Skull found in Australia challenges Captain Cook claim An archaeologist, Adam Ford, said the skull might have been imported to Australia as part of a private collection. "Before we rewrite the history of European settlement we have to consider a number of issues, particularly the circumstances of the discovery," he told Sydney's Daily Telegraph. The fact the skull is in good condition and found alone could easily point to it coming from a private collection and skulls were very popular with collectors in the 19th century. Dutch explorers arrived in the north and west of Australia in the early 1600s, though Captain Cook is believed to be the first white person to have reached the east coast. He arrived in April 1770 and claimed the coast for Britain four months later. "If the skull does pre-date British settlement, it may be a tragic yet fascinating clue to the little-known history of early interactions between First Australians and the outside world," said Cassie Mercer, an Australian historical researcher.