Dr Nigel Spooner contributes to discovery of early human life in Australia

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Defence scientist Dr Nigel Spooner has contributed research in a paper published today, which suggests humans may have inhabited inland Australia up to 10,000 years earlier than previously thought.

Working in collaboration with 13 other scientists and researchers from several universities and research agencies from across Australia, Dr Spooner, currently seconded to the University of Adelaide, applied his expertise in Defence sensors to archaeological aims.

The paper was published today in ‘Nature’ titled Cultural Innovation and Megafauna Interaction in the Early Settlement of Arid Australia.

“The opportunity to work on this research project and the findings are very exciting and has implications of human occupancy across the continent,” Dr Spooner said.

“I’m very grateful to have been able to make a contribution to this body of knowledge on Australia’s history and to have worked with so many distinguished experts from across the country.”

“My contributions were to provide advice on chronological assessments and to oversee the optical dating measurements in the University of Adelaide. The dating technologies used are closely related to the techniques used in DST Group, ” he said.

Chief Defence Scientist, Dr Alex Zelinsky said that Dr Spooner set up and headed the Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory in the University of Adelaide’s School of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science as a joint initiative of DST Group and the University.

“Science and technology developed for Defence can be dual-use with application for public good and commercial outcomes,” Dr Zelinsky said.

“The broad nature of Defence science enables us to collaborate across numerous research and industry sectors.

“I’m delighted that Dr Spooner has been able to contribute his expertise to this project.”

The research was undertaken with the approval of the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association and the South Australian Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

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