Final answer:
The earliest evidence for hominins in Australia is represented by cave paintings dated to at least 44,000 years old, showing part-human, part-animal figures known as "therianthropes".
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest evidence for hominins in Australia comes from cave paintings dated to be at least 44,000 years old, which depict part-human, part-animal figures known as "therianthropes" in a hunting scene. The earliest evidence for hominins in Australia is currently not well-established. While there have been some controversial findings suggesting the presence of early hominins in Australia, more research is needed to confirm these claims. While these paintings do not represent the physical remains of the hominins themselves, they are a direct indicator of their presence and cognitive abilities at that time. It's worth noting that alongside these cultural remains, Australia was also inhabited by large marsupials, such as the now-extinct marsupial lion, whose fossilized skeletons add to the context of early human presence on the continent.