Aboriginals--a race of mysteries

Aborigines, as mentioned before, possess characteristics very distinct from other races. This applies not only to culture and physical appearance but also to anatomical features. Aborigines share the characteristics of old populations, such as relatively thick crania, prominent brow-ridges, depressed forehead, large teeth with marked prognathism.

Of course, these only stands out in comparison with the average modern men and such can be regarded as within normal variation. Although not many modern aborigines actually possess such notable features, it is true that up until several thousand years ago a large population possessed such old characteristics that were strikingly noticeable.

According to the Out of Africa hypothesis, modern men had evolved in Africa and eventually spread throughout the world. Therefore, continents isolated from Africa, such as Australia and the Americas should have been the last for them to arrive. Then why in Australia, the last continent modern men had reached, are there aborigines who possess many characteristics that are relatively archaic? This is a very difficult point to explain from the hypothesis that states modern men originated from one particular location.

Naturally, this has become the biggest point of counterargument by those researchers supporting multiregional hypothesis. They think the waves of evolution towards modern men were born simultaneously in Africa, Asia and Europe.

But Australia was the last continent for the waves of evolution to have reached. And aboriginals were the last to evolve into modern men. Such is the reason why some aboriginals still possess archaic characteristics.

Researchers supporting the Out of Africa hypothesis do admit such characteristics in aboriginals but they had been trying to justify themselves by stating a poor excuse. They say that such are the result of adaptation to the severe natural environment of Australia.

Translated by Rie Ishida