Scientists Discover Lost Ancient Settlement off Australia’s Coast

Canberra, 24 Dec (ONA) --- Scientists have made a significant discovery off the coast of Australia, uncovering the remnants of a massive lost colony that may have housed hundreds of thousands of people.

The finding, located on the northwest shelf of Sahul near Kimberley, reveals a once-thriving ecosystem during the Late Pleistocene period, dating back around 2.5 million years.

The submerged landmass, which was nearly 647,000 square kilometers—larger than the United Kingdom—contained habitable freshwater and saltwater lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as a large inland sea, possibly supporting a population ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 people.

This area might have served as a bridge for early human migration to Australia before it became an isolated island. Approximately half of the shelf submerged between 12,000 and 9,000 years ago due to rapid global sea level rise, leading to a decline in human populations.

---Ends/Thuraiya/AG