New evidence of human occupation in southeast Indonesia 42,000 years ago offers fresh clues about the route taken by some of the first humans to arrive in our region, according to a study from the Australian National University (ANU). 

Tiny fragments of pottery, bones, shells, and sea urchins were discovered at Elivavan on Indonesia’s Tanimbar islands, pointing to the island’s role as a hub for early maritime activities, Hendri Kaharudin, lead author and ANU PhD candidate, said.

“Tanimbar is located just off the ‘Sahul shelf’, which encompasses modern-day Australia, as well as New Guinea,” Hendri Kaharudin, lead author and ANU PhD candidate, said. 

“The question of how our early ancestors arrived there from Southeast Asia is one of the most captivating in prehistoric migration, mainly because of the vast distances covered and advanced seafaring skills that would have been required. 

“There are two main routes that have been explored as possibilities since the mid-20th century: a northern path via islands like Sulawesi, and a southern track passing near Timor and the Tanimbar islands. 

“This discovery marks one of the southern route’s earliest known sites, making it a crucial piece of the puzzle.”

The risky nature of the sea crossings suggests the colonists had developed advanced maritime technology by around 42,000 years ago, the researchers believe. (There are still unanswered questions about Elivavan’s first inhabitants.)

“They would have had to traverse bodies of water exceeding 100 kilometres in distance, regardless of their direction of travel,” Mr Kaharudin said.  

“As more work is done in lesser-explored regions like the Tanimbar islands, I expect we’ll uncover more about early human life and migration patterns.”  

Mr Kaharudin said the colonisation of Sahul was not a single event but “a gradual process involving successive waves of seafaring populations”.  

“Coastal communities likely navigated shorelines, exploiting marine resources and establishing resilient settlements along their journey,” he said. 

“This island-hopping strategy facilitated cultural exchange and adaptation, shaping diverse societies across the land mass.” 

The study was conducted in collaboration with Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The research team also included Professor Sue O’Connor and Dr Shimona Kealy from ANU.  

The research has been published in Quaternary Science Reviews (QSR).