A new genetic study has given scientists a clearer understanding of how the first humans reached the ancient landmass known as Sahul. Sahul was a supercontinent that once connected present day Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania. According to the study, early humans arrived there nearly 65,000 years ago. This discovery pushes back the date of human settlement in Australia and gives fresh evidence about how our ancestors travelled across long stretches of ocean.
The findings were published in Science Advances on November 28. The study looked at 2,456 samples of human mitochondrial genomes taken from Indigenous communities in Australia and New Guinea. Mitochondrial DNA is passed down through the maternal line, and it is very useful for tracing ancient human migrations.
For many years, archaeologists believed that humans reached Australia between 47,000 and 51,000 years ago. However, the new genetic results support earlier archaeological discoveries that pointed to a much older human presence. This new estimate of 65,000 years matches well with tools and artefacts excavated at early Aboriginal sites.
The research shows that the first humans did not arrive in one single wave. Instead, they used two separate migration routes, and both migrations happened around the same time. One route was a northern pathway that passed through the Philippine archipelago. The other was a southern path that went through the Indonesian islands. These two movements of people eventually joined and became the founding populations of Indigenous Australians and New Guineans.
According to the researchers, the ancestors of today’s Indigenous people were skilled travellers who were capable of crossing open seas that stretched for more than 100 kilometres. This suggests that they had developed watercraft that could survive long ocean journeys. These early humans were among the world’s first long distance ocean navigators.
The study also raises interesting questions about the possibility of contact between modern humans and other ancient human species. Scientists say that the migrating groups may have interacted with archaic species such as Homo luzonensis, which lived in the Philippines, and Homo floresiensis, which lived on the island of Flores. Some interactions may have happened in Wallacea, which is the island region between Asia and Australia, or perhaps even in Sahul itself. Although no definite proof of interbreeding has been found in these particular species, the idea remains open for future research.
One of the most important aspects of the study is the evidence that early humans were able to plan and coordinate long sea voyages. This was not a random movement of people. It required clear thinking, knowledge of the sea and the ability to build watercraft strong enough for repeated ocean crossings. Scientists believe that these ancient travellers must have studied weather patterns and the direction of ocean currents. They also needed social cooperation to prepare for such a journey. This shows that early humans had developed complex skills long before similar achievements appeared in other parts of the world.
Once these early humans entered Sahul, they began to spread across the land and create communities. Over thousands of years, their descendants formed diverse cultures with unique languages, traditions and knowledge systems. Indigenous Australians are among the world’s oldest continuous cultures, with a history that stretches back tens of thousands of years. The new research strengthens the understanding of their deep connection to the land.
The findings of this genetic study provide a clearer picture of human migration in the ancient world. They show that people were able to cross large bodies of water long before the invention of advanced tools or technology. The study highlights the courage and skills of the earliest travellers who explored unknown seas and built new communities in distant lands. It also reminds us that human history is much older and richer than what was once believed.
This research brings together genetics and archaeology to tell a more complete story about the origins of the first Australians. It supports Indigenous knowledge that speaks of a long and continuous presence on the land. By examining the past, scientists hope to understand the long journeys that shaped human societies across the world.
