Humans first arrive in New Guinea
The human presence on the island dates back at least 40,000 years, to the oldest homo sapiens migrations out of Africa.
Before 10th Millennia B.C.E.
Humans in East Timor begin fishing in the open sea
The world’s oldest fish hook has been unearthed at a site in East Timor, alongside evidence that modern humans were catching fish from the open ocean as far back as 42,000 years ago.
Humans reach and begin settling Tasmania
Evidence indicates the presence of Aborigines in Tasmania about 40,000 years ago. Rising sea levels cut Tasmania off from mainland Australia about 10,000 years ago and by the time of European contact, the Aboriginal people in Tasmania had nine major nations, or ethnic groups
Lion-man of the Hohlenstein-Stadel, the first known example of figurative art, is made
The Löwenmensch figurine or Lion-man of the Hohlenstein-Stadel is a prehistoric ivory sculpture that was discovered in the Hohlenstein-Stadel, a German cave in 1939.
Ritual cremation practiced for first time in modern-day Australia
Known only as Mungo Man, an individual who walked the earth some 42,000 years ago provides us with what is believed to be the earliest example of cremation in human history.
Aurignacian culture begins in Europe
The Aurignacian is an archaeological tradition of the Upper Palaeolithic. It is associated with the earliest modern humans in Europe and their migration from the Near East.
Châtelperronian culture flourishes in France
The Châtelperronian is a claimed industry of the Upper Palaeolithic that produced denticulate stone tools and also a distinctive flint knife with a single cutting edge and a blunt, curved back.
Early humans settle Ksar Akil in modern-day Lebanon
It is assumed to be one of the earliest known sites containing Upper Paleolithic technologies including Ahmarian cultural objects.
First known cave art created in modern-day Spain
One motif – a faint red dot – at El Castillo Cave in Spain is said to be more than 40,000 years old.
Homo sapiens settle island of Great Britain
The earliest direct evidence of Homo sapiens on Britain is a jaw fragment found in Kent’s Cavern, Devon estimated it to be at least 40,000 years old.