The recent discovery of ancient plant resin at Mololo cave on the island of Waigeo sheds light on the early human presence in eastern Indonesia, dating back at least 55,000 years. This finding provides valuable insights into the possible routes taken by modern humans when migrating to Australia.
According to Dylan Gaffney from the University of Oxford, while genetic evidence suggests that humans arrived in Australia less than 50,000 years ago, archaeological evidence points to an earlier arrival, possibly 65,000 or even 80,000 years ago. The geography of the region during that time, with lower sea levels due to a cold glacial period, means that some landmasses were connected to continents, offering two possible routes for human migration to Australia.
Gaffney and his team excavated Mololo cave on Waigeo island to investigate how ancient humans made this journey. The discovery of a piece of resin, dating back at least 55,000 years, suggests human occupation on the island. The resin, likely used for fuel or other purposes, indicates that people utilized the northern route to reach Australia, contrary to previous archaeological focus on the southern route.
Kasih Norman from Griffith University highlights the significance of the northern route for human migration to Australia, as it offers easier sea crossings with shorter distances between islands. Recent archaeological findings along the northern route, such as a 50,000-year-old cave painting on Sulawesi and the absence of human presence on Timor before 44,000 years ago, support the theory that the northern pathway was utilized earlier than the southern route.
One intriguing mystery raised by this discovery is the absence of Denisovans, an extinct human group, in Australia’s fossil record. While populations in South-East Asia carry Denisovan DNA, there is no evidence of their presence in Australia. This suggests that only Homo sapiens inhabited Australia, raising questions about the interactions and migrations of different human species in the region.
Overall, the ancient plant artefact discovery at Mololo cave provides valuable insights into the early human presence in eastern Indonesia and the migration routes to Australia. Further research and excavations along the northern route may reveal additional clues about the ancient human journeys in the region, shedding light on our shared history and the diversity of human populations in Southeast Asia and Australia.
