New evidence dating back 42,000 years from the Tanimbar Islands in southeastern Indonesia indicates advanced seafaring skills during early human migration from Southeast Asia to the Sahul Shelf. The find suggests a gradual colonization process involving multiple waves of maritime populations.
ANU research highlights 42,000-year-old human habitation in Indonesia’s Tanimbar Islands, providing insight into the advanced maritime technologies and migration strategies of early humans in Southeast Asia.
A new study reveals that humans inhabited southeastern Indonesia 42,000 years ago, providing new insights into the migration routes of the region’s first settlers. The discovery, from a study conducted by the Australian National University (ANU) and led by PhD student Hendri Kaharudin, is particularly notable for its impact on our understanding of early human migration routes.
“Tanimbar lies just off the coast of the ‘Sahul Shelf’ which includes present-day Australia and New Guinea,” he said. “The question of how our ancestors got there from Southeast Asia is one of the most intriguing in prehistoric migrations, mainly because the distances travelled would have required advanced navigation techniques. 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 near Timor and Tanimbar. This discovery is one of the oldest remains of the southern route and is an important piece of the puzzle.”
Technological advances during early settlement
Although there are still unanswered questions about Erivavan’s original inhabitants, the perilous nature of the sea crossing suggests that the settlers had developed advanced maritime technology by about 42,000 years ago, the researchers say.
“They would have had to cross a body of water more than 100 kilometres away, regardless of the direction of their migration,” Kaharuddin said. “Along with small pottery fragments, we also found evidence such as bones, shells and sea urchins, which indicates that the island was a centre of early maritime activity. As research progresses in less explored areas like the Tanimbar Islands, we hope to discover more about early human life and migration patterns.”
Cultural and social influences
Kaharuddin said it was also clear that the colonisation of Sahul Island was not a single event but a “gradual process involving successive waves of seagoing population”.
“Coastal communities likely navigated the coastlines, exploiting marine resources and building resilient settlements along the way,” he said. “This island-hopping strategy fostered cultural exchange and adaptation, leading to the development of diverse societies across the landmass.”
Reference: Hendri AF Kaharuddin, Sue O’Connor, Simona Keeley, and Marlon N Lilimase, “Islands in Peril: 42,000 Years of Occupation in the Tanimbar Islands and Implications for the Sunda-Sahul Early Human Migration Theory,” 18 July 2024 Quaternary Science Review.
DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108834
The research was carried out in collaboration with the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the research team also included ANU’s Professor Sue O’Connor and Dr Simona Keely.
This research was funded by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage.
