This is one of the earliest known burials. The body of a woman from Lake Mungo provides the earliest evidence of ritual cremation in the world. 1451 Dutch documents record the journeys of Maccassan trepangers to Australia. Captain James Cook claims to take possession of the whole east coast of Australia by raising the British flag at Possession Island off the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. The Aboriginal population of Australia is more than 300,000.
Resistance is immediate.
1799 Aboriginal resistance flares with incidents in the Parramatta and Hawkesbury districts. Proclamation by Governor Macquarie prevents free movement of Aborigines. 1834 Governor Arthur gets 5,000 men to line up across Van Dieman's Land and walk the length of the island in an attempt to force Aborigines into the Tasman Peninsula. Western Australia's Governor Stirling leads 25 mounted police against Aborigines following attacks on the white invaders. Official reports say at least 14 Aborigines were shot dead in the 'Battle of Pinjarra'.