west of Western Australia, was first occupied (occupation ceased about 6000 years ago).

26,500 BP

The body of a woman from Lake Mungo, Western Australia, provides the earliest evidence of ritual cremation in the world.

23,000 BP

Aborigines who lived at Malangangarr in Arnhem Land used ground-edge axes.

22,000 BP

Earliest recorded occupation of the central deserts at Puritjarra.

15 - 24,000 BP

Under the Nullabor Plains at Koonalda, Aborigines mined flint and left grooved designs on cave walls.

18,000 BP

At Miriwan in WA and in the Pilbara, ground-edge axes were being used.

Art at Ubirr discovered in Kakadu National Park depicts now extinct animals.

12,000 BP

In the post-glacial period, around 12,000 years ago, Tasmania separated from the mainland.

10,000 BP

Aborigines at Wyrie Swamp used boomerangs for hunting.

Aboriginal remains discovered at Kow Swamp, northern Victoria, date back 10,000 years.

9000 - 7000 BP

The earliest visible evidence of the Rainbow Serpent in Aboriginal belief.

6800 BP

Human remains found at Lake Nitchie date back 6800 years.

3000 BP

Small tool technology had spread as far as Cape York.

1000 BP

Dugout canoes were being used by Aborigines along Australia's northern coast.