Science & Technology, Australia (Commonwealth Union) – The discovery of thousands of stone artifacts and animal bones in a deep cave on Timor Island has prompted archaeologists to reconsider the pathway that early humans made to reach Australia.
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), Flinders University, University College London (UCL), and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage dated and evaluated the artifacts as well as the sediment at the Laili rock shelter in central-north Timor-Leste, north of Australia, to determine the timing of human colonization.
They identified a human “arrival signature” dating back to approximately 44,000 years ago, indicating that humans were not present on the island before this time.
Dr. Shimona Kealy from the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific indicated that unlike the other sites of the region, the Laili rock shelter preserved deep sediments going back 59,000 and 54,000 years ago which demonstrated no clear indications of human occupation.
“When we analyse and compare markers of human occupation from other sites across Timor-Leste and nearby Flores Island, we can confidently say humans were also absent throughout the wider region of the southern Wallacean islands.
“This is significant as these islands were most likely a gateway crossing for ancient humans making the crossing to Australia.”
Study co-author Professor Sue O’Connor from ANU stated that Timor Island has long been regarded as a stepping stone for the first human migration between mainland Southeast Asia and Australia and New Guinea. However, these recent findings pose a challenge to this theory.
She further pointed out that the absence of humans on Timor Island earlier than at least 50,000 years back is vital, as it indicates these early humans came to the island later than assumed on prior occasions.
Professor O’Connor also stated that this gives further evidence suggesting that early humans made the crossing to Australia via New Guinea, instead of Timor Island as assumed on prior occasions by researchers.
She then pointed out that on top of prompting a re-evaluation of the route and timing of the earliest human migration through Wallacea and into Sahul, their findings emphasize that migration into the islands was continuous, with the southern islands being occupied thousands of years following the first settlement of Australia.
Sediment of the site was evaluated at the Flinders Microarchaeology Laboratory by co-author Associate Professor Mike Morley.
Associate Professor Morley of Flinders University indicated that the transition from pre-occupation to intensive human activity at the site was very clear in the sediments.
“As soon as people arrived on the scene, their use of the cave was very intensive, with clear evidence of burning and trampling of the shelter floor underfoot.”
The examination group uncovered loads of little stone apparatuses during the unearthing, as well as singed fish bones.
Dr Kealy pointed out that they realized these individuals had some expertise in making minuscule stone devices, yet they are not 100 percent sure what they were utilized for.
She further indeicated that since a great deal of their eating routine was either shellfish or little creatures, it was not actually required to have enormous blades to use for that kind of food. However, having little, fine devices may have been helpful for things like stripping passes on to then mesh into bins, yet additionally for making wooden instruments.
In light of the sheer number of artefacts uncovered at the site, the scientists say the movement to Timor Island was a significant one. As per the specialists, these antiquated people probably made the intersection to Timor from adjacent Flores Island and central area Southeast Asia.
Dr Kealy indicated that the conventional view held by specialists is that early people who were making these huge water intersections were coincidentally finding these islands unintentionally, generally in light of the fact that it was such a long time ago.
She then indicated that their appearance on Timor was no mishap. This was a significant colonization exertion, obvious through the sheer number of individuals who were making the excursion.
“It’s a testament to these peoples’ level of maritime technology and the boats they created, but also their confidence and competence in braving maritime crossings.”
The exploration appeared in Nature Correspondences. This work was driven by Dr Ceri Shipton from UCL and furthermore elaborate researchers from Griffith College and the College of Wollongong.
