Large size of the Australian Indigenous population prior to its massive decline following European invasion
Abstract
Estimating
the
size
of
Indigenous
populations
in
Australia
prior
to
European
colonial
invasion
is
essential
truth-telling
and
reconciliation.
Robust
estimates
population
dynamics
pre-colonial
Australians
are
poor
due
lethal
diseases,
frontier
violence,
no
systematic
censuses.
We
review
ethnographic
observations,
archaeological
genetic
reconstructions,
modelled
carrying
capacity,
infer
invasion.
This
allows
an
estimate
number
excess
deaths
post-colonial
times.
Congruency
(not
historical
accounts)
suggests
a
bootstrapped
median
2.51
million,
or
0.33
people
km-2.
For
~
32,500
year-1
(2.39
million
total)
would
have
had
occur
over
late
18th
early
19th
Centuries
from
invasion-related
mortality.
These
findings
highlight
major
impacts
experienced
by
Australians,
demonstrate
their
survival,
resilience,
recovery
past
235
years.

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: Oct. 22, 2024
Language: Английский