An epic story more than 65,000 years in the making | Deep Time | ABC News In-depth

Key Concepts

• Deep Time: Refers to the vast geological timescale, in this context, specifically the 65,000+ years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history in Australia.
• Dreaming Stories/Eternal Dreaming: Oral traditions and narratives that encapsulate the history, laws, spirituality, and creation stories of First Nations peoples, connecting them to the land and ancestors.
• Country: The ancestral land, which is deeply connected to identity, spirituality, and well-being for Indigenous Australians.
• Rock Art: Ancient paintings and engravings on rock surfaces that serve as historical records, educational tools, and repositories of knowledge.
• Oral History: The transmission of knowledge, stories, and traditions through spoken word, a primary method of knowledge transfer for Indigenous Australians.
• Gupany (Deep Listening): A concept emphasizing attentive and respectful listening, crucial for understanding and connection, particularly in Indigenous cultural contexts.
• Megapora: Extinct giant marsupials that once inhabited Australia, often depicted in rock art and mentioned in Dreaming stories.
• Land Bridge: A historical land connection that allowed for migration and travel, relevant to early human settlement in Australia.
• Tectonic Shifts: Geological movements of the Earth's crust, such as the Cadell fault uplift, which significantly altered landscapes and are recorded in oral histories.

Deep Time: Exploring Australia's First Peoples' History

This ABC News special, "Deep Time," delves into the rich and diverse history of Australia's First Peoples, spanning over 65,000 years. Hosted by Bridget Brennan and featuring insights from experts and knowledge holders, the project aims to make this immense timescale accessible and understandable to a wider audience. The "Deep Time" digital online site at abc.net.au/deeptime serves as a platform for exploration and learning about the country and its original inhabitants.

The Concept of Deep Time and its Significance

The term "deep time" itself has geological origins, perfectly encapsulating the vast duration of human presence in Australia. Unlike other ancient civilizations like Greece or Egypt, which date back a few thousand years, or the Vikings from a few hundred years ago, the 60,000+ years of Indigenous Australian history is difficult for many to conceptualize. The "Deep Time" project seeks to bridge this gap by illustrating the long, continuous, and living culture of First Nations peoples, emphasizing that it is ancient but not extinct.

Origin Stories and Creation Narratives

Dreaming stories are central to understanding the deep past. These narratives are not merely myths but contain profound knowledge about creation, the land, and the cosmos.

• Emu Man and Dinosaur Footprints: In Minè Broom, Western Australia, dinosaur footprints are linked to a creator being named the Emu Man, illustrating a connection to ancient life forms.
• Rainbow Serpent (Gaba Munda): The dream time story of the Gaba Munda, a rainbow serpent, describes its role in creating everything before humans. When it shed its skin, its scales formed the Great Barrier Reef to protect its young.
• Budge Bim Volcano: In southwest Victoria, the Budge Bim volcano, which erupted over 30,000 years ago, is central to the creation story of the Gudes Mara people. They believe it formed the mountains, landscapes, and animals. The story describes creative beings, half-man half-beast, who shaped the land. "Budge Bim" means "big head," and the landscape around it resembles a large head. The eruption's scoria and lava are interpreted as the being's teeth and blood, shaping the land for 50 km to the ocean. This oral history, passed down for generations, is corroborated by scientific data.

Documenting Landscape and Climate Change

Dreaming stories are vital records of environmental changes over millennia, demonstrating the observational prowess and deep connection of Indigenous Australians to their land.

• Ice Age Survival: Ancestors lived through ice ages, traveling across land bridges and witnessing sea-level rise.
• Volcanic Eruptions: Stories recount impactful volcanic events, highlighting the direct observation and recording of such phenomena.
• Cadell Fault and the Great Flood: The Yorta Yorta people have rich oral histories dating back 60,000 years, including the Cadell fault event around 30,000 years ago. This geological uplift of approximately 12 meters between Echuca and Deniliquin created a barrier for rivers flowing from the east. The Murray River backed up, and the Yorta people, described as river-based, dug a path through a sand ridge to release the water, connecting it to the wider Murray River system. This event is a testament to their understanding of and interaction with geological forces.
• Changing Landscapes: Rock art at Murujuga depicts how the landscape has transformed over time, from an inland desert range to its current state, forming an "epic story" of the nation.

The Role of Rock Art and Oral History

Rock art and oral traditions serve as extensive archives of knowledge, law, and history, functioning as ancient universities and libraries.

• Murujuga Rock Art: This World Heritage-listed site boasts one of the largest and most diverse collections of rock art globally, spanning over 50,000 years. It is considered a "big university for Indigenous people," where laws and traditions are carved into rocks, and visiting language groups come to learn.
  • Nanjali: Meaning "sacred place" or "gathering area," this site demonstrates the continuous connection to country.
  • Shelman Scatter: Evidence of communal gatherings, indicating that both men and women participated. Shells brought from the ocean and consumed were discarded, forming "nature's rubbish bins."
  • Archives of Knowledge: Rock art is compared to universities' archives, but its scope extends back thousands of years, encompassing all accumulated knowledge from over 60,000 years.
• Extinct Megapora in Rock Art: Murujuga's rock art depicts long-extinct megapora, corroborating oral traditions of giant animals.
  • Yami: A large, scary animal from oral stories, believed to steal children. The story advises climbing trees to escape it, as it couldn't look up. Paleontological evidence suggests the Diprotonodon (a large extinct marsupial) may be the animal described, as its bone structure indicates it couldn't look upwards. This is a "40,000-year-old bedtime story."
• Transmission of Knowledge: Oral history remains a key method of knowledge transmission, passed down through generations. The "Deep Time" project captures this rich oral heritage.

Animal Stories and Relationships with Nature

Animals feature prominently in Dreaming stories, serving various purposes from sustenance to spiritual connection.

• Source of Food: Stories about fish traps highlight animals as a food source.
• Celestial Navigation and Hunting: The "emu in the sky" story is shared across the country, guiding people on when to hunt and collect eggs by observing the constellation.
• Building Relationships: Stories describe building relationships with animals for mutual benefit.
  • Dolphins: On the Gold Coast, the Comboyne Mob have stories of building relationships with dolphins, who would help round up mullet and fish into shallow waters for spearing.
  • Orcas and Dolphins: Similar stories exist in Yuin country, where orcas and dolphins would round up fish.

Identity, Country, and Deep Listening

Connecting with "country" and engaging in "deep listening" (Gupany) are fundamental to Indigenous identity and understanding.

• Gupany (Deep Listening): This concept, emphasized by Justinta Kummetry, is crucial for communication and understanding, especially between different communities and language groups. It contrasts with Western societies often centered on the individual. Deep listening allows for the development of communication systems that worked effectively.
• Appreciating Land's History: Uncle Wayne Atkinson highlights how seeing evidence on country strengthens identity. "Gupany" involves deep listening and thinking, absorbing one into the land and fostering a desire to learn more.
• "Dirt Scratchers": Uncle Wayne and his cousin referred to themselves as "dirt scratchers" during survey work, meticulously examining the land for evidence. This hands-on approach led to a rich cultural heritage program at the DA Centre, fostering connections with universities and educational institutions to bring people onto country for learning.
• Grounding Identity: Gupany is used when teaching on country, helping students connect with their identity and relationship to the land. It involves listening to stories and taking note, grounding identity and understanding.

Trade Routes, Songlines, and Interconnectedness

Across the continent, thousands of years of history are marked by interconnectedness through trade routes, songlines, and ceremonial gatherings.

• Darawal People and Gweagal: On the shores of Gweagal (Botany Bay), the Darawal people cared for the land and water, living sustainably and interacting with other cultural groups.
• Communication and Travel: Despite territoriality, people communicated and sought help from neighbors for long-distance travel, using non-verbal methods.
• Encounter with the Endeavour (1788): The Darawal people observed the Endeavour's arrival. Smoke signals and message sticks from relatives in the south coast warned them. They interpreted the ship and sailors through their spiritual lens, initially considering it a new type of animal or spirits. Upon realizing they were human but white, they yelled "Wara" (go away). The encounter highlights their attempt to interpret a new event through their existing deep-time understanding.

The Enduring Strength of Indigenous Culture

Despite the cataclysmic impact of colonization, the strength of Indigenous culture, evidence, stories, and oral history has endured.

• Embedded Principles: Principles of respect for one another, respect for the land, and deep listening are deeply embedded, enabling resilience through colonization.
• A Badge of Honor: Aboriginal people are the oldest living culture in the world, a fact that should be celebrated by all Australians.
• Pride and Privilege: Being on this land means having cared for it for tens of thousands of years, making Indigenous Australians the experts of this place.

Conclusion and Takeaways

The "Deep Time" project underscores the profound depth and richness of Australia's First Peoples' history, culture, and knowledge systems. Key takeaways include:

• Vastness of Time: The 65,000+ years of Indigenous history is a testament to human resilience, adaptation, and continuous cultural development.
• Living Culture: Indigenous culture is not a relic of the past but a vibrant, living entity that continues to inform and guide contemporary life.
• Interconnectedness: Dreaming stories, rock art, and oral histories reveal a deep interconnectedness between people, land, and the cosmos.
• Importance of Listening: The concept of "Gupany" (deep listening) is a vital principle for understanding, respect, and building bridges between cultures.
• Guardianship of Country: Indigenous peoples are the original experts and custodians of the Australian continent, having cared for it for millennia.
• Celebration of Heritage: The enduring strength and depth of Indigenous culture are a source of pride and a valuable asset to all of Australia.

The "Deep Time" website offers an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to explore this extraordinary history further.