Ancient Seafarers of the Pacific: Human Migration Near West Papua 55,000 Years Ago
Ancient Seafarers of the Pacific: Human Migration Near West Papua 55,000 Years Ago
Discovering the Deep History of Human Migration into the Pacific
Recent archaeological findings1 in West Papua have unveiled new insights into one of the most significant migrations in human history—the journey of early Homo sapiens into the Pacific Islands. This migration, which began more than 55,000 years ago, involved highly skilled seafarers who crossed treacherous waters from Asia to the islands of the Pacific, shaping the distribution of our species across the globe.
The ancestors of the current inhabitants of regions like West Papua and Aotearoa New Zealand undertook these daring voyages, leaving behind a legacy that has intrigued anthropologists and archaeologists for generations. Despite its importance, the precise timing, pathways, and nature of these early maritime dispersals have long been subjects of debate and uncertainty. However, a recent study offers direct evidence of early human presence near West Papua, shedding light on the ancient seafaring routes that facilitated human expansion into Oceania.
Unearthing the Past: Archaeological Excavations on Waigeo Island
The groundbreaking research on Waigeo Island, part of the Raja Ampat archipelago in West Papua, represents a major international collaboration involving scholars from New Zealand, West Papua, Indonesia, and other countries. The focal point of this investigation was Mololo Cave, a vast limestone chamber nestled within a dense tropical rainforest. This site, rich in archaeological deposits, provided a window into the lives of the early humans who inhabited the region.
Excavations at Mololo Cave revealed multiple layers of human occupation, characterized by stone tools, animal bones, shells, and charcoal remnants—physical evidence of ancient human activity. These findings were particularly rare in the deepest layers of the site, yet radiocarbon dating performed by the University of Oxford and the University of Waikato confirmed that humans had settled in Mololo Cave at least 55,000 years ago. A member of the research team remarked,
"Mololo Cave is aptly named in the local Ambel language as the place where the currents come together.”
The cave’s proximity to the choppy waters and large whirlpools of nearby straits underscores its strategic importance to the seafarers who once inhabited it.
Technological Innovation in Rainforest Foraging
Among the most significant discoveries at Mololo Cave was a tree resin artifact, representing the earliest known use of resin by humans outside of Africa. This artifact is indicative of the advanced technological skills that early humans developed to adapt to life in challenging rainforest environments. Scanning-electron microscope analysis revealed that the resin was harvested and shaped through a multi-stage process, demonstrating a high level of craftsmanship.
The precise function of the resin artifact remains unknown, though it may have served as a fuel source for fires within the cave. Similar resins were used in the 20th century by local populations in West Papua before the advent of modern gas and electric lighting.
In addition to the resin artifact, the excavation of animal bones at Mololo Cave provided further evidence of human adaptation to rainforest living. The inhabitants of the cave hunted a variety of species, including ground-dwelling birds, marsupials, and possibly megabats. This finding illustrates the flexibility and ingenuity of early humans, who managed to exploit both rainforest resources and the abundant coastal foods available on the islands.
Seafaring Routes and the Dispersal of Early Humans into the Pacific
The discoveries at Mololo Cave contribute to the ongoing debate about the timing and routes of early human migration into the Pacific. The timing of this migration has significant implications for understanding the rapid dispersal of Homo sapiens out of Africa and into Asia and Oceania. It also raises questions about the potential interactions between early humans and other hominin species, such as Homo floresiensis, which inhabited the islands of Indonesia until about 50,000 years ago.
Archaeologists have proposed two primary seafaring routes for human migration into the Pacific: a southern route into Australia and a northern route into West Papua. Excavations in northern Australia suggest that humans may have settled the ancient continent of Sahul, which once connected West Papua to Australia, as early as 65,000 years ago. However, evidence from Timor indicates human presence along the southern route only about 44,000 years ago.
The findings from Mololo Cave support the hypothesis that the earliest seafarers followed the northern route into West Papua before eventually moving southward into Australia. This discovery not only clarifies the timing of human migration into the Pacific but also highlights the strategic importance of West Papua as a gateway to the broader Oceanic region.
West Papua: An Archaeological Frontier
Despite the recent breakthroughs, much remains to be discovered about the deep human history of West Papua. Research in the region has been limited, in part, due to the ongoing political and social challenges. Nevertheless, the findings from Mololo Cave underscore the sophisticated nature of early West Papuan societies. These early humans were highly mobile, resourceful, and capable of devising innovative solutions to the challenges of island living.
Ongoing excavations in West Papua aim to uncover further evidence of how early humans adapted to the region's climatic and environmental changes. Understanding the strategies employed by these ancient seafarers is crucial for piecing together the broader narrative of human migration across the Pacific.
Evidence from other archaeological sites in Papua New Guinea indicates that once humans arrived in the Pacific region, they continued to explore and settle new areas. By 30,000 years ago, human populations had spread as far as the New Guinea Highlands, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands. However, it was not until about 3,000 years ago that seafarers ventured beyond the Solomon Islands to colonize the smaller islands of Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, and later as far as Hawaii, Rapa Nui, and Aotearoa.
Charting the Future of Archaeological Research in West Papua
The ongoing study of West Papua’s archaeological record is essential for understanding the origins and adaptations of the ancestors of the wider Pacific populations. As researchers continue to explore this rich and relatively untapped archaeological frontier, new discoveries will likely emerge, offering further insights into the complex and dynamic history of human migration in the region.
The contribution of Abdul Razak Macap, a social anthropologist at the Regional Cultural Heritage Center in Manokwari, has been invaluable to this research, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge and collaboration in uncovering the region's ancient past.
In summary, the excavation at Mololo Cave not only illuminates the deep history of human occupation in West Papua but also provides critical evidence of the seafaring pathways that facilitated the dispersal of Homo sapiens into the Pacific. This research underscores the resilience, adaptability, and ingenuity of our early ancestors as they navigated and settled the vast and diverse landscapes of the Pacific Islands.
Gaffney, D., Tanudirjo, D. A., Djami, E. N. I., Mas’ud, Z., Macap, A. R., Russell, T., Dailom, M., Ray, Y., Higham, T., Bradshaw, F., Petchey, F., Florin, S. A., Roberts, P., Lucas, M., Tromp, M., Greig, K., Xhauflair, H., Montenegro, A., Hall, R., … Haberle, S. (2024). Human dispersal and plant processing in the Pacific 55 000–50 000 years ago. Antiquity, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.83