Explanations for patterning in the appearance of art and personal ornaments within Sahul.

Late Pleistocene Sahul has provided a test for the debate surrounding the appearance of the ‘package’ of modern human behaviour within the archaeological record. A detailed review found both chronological and geographical patterning for the appearance of the individual traits within Sahul. We consider potential causes for this patterning and explore ecological and demographic changes during late Pleistocene-early Holocene Sahul. It is proposed that changes in symbolic and other behaviours, as manifested in the appearance of art, personal ornaments and burials, can be explained within a demographic, social and symbolic framework that reflects the ‘bonding’ or‘bounding’ of groups.