At Moyjil (Point Ritchie), Victoria, thermoluminescence dates a charcoal-and-burnt-stone feature to roughly 100,000–130,000 years ago. Heating above 700°C is compatible with a hearth, but natural fires cannot be ruled out. The researchers say the evidence only 'marginally supports' a cultural origin—and no tools or human remains were found. If cultural, it would challenge the conventional 50,000–60,000-year arrival timeline. 🔥
Moyjil fire evidence marginally supports human presence in Australia 120,000 years ago
Site mentioned
📍 Moyil
Key facts
- Charcoal and Burnt Stone Feature 1 (CBS1) was excavated at Moyjil (Point Ritchie) in southwest Victoria.
- Thermoluminescence dates the burning episode to roughly 100,000–130,000 years ago, within Last Interglacial sediments.
- Heating above 700°C is compatible with a hearth, but natural fires cannot be ruled out.
- The researchers say the evidence only 'marginally supports a cultural origin over a natural origin.'
- No stone tools or human remains were recovered from the site.
- The study compares CBS1 with similar fire evidence from Lake George in New South Wales.
- If cultural, the feature would challenge the conventional 50,000–60,000-year chronology for human arrival in Australia.
Sources
lens.monash.edu
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worldhistory.org
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nature.com
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Ongoing Protection Declaration for Moyjil-Point Ritchie ...firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au
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Renowned geologist Jim Bowler discovered evidence of man-made fire and the remains of edible shellfish at Point Ritchie, Victoria.
(PDF) The Moyjil site, south-west Victoria, Australiaresearchgate.net
In this light we present excavation results for Charcoal and Burnt Stone Feature #1 (CBS1) located within coastal dune sediments at Moyjil (Point Ritchie) ...
Moyjil - Point Ritchiemoyjil.com.au
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