The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

A rare find in ancient Timorese mud may rewrite the history of human settlement in Australasia

  • Written by Mike W. Morley, Associate Professor and Director, Flinders Microarchaeology Laboratory, Flinders University
A rare find in ancient Timorese mud may rewrite the history of human settlement in Australasia

Humans arrived in Australia at least 65,000 years ago[1], according to archaeological evidence. These pioneers were part of an early wave of people travelling eastwards from Africa, through Eurasia, and ultimately into Australia and New Guinea.

But this was only one of many waves of migration in the story of the human colonisation of the globe. These waves were probably driven by climate change and the ability of groups to adapt to a wide range of environments.

In new research[2] published in Nature Communications, we have found evidence that a large wave of migration reached the island of Timor not long after 50,000 years ago. Our work at Laili rock shelter suggests the people who first reached Australia some 65,000 years ago came via New Guinea, while Timor and other southern islands were only colonised by a later wave of settlers.

Photo of two people with a neat square pit dug in a a dirt surface.
Archaeological trench in Laili rockshelter. Mike Morley

Potential routes to Australia

Timor has long been regarded as a potential stepping-stone island[3] for the first human migration between mainland Southeast Asia and Australia and New Guinea. At the time of these ancient migrations, sea levels were lower, so many of what are now islands in Southeast Asia were joined to the mainland in a region known as Sunda, and Australia and New Guinea were joined together in a single continent known as Sahul.

The islands between Sunda to the west and Sahul to the east are known as Wallacaea. These islands have never been connected to each other or the mainland, owing to the deep channels that separate them. This has meant that even when sea levels were much lower than today they remained as islands.

A map showing ancient land masses of Sunda and Sahul overlaid with a map of the modern region. Map showing ancient land masses of Sunda (in the west) and Sahul, with the Wallacean Islands in between that always remained islands even during lower sea levels. Modern landmasses are shaded green, ancient ones dark grey. Huxley’s and Lydekker’s lines represent boundaries between realms inhabited by different groups of animals. Shipton et al. (2021)[4]

The search for evidence of early migrations on Timor has been hampered by a lack of suitable sediments in caves and rock shelters.

However, we found a unique source of evidence at Laili rock shelter, overlooking the Laleia river in central-north Timor-Leste. Unlike other sites in the region, Laili preserved deep sediments dating between 59,000 and 54,000 years ago which contained no sign of human presence.

Photo of people standing on ground beneath an overhanging cliff, with a neat square pit dug. The dig at Laili rockshelter. Mike Morley

On top of these layers we found clear signs of human arrival, in the dirt occurring about 44,000 years ago. This provides clear evidence that while humans were initially absent from the site and the local landscape, they subsequently arrived in what must have been significant numbers.

From other research, we also know there is evidence of humans arriving at other sites in Timor-Leste and nearby Flores Island between 47,000 and 45,000 years ago. Taken together, all this evidence strongly supports the view that humans only arrived in this region around this time.

Evidence in the dirt

Our analysis of the sediment layers at Laili suggests humans arrived in a deliberate and large-scale colonisation effort, rather than ad-hoc settlement by a small population. This is clearly seen in the earliest traces of occupation, which include hearths, dense accumulations of stone artefacts, and the remains of a diet rich in fish and shellfish.

We used a technique called micromorphology[5] to study the layers of sediment under the microscope.

We could see the sediment from before the time of occupation did not carry signs of human presence. But when humans moved in to the site, many traces of human occupation appeared abruptly, including compressed trampled layers caused by the passage of people on the shelter floor.

Island hopping to Sahul

Our findings may prompt a re-evaluation of the route and timing[6] of the earliest human migration into Sahul. They also show movement to the islands was an ongoing process rather than a single event, with occupation of the southern islands occurring thousands of years after the initial settlement of Australia.

The intensity of the initial occupation we found at Laili suggests this migration may have been large enough to overwhelm previous migrations in the islands of Southeast Asia and Australasia.

The earlier dispersal waves, including the people using the ancient Madjebebe rock shelter in Australia, may have been small numbers of people coming from a different route further north via New Guinea. The later wave of dispersal through the Wallacean Islands may have formed a much more significant arrival of humans on Sahul.

The absence of human occupation on Timor before 50,000 years ago indicates that humans arrived on the island later than previously supposed. This supports the theory that humans first arrived in Australia[7] via New Guinea rather than Timor.

This path is less direct, but it may be explained by the fact the southern islands including Timor have far fewer land-dwelling animals to eat. Early colonists would have needed the flexibility to live on fish and shellfish. So moving into these southern islands could have been more challenging than the northern islands which had more medium to large land animals.

References

  1. ^ 65,000 years ago (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ new research (www.nature.com)
  3. ^ stepping-stone island (www.tandfonline.com)
  4. ^ Shipton et al. (2021) (www.sciencedirect.com)
  5. ^ micromorphology (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ route and timing (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ first arrived in Australia (www.sciencedirect.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/a-rare-find-in-ancient-timorese-mud-may-rewrite-the-history-of-human-settlement-in-australasia-228391

The Times Features

Brisbane Water Bill Savings: Practical Tips to Reduce Costs

Brisbane residents have been feeling the pinch as water costs continue to climb. With increasing prices, it's no wonder many households are searching for ways to ease the burde...

Exploring Hybrid Heating Systems for Modern Homes

Consequently, energy efficiency as well as sustainability are two major considerations prevalent in the current market for homeowners and businesses alike. Hence, integrated heat...

Are Dental Implants Right for You? Here’s What to Think About

Dental implants are now among the top solutions for those seeking to replace and improve their teeth. But are dental implants suitable for you? Here you will find out more about ...

Sunglasses don’t just look good – they’re good for you too. Here’s how to choose the right pair

Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels[1] of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we tend to focus on avoiding UV damage to our skin, it’s impor...

How to Style the Pantone Color of the Year 2025 - Mocha Mousse

The Pantone Color of the Year never fails to set the tone for the coming year's design, fashion, and lifestyle trends. For 2025, Pantone has unveiled “Mocha Mousse,” a rich a...

How the Aussie summer has a profound effect on 'Climate Cravings’

Weather whiplash describes the rollercoaster-like shifts in weather we’ve experienced this summer —a blazing hot day one moment, followed by an unexpectedly chilly or rainy tur...

Times Magazine

9 tips to stay safe online

Navigating the internet is more challenging now than it was 20 years ago. It’s become a ubiquitous part of life, connecting us, speeding us up and entertaining us. But with the good comes the bad, and the scammers and thieves are getting cleverer...

The Most Effective Method for Keeping Your Windows Clean

Window cleaning can be a pain. It's tedious, time-consuming and often results in streaks or missed spots. What if there was a way to clean your windows quickly and easily? We'll tell you how to clean your windows in the most efficient manner possi...

Segway ZT3 Pro All-Terrain Electric Scooter

Segway-Ninebot, the global leader in the micromobility transportation solutions and robotic service industries is announcing its brand-new ZT series of electric scooters with the ZT3 Pro in Australia. The Segway ZT3 Pro combines cutting-edge smar...

The Hottest Trends in Ute Upgrades

There is no doubt about it, Australians love their utes. In recent years the popularity of utes and 4 x 4 vehicles has skyrocketed. Whether you’re an off-road enthusiast or a tradie looking for a work vehicle, these machines have become a part of p...

Australians can now recycle unwanted sports balls

It’s predicted that 330 million sports balls are made worldwide each year – but where do they end up? TreadLightly launches new SPORTS BALL recycling program.[1] TreadLightly today launches its new SPORTS BALL recycling program, aimed at reduci...

Take The Plunge, Elevate Your Personal Health: P3 Recovery Opens In Port Melbourne

World leaders in wet and dry therapy make wellbeing even more accessible for Melbournians  Ice baths, infrared saunas, IV therapy, breathwork. Just some of the latest wellness therapies that happen to be housed inside P3 Recovery centres emergin...

LayBy Shopping