In the depths of human history, skilled seafarers embarked on daring voyages from Asia to the Pacific Islands. This migration, of global significance, shaped the distribution of Homo sapiens across the planet, with these early mariners becoming the ancestors of people who populate the region today, from West Papua to Aotearoa New Zealand. However, for archaeologists, the precise timing, location, and nature of these maritime dispersals have remained shrouded in mystery until now.
Our groundbreaking research, for the first time, provides direct evidence that seafarers traveled along the equator to reach islands off the coast of West Papua over 50,000 years ago. This discovery was made possible through archaeological fieldwork on Waigeo Island in the Raja Ampat archipelago of West Papua, representing the first major international collaboration of its kind, involving academics from New Zealand, West Papua, Indonesia, and beyond. Our excavations focused on Mololo Cave, an enormous limestone chamber enveloped by tropical rainforest, extending a hundred meters deep and serving as a habitat for bat colonies, monitor lizards, and the occasional snake.
The local Ambel language refers to Mololo as “the place where the currents come together,” aptly named for the turbulent waters and large whirlpools in the nearby straits. Excavations unearthed multiple layers of human occupation, revealing a treasure trove of artifacts, including stone tools, animal bones, shells, and charcoal—all physical remnants discarded by ancient humans who once called this cave home.
While these archaeological finds were scarce in the deepest layers, radiocarbon dating at the University of Oxford and the University of Waikato confirmed the presence of humans at Mololo at least 55,000 years ago. This discovery provides a critical piece of the puzzle, pushing back the timeline of human settlement in this region significantly.
Among the key findings of the excavation was a tree resin artifact, dating back to this early period. This is the earliest documented example of resin use by humans outside of Africa, signifying the complex skills they developed to adapt to life in rainforests. Scanning-electron microscope analysis revealed a multi-stage process in the artifact’s production. The bark of a resin-producing tree was cut, allowing the resin to drip down the trunk and solidify. This hardened resin was then snapped into its desired shape. While the function of the artifact remains uncertain, it may have served as a fuel source for fires inside the cave. Similar resin was collected in West Papua during the 20th century and used for fires before the introduction of gas and electric lighting.
The analysis of animal bones from Mololo indicates that the ancient inhabitants hunted ground-dwelling birds, marsupials, and possibly megabats. Despite the presence of small, difficult-to-capture animals on Waigeo Island, these early settlers were adept at utilizing rainforest resources alongside the coastal foods readily available on islands. This adaptation highlights the remarkable flexibility and ingenuity of humans in challenging conditions.
The Mololo excavation offers crucial insights into the precise timing of human movement into the Pacific, a topic of intense debate due to its significant implications for understanding the speed of our species’ dispersal out of Africa into Asia and Oceania. The timing of this migration also has implications for the potential role of humans in the extinction of Oceanic megafauna, such as giant kangaroos and giant wombats, and their interactions with other hominin species like the “hobbit” (Homo floresiensis) that inhabited the islands of Indonesia until about 50,000 years ago.
Archaeologists have proposed two hypothetical seafaring corridors leading into the Pacific: a southern route into Australia and a northern route into West Papua. Excavations in what is now northern Australia suggest that humans may have settled the ancient continent of Sahul, connecting West Papua to Australia, by 65,000 years ago. However, findings from Timor indicate that people were moving along the southern route only 44,000 years ago. Our research supports the hypothesis that the earliest seafarers crossed along the northern route into West Papua, later venturing south into Australia.
Despite our groundbreaking research, our understanding of the deep human past in West Papua remains limited, primarily due to the ongoing political and social crisis in the region. However, our research underscores the sophistication, mobility, and creativity of early West Papuans, demonstrating their ability to thrive on small tropical islands. Ongoing excavations by our project aim to uncover further insights into how these early settlers adapted to climatic and environmental changes in the region.
Evidence from other archaeological sites in independent Papua New Guinea reveals that once humans arrived in the Pacific region, they continued their exploration, reaching the New Guinea Highlands, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands by 30,000 years ago. It wasn’t until around 3,000 years ago that seafarers ventured beyond the Solomon Islands to settle the smaller islands of Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. Their descendants later embarked on voyages as far as Hawaii, Rapa Nui, and Aotearoa.
Charting the archaeology of West Papua is essential for understanding the origins of the wider Pacific population and their remarkable adaptation to life in this vast and unfamiliar sea of islands. This knowledge not only sheds light on our shared human history but also highlights the resilience and ingenuity of our ancestors in navigating challenging environments and forging new pathways across the globe.
