5 Questions
How were the Aboriginal Tasmanians initially thought of in the 20th century?
As an extinct cultural and ethnic group
When did the ancestors of the Aboriginal Tasmanians arrive in Tasmania?
Around 40,000 years ago
How long were the Aboriginal Tasmanians isolated from the outside world before European contact?
8,000 years
What was the estimated population of the Palawa before British colonisation of Tasmania in 1803?
3,000–15,000
What caused a drastic drop in the Palawa population?
Disease
Study Notes
Aboriginal Tasmanians in the 20th century
- Initially, Aboriginal Tasmanians were thought to be extinct in the 20th century, but this perspective has been largely discredited and recognized as a misconception.
Ancestral Arrival and Isolation
- The ancestors of the Aboriginal Tasmanians arrived in Tasmania around 30,000 years ago, during the last ice age.
- The Aboriginal Tasmanians were isolated from the outside world for approximately 10,000 to 12,000 years before European contact.
Population and Decline
- The estimated population of the Palawa (Aboriginal Tasmanians) before British colonization of Tasmania in 1803 was around 5,000 to 10,000 people.
- The drastic drop in the Palawa population was primarily caused by the introduction of diseases brought by European colonizers, to which the Aboriginal Tasmanians had no immunity.
Test your knowledge about the Aboriginal Tasmanians with this insightful quiz. Learn about their rich cultural heritage, historical misconceptions, and contemporary issues faced by this resilient community.
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