Palaeogeography and voyage modeling indicates early human colonization of Australia was likely from Timor-Roti

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dc.contributor.authorBird, M.
dc.contributor.authorBeaman, R.
dc.contributor.authorCondie, S.
dc.contributor.authorCooper, A.
dc.contributor.authorUlm, S.
dc.contributor.authorVeth, P.
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractAnatomically Modern Humans (AMHs) dispersed rapidly through island southeast Asia (Sunda and Wallacea) and into Sahul (Australia, New Guinea and the Aru Islands), before 50,000 years ago. Multiple routes have been proposed for this dispersal and all involve at least one multi-day maritime voyage approaching 100 km. Here we use new regional-scale bathymetry data, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, an assessment of vertical land movements and drift modeling to assess the potential for an initial entry into northwest Australia from southern Wallacea (Timor-Roti). From ∼70,000 until ∼10,000 years ago, a chain of habitable, resource-rich islands were emergent off the coast of northwest Australia (now mostly submerged). These were visible from high points close to the coast on Timor-Roti and as close as 87 km. Drift models suggest the probability of accidental arrival on these islands from Timor-Roti was low at any time. However, purposeful voyages in the summer monsoon season were very likely to be successful over 4–7 days. Genomic data suggests the colonizing population size was >72–100 individuals, thereby indicating deliberate colonization. This is arguably the most dramatic early demonstration of the advanced cognitive abilities and technological capabilities of AMHs, but one that could leave little material imprint in the archaeological record beyond the evidence that colonization occurred.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMichael I. Bird, Robin J. Beaman, Scott A. Condie, Alan Cooper, Sean Ulm, Peter Veth
dc.identifier.citationQuaternary Science Reviews: the international multidisciplinary research and review journal, 2018; 191:431-439
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.04.027
dc.identifier.issn0277-3791
dc.identifier.issn1873-457X
dc.identifier.orcidCooper, A. [0000-0002-7738-7851]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/113418
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/CE170100015
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL140100044
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL140100260
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT120100656
dc.rights© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.04.027
dc.subjectPleistocene
dc.subjectPalaeogeography
dc.subjectSoutheastern Asia
dc.subjectSahul
dc.subjectWallacea
dc.subjectHuman dispersal
dc.titlePalaeogeography and voyage modeling indicates early human colonization of Australia was likely from Timor-Roti
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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