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Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 24: Nov-Dec 1982 |
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Early Chinese Voyages To Australia
Dr. Alan Thorne, at the Australian National University, after studying early human fossils from both Australia and China, concludes that there was a significant movement of people from the Chinese coast to North Australia at least 10,000 years ago. He hypothesizes that the Chinese built sea-going rafts of bamboo and explored Indonesia as well as the Australian coast.
(Anonymous; "Chinese 'First to Australia'," Melbounre Sun, August 14, 1982. Cr. G.D. Thompson.)
Comment. The China-to-Australia trip is simplified by island-hopping, but the existence of an early Chinese sea-faring capability has later significance for the Americas, too.