Ancient Tree Resin Reveals Earliest Human Presence in the Pacific
Evidence from Mololo Cave sheds light on human migration through Wallacea and adaptation to challenging environments over 50,000 years ago.
Tracing Humanity's Journey Through the Pacific
The dispersal of Homo sapiens into the Pacific region has long fascinated archaeologists. However, questions surrounding the timing and routes of this migration remain contentious. Recent findings1 at Mololo Cave on Waigeo Island, detailed in a study led by Dr. Dylan Gaffney and an international team of researchers, provide groundbreaking evidence of human presence in Wallacea dating back 50,000 to 55,000 years ago.
This discovery, centered on an ancient tree resin artifact, challenges previous assumptions about when and how early humans moved through this complex island chain to reach Sahul, the landmass combining modern-day Australia and New Guinea during the Pleistocene.
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