New evidence of human occupation in southeastern Indonesia dating back 42,000 years offers new clues about the route taken by some of the first people to reach our region, according to a study by the Australian National University (ANU). .
Lead author and ANU PhD student Hendri Kaharudin said the site of the discovery – at Elivavan in Indonesia’s Tanimbar Islands – made it particularly significant.
“Tanimbar is located just off the Sahul Plateau, which encompasses present-day Australia as well as New Guinea,” he said.
“The problem of how our early ancestors got there from Southeast Asia is one of the most fascinating in prehistoric migration, mainly because of the great distances covered and the advanced navigational skills that would have been required,” he writes. EurekAlert.
“There are two main routes that have been explored as possibilities since the mid-20th century – a northern route through islands such as Sulawesi and a southern route that passes by Timor and the Tanimbar Islands “This discovery marks one of the earliest known sites of the southern route, making it a crucial piece of the puzzle.”
According to the researchers, although there are still unanswered questions about the first inhabitants of Elivavan, the risky nature of the sea crossings suggests that the colonists had in fact developed advanced maritime technology around 42,000 years ago.
An advanced maritime technology from 42,000 years ago
“They would have had to cross bodies of water with a distance of more than 100 kilometers, regardless of the direction in which they were moving,” said Mr Kaharudin. “Along with small fragments of pottery, we also found evidence such as bones, shells and sea urchins that point to the island’s role as a center of early maritime activities.
Mr Kaharudin said it was also clear that in fact the colonization of Sahul was not a single event but “a gradual process involving successive waves of populations”.
“Coastal communities likely navigated the shores, exploiting marine resources and establishing resilient settlements along their journey,” he said. “This strategy of moving from one island to another facilitated cultural exchange and adaptation, forming diverse societies throughout the territory.”
The study was carried out in collaboration with Indonesia’s National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN). The research team also included Professor Sue O’Connor and Dr Shimona Kealy from the ANU.
Two main routes
“Tanimbar is located just outside the Sahul Plateau, which encompasses present-day Australia as well as New Guinea,” he said. “The problem of how our early ancestors got there from Southeast Asia is one of the most fascinating in prehistoric migration, mainly because of the great distances covered and the advanced navigational skills that would have been required.
“There are two main routes that have been explored as possibilities since the mid-20th century – a northern route through islands such as Sulawesi and a southern route that runs past Timor and the Tanimbar Islands. This discovery marks one of the earliest known sites of the southern route, making it a crucial piece of the puzzle.”
According to the researchers, although there are still unanswered questions about the first inhabitants of Elivavan, the risky nature of the sea crossings suggests that the colonists had in fact developed advanced maritime technology around 42,000 years ago.
The research was published in Quaternary Science Reviews (QSR).
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Source: www.descopera.ro
