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Tanimbar is one of the main island groups in Wallacea (a group of mainly Indonesian islands separated by deep-water straits from the Asian and Australian continental shelves) included in early human migration routes from Sunda to Sahul (Australia + New Guinea). Despite its geographic significance, the island group has not undergone thorough archaeological investigation. Now, Australian National University archaeologists have discovered the first evidence of Pleistocene human occupation in the Tanimbar Islands, dating back approximately 42,000 years.
Map of Wallacea, delineating Birdsell’s northern and southern migration routes. The map also highlights the oldest Pleistocene sites on each island. Along the northern route, the following sites are indicated: 1) Leang Karampuang, Leang Tedongnge, and Leang Bulu Sipong 4, 2) Goa Topogaro, 3) Leang Sarru, 4) Daeo 2, 5) Golo, and 6) Kelo 6. On the southern route, the following sites are highlighted: 7) Liang Bua, 8) Lua Meko, 9) Makpan, 10) Laili, 11) Asitau Kuru, Lene Hara, Matja Kuru 2, 12) Here Sorot Entapa, and 13) Elivavan. The last two sites represent connections to Sahul: 14) Leang Lemdubu, currently in the Aru Islands but once connected to the mainland during the Pleistocene, and 15) Madjedbebe, the oldest known site in Sahul. Image credit: Kaharudin et al., doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108834.
The Tanimbar Islands occupy the easternmost point of southern Wallacea.
Around 250 km to the east of Tanimbar are the Aru Islands, which were part of the Sahul mainland during Pleistocene low sea levels.
While geographically close to the Sahul continental shelf, the Tanimbar Islands have been permanently isolated by a sea barrier since the earliest human occupation in Wallacea and before.
In comparison to neighboring islands in proximity to the Sahul shelf such as Halmahera, Seram, and Gebe to the north, and Timor, Rote, and Kisar to the south, the Tanimbar Islands have received relatively limited archaeological attention.
“The location of the discovery — at Elivavan on Indonesia’s Tanimbar Islands — makes it especially significant,” said Hendri Kaharudin, a Ph.D. candidate at the Australian National University.
“Tanimbar is located just off the Sahul shelf, which encompasses modern-day Australia, as well as New Guinea.”
“The question of how our early ancestors arrived there from Southeast Asia is one of the most captivating in prehistoric migration, mainly because of the vast distances covered and advanced seafaring skills that would have been required.”
“There are two main routes that have been explored as possibilities since the mid-20th century — a northern path via islands like Sulawesi, and a southern track passing near Timor and the Tanimbar Islands.”
“This discovery marks one of the southern route’s earliest known sites, making it a crucial piece of the puzzle.”
While there are still unanswered questions about Elivavan’s first inhabitants, the risky nature of the sea crossings suggests the colonists had developed advanced maritime technology by around 42,000 years ago.
“They would have had to traverse bodies of water exceeding 100 km in distance, regardless of their direction of travel,” Kaharudin said.
“Along with tiny fragments of pottery we also found evidence of things like bones, shells and sea urchins that point to the island’s role as a hub for early maritime activities.”
“As more work is done in lesser-explored regions like the Tanimbar Islands, I expect we’ll uncover more about early human life and migration patterns.”
“It’s also clear the colonization of Sahul was not a single event but “a gradual process involving successive waves of seafaring populations.”
“Coastal communities likely navigated shorelines, exploiting marine resources and establishing resilient settlements along their journey.”
“This island-hopping strategy facilitated cultural exchange and adaptation, shaping diverse societies across the land mass.”
The findings appear published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews.
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Hendri A.F. Kaharudin et al. 2024. Islands on the edge: 42,000-year-old occupation of the Tanimbar islands and its implications for the Sunda-Sahul early human migration discourse. Quaternary Science Reviews 338: 108834; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108834
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