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Archaeology & History

Did the Portuguese discover Australia?

By T.K. Randall
January 18, 2012 · Comment icon 8 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu
Discovery on beach may help prove the Portuguese were first Europeans in Australia.
Although we know that the Portuguese occupied Timor until 1975 there has never been definitive proof that they made it to nearby Australia. A recent discovery on a beach near Darwin however could help prove Portuguese explorers did land on the island before other Europeans and in so doing rewrite elements of Australia's past.
Christopher Doukas unearthed the gun buried in mud off Dundee Beach, about two hours' drive from Darwin, during a low tide in January 2010. The Doukas family did some internet research and found it resembled a 16th Century Portuguese swivel gun.


Source: ninemsn.com.au | Comments (8)

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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by Wearer of Hats 13 years ago
Everyone else seems to have discovered the place 'first', so why not?
Comment icon #2 Posted by Timonthy 13 years ago
Ooh ooh I used to live in Warrnambool and surf the beaches where the 'Mahogany Ship' was supposedly shipwrecked. There have been a number of discoveries of wood etc. and searches carried out but nothing definitive.
Comment icon #3 Posted by Skeptic Chicken 13 years ago
Erm, Pretty sure Asians/Aboriginal's discovered Australia before any cartographers or explorers. If I was taught correctly, the aboriginals crossed a land bar to Aus. before the sea rised. Off topic: I went to East Timor last year on a Post-Graduation trip. I have to say, the Portugese buildings are dotted everywhere. The building our group stayed in in Ainaro had doors so amazingly tall, well over 2meters.
Comment icon #4 Posted by Abramelin 13 years ago
Erm, Pretty sure Asians/Aboriginal's discovered Australia before any cartographers or explorers. If I was taught correctly, the aboriginals crossed a land bar to Aus. before the sea rised. Off topic: I went to East Timor last year on a Post-Graduation trip. I have to say, the Portugese buildings are dotted everywhere. The building our group stayed in in Ainaro had doors so amazingly tall, well over 2meters. Yeah, but read this: "... the first European power to discover Australia".
Comment icon #5 Posted by godnodog 13 years ago
Nothing new here people. move along...
Comment icon #6 Posted by sergeantflynn 13 years ago
most probably washed up from Timor . Nature is in no hurry .
Comment icon #7 Posted by dazdillinjah 13 years ago
Artifacts that were Portuguese washed up on NZ West Coach beaches before as well sparking a claim they discovered NZ before Tasman but all that was concluded was the Ocean currents have a way of shifting smaller debris all around the world plus that alot of Portuguese ships sank way back in the day
Comment icon #8 Posted by spud the mackem 13 years ago
If Oz is Portuguese,then America is ex Viking and who landed in Britain before water flooded the English Channel and Ireland was populated by Scots/Welsh fishermen,shall I go on ???.who cares anyway they dont have a decent footy team,and the Brits stuff them at cricket


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