The discovery of thousands of stone artefacts and animal bones in a deep cave on Timor Island has led archaeologists to reconsider the route that early humans took to reach Australia. Researchers from various universities dated and analysed the artefacts and sediment at the Laili rock shelter in central-north Timor-Leste, determining that a human “arrival signature” dates back to approximately 44,000 years ago. This suggests that there were no humans on the island before this time, with further analysis indicating that humans were also absent throughout the wider region of the southern Wallacean islands, making Timor Island a likely gateway crossing for ancient humans migrating to Australia.
The absence of humans on Timor Island earlier than 50,000 years ago challenges previous theories about the island’s role in the early human migration to Australia. Professor Sue O’Connor from ANU states that these findings indicate that early humans likely arrived on the island later than previously believed. The researchers suggest that early humans made the crossing to Australia using the stepping stone island of New Guinea, rather than Timor Island as previously thought. The research highlights the ongoing migration into the islands, with occupation of the southern islands occurring thousands of years after the initial settlement of Australia.
The sediment analysis at the Laili rock shelter by Associate Professor Mike Morley from Flinders University revealed a clear shift from pre-occupation to intensive human activity once people arrived on the scene, with evidence of burning and trampling of the shelter floor. The excavation unearthed small stone tools and charred fish bones, indicating a specialization in creating tiny stone tools by the ancient inhabitants. The researchers are uncertain about the exact purpose of these small tools, suggesting they may have been used for tasks such as stripping leaves for basket weaving or creating wooden tools. The sheer number of artefacts found at the site indicates a major migration effort to Timor Island.
The researchers suggest that the ancient humans likely made the crossing to Timor from nearby Flores Island and mainland Southeast Asia, challenging the traditional view that early humans stumbled upon these islands by accident. Dr. Kealy notes that the arrival on Timor was a planned colonisation effort, demonstrated by the significant number of people making the journey and the level of maritime technology and confidence displayed. The research, led by Dr. Ceri Shipton from UCL and involving scientists from Griffith University and the University of Wollongong, is published in Nature Communications, highlighting the importance of reassessing the route and timing of the earliest human migration through Wallacea and into Sahul. These findings shed new light on the complexities of early human migration to Australia and the surrounding islands.