When conceptualising ‘history’, people usually imagine a stack of dusty books, or perhaps some crumbling stone ruins. But what happens when a place has no written records or clearly identifiable infrastructure? Is it still possible to construct a definitive historical narrative?

If we are attempting to define Australia’s ancient history in a ‘Western’ sense then this can be mapped using archaeology and other disciplines. Overlay this with the myriad of traditional oral histories, and the result is the oldest and most intricate chronology in the world.

The chronology of Ancient Australia – and yes, there is a chronology – can be mapped with the help of multiple disciplines and a variety of evidence types.

Archaeology is the study of past human behaviour using scientific analyses of material remains. Archaeology is one of the principal disciplines when it comes to understanding Australia’s ancient past. In Australia, material remains are often the only evidence available, so this becomes the lens through which the continent’s ancient history is viewed and subsequently written. Archaeology provides information about specific sites, land use and available technology. Often, this evidence is a mere snapshot of a much larger picture that can only be realised with a combination of more archaeological investigation and the help of other key disciplines.

Palaeoclimatology is the study of past climates. Palaeoclimatology is crucial to understanding Ancient Australia because it reveals information about changing sea levels, fluctuating temperatures, and the climate conditions in different parts of the continent at particular points in time. This information assists with answering major questions about Australia’s ancient past, such as when was the best time for people to arrive, how they crossed the continent, and what impacts the changing environment had on lifestyle and mobility.

Palaeontology is the study of fossils and fossilised organisms. In the context of Ancient Australia, palaeontology, along with palaeozoology and palaeobotany, is vital to understanding how ancient species have changed and adapted over time, how climate and environment impacted upon their existence, and whether people were in any way responsible for their extinction.

Anthropology is the study of the origins of people and their physical and cultural development. Many anthropologists have attempted to document and record Aboriginal languages, cultures and customs, and this research is important to understanding and preserving cultural knowledge, such as languages that may no longer be spoken.

Oral histories are narratives that are passed on to younger generations. Archaeologists are increasingly reliant on Aboriginal oral histories to interpret and understand past events. For example, oral histories from coastal peoples might describe the sea creeping closer to the shore, or hills becoming islands; these narratives may in fact be the remnants of eyewitness accounts from a time of global warming and sea level rise thousands of years ago.

When drawing on multiple disciplines, a more complete and enriched picture of Australia’s ancient history begins to emerge.