A finding that transforms our comprehension of early human movement across Southeast Asia has led researchers to uncover the initial hominin remains from what were once the submerged plains of ancient Sundaland. This study was published in... Quaternary Environments and Humans The research indicates that Homo erectus and other early human species lived on this extensive land area—which is now submerged under the Java Sea—throughout the Middle Pleistocene period.
A Fossil Discovery Underneath the Ocean Floor
The fossils were discovered during a seabed excavation involving marine sand extraction in the Madura Strait, near Java’s coastline in Indonesia. This initiative, intended for building an artificial freight island, resulted in the recovery of more than 6,700 vertebrate remains. Two significant finds among these were identified as hominin samples—named Madura Strait 1 (MS1) and Madura Strait 2 (MS2). MS1 bears strong similarities to known Homo erectus fossils found previously in Java and has been dated to approximately 140,000–92,000 years ago.
Geological Context and Dating
The fossils were found within river-deposited sandstone layers linked to Marine Isotopic Substage 6 (MIS6), an ice age characterized by reduced oceanic water levels. During this time, Sundaland—connecting continental Southeast Asia to present-day Indonesia—surfaced as a large grassland expanse. The sediment’s optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) data indicate the remains date from approximately 163,000 to 119,000 years back.
Implications for Human Evolution
For the first time, hominin fossils have been discovered in the underwater sections of Sundaland, providing clear proof that Homo erectus groups lived not only in Java but also across the wider coastal lowlands. This find contradicts earlier beliefs that ancient human communities in this area existed separately from one another. Furthermore, it hints at possible interactions between these groups and other primitive hominins throughout Southeast Asia, possibly leading to exchanges of both culture and genes.
A Peek into an Extinct Environment
The collection of fossils features traces of elephants, crocodiles, Komodo dragons, and even river sharks—an indication of an abundant and varied environment. Marks found on turtle bones along with shattered bovid parts hint at Homo erectus participating in hunting activities and extracting bone marrow, practices possibly acquired from interactions with groups living on the continent.
Conclusion
Sunken valleys within Sundaland are uncovering a previously concealed era of human history. With rising sea levels submerging these old terrains, an invaluable fossil record has been safeguarded—only recently beginning to emerge. Fossils discovered in the Madura Strait extend what we know about the geographical spread of Homo erectus and emphasize how crucial underwater archaeological research is for understanding our ancestral journey.
Source:
Phys.org
Daily Galaxy
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