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When did dingoes arrive in Australia?
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Australian Aboriginal peoples
Aboriginal people from Galiwnku Island gathering to watch the proceedings at which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologized to the Aboriginal peoples of Australia for their mistreatment under earlier Australian governments, February 2008.
The arrival of the dingo in Australia occurred significantly later than the initial arrival of Australian Aboriginal peoples, who have inhabited the continent for at least 45,000–50,000 years.1
While the oldest known dingo fossil in Australia dates back approximately 3,500 years, scientific estimates regarding their introduction vary based on different research methods:
- Archaeological and historical estimates: Many sources suggest dingoes were introduced from Southeast Asia between 3,000 and 8,000 years ago.21
- Genetic studies: DNA analysis of the mitochondria in living dingoes suggests they may have been introduced to Australia sometime between 4,600 and 18,300 years ago.3
It is widely accepted that dingoes were brought to the continent by sea travelers. Their arrival postdates the development of certain stone tool technologies by Aboriginal peoples, such as the hafting of small stone implements, which began approximately 8,000 years ago.31