Unveiling the Secrets of the Pacific: Ancient Resin Reveals Earliest Human Presence in the Region
The Pacific Ocean, a vast expanse of water encompassing a quarter of the Earth’s surface, has long held a captivating allure for explorers and scientists alike. Its numerous islands, dotted across a seemingly endless horizon, have become a focal point for understanding human migration and the evolution of cultures. Now, a groundbreaking discovery in West Papua, Indonesia, is rewriting our understanding of how and when humans first ventured into this remote region.
Archaeologists from the University of Oxford have unearthed ancient tree resin in Mololo Cave on Waigeo Island, part of the Raja Ampat archipelago. This resin, which dates back an astounding 55,000 years, represents the earliest known evidence of human presence in the Pacific. The discovery, recently published in the prestigious journal Antiquity, throws light on a long-debated question: how did our ancestors navigate the vast distances and treacherous waters of the Pacific, populating islands that were once shrouded in mystery?
The Cave of Clues: Unearthing Ancient Life
Mololo Cave, situated on the island of Waigeo, has yielded a treasure trove of artifacts that paint a vivid picture of life in this region during the late Pleistocene era. Excavations have revealed a rich collection of stone tools, animal bones, charcoal, and, most importantly, the tree resin. This resin, unlike its naturally occurring counterparts, bears the clear marks of human intervention. "The resin was made by humans who cut bark from a tree and then snapped the hardened resin into shape," states a recent article in The Conversation detailing the findings.
While the exact purpose of the resin remains shrouded in mystery, the researchers speculate that it may have been used as a fuel source for fires. Radiocarbon dating of the layers containing the resin has yielded a staggering age of 55,000 years, decisively pushing back the timeline of human arrival in the Pacific by a few thousand years.
The Animal Evidence: A Glimpse into Diet and Behavior
Beyond the resin, the assemblage of animal bones discovered in the cave provides further insights into the activities of the early inhabitants. "Some bones in the deposit are likely natural, including smaller animals like small rodents and microbats," explains Dylan Gaffney, the lead author of the study. "The other larger animals like terrestrial birds, marsupials and megabats are more likely to result from human predation." Notably, the presence of marine animal remains, including fish teeth and sea urchins, suggests that these early humans ventured to the coast, approximately 15 kilometers from the cave, in search of sustenance.
The Wider Context: Navigating the Pacific’s Past
The discovery of this ancient human presence on Waigeo Island throws a new light on the complex and fascinating story of human migration across the Pacific. While the exact timing and routes of these early voyages remain a subject of ongoing research, the evidence clearly indicates that humans were exploring the Pacific much earlier than previously thought.
The Pacific’s islands were not inhabited by Homo sapiens alone. In the ancient past, other hominin species, such as Homo erectus and the diminutive Homo floresiensis (often referred to as ‘hobbits’), also made their way across the islands. The remains of H. floresiensis have been found on the island of Flores, indicating that these individuals were present in the region at least until 50,000 years ago. While the identity of the Mololo Cave occupants remains uncertain, it is possible that the assemblage was made by humans more closely related to Denisovans, a mysterious group of extinct hominins, whose genetic legacy has been discovered in several parts of the world.
Crossing the Waters: The Route to the Pacific
The precise routes taken by these early Pacific explorers are still being pieced together. However, the geological evidence suggests that the landmasses of the region were vastly different in the past. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), around 20,000 years ago, sea levels were significantly lower than today, creating land bridges and exposing large areas of the continental shelf.
The researchers believe that during the period between 50,000 and 40,000 years ago, the sea level dropped sufficiently to create a land bridge between New Guinea and the islands of Waigeo and Batanta, which together form the region known as Waitanta. This land bridge, at its narrowest point, was just 2.5 kilometers wide. This relatively short distance provided a convenient and accessible route for early humans to spread eastward, gradually colonizing the islands of Oceania.
The authors of the study propose two possible scenarios for human arrival in Waitanta:
The first scenario suggests that the Waitanta region was initially populated by humans from the west, specifically from the Wallacea region, a geographic transition zone between Asia and Australia. This region lies between the Sunda Shelf, which is part of the Asian continental shelf, and the Sahul Shelf, which includes Australia and New Guinea.
- The second scenario proposes that humans arrived in Waitanta from the east, having first colonized the Australian mainland. This theory claims that humans, after initially reaching Australia, then moved northwards, colonizing New Guinea and eventually crossing the land bridge to Waitanta.
The Future of Research: Unraveling the Secrets of Early Pacific Exploration
The discovery of the ancient resin in Mololo Cave has sparked excitement and provided valuable insights into the earliest human arrival in the Pacific. However, the study is just the beginning of a larger, more comprehensive investigation.
The research team is currently planning further expeditions to unravel the full story of human colonization in the Raja Ampat archipelago. Their focus will be on exploring other sites in the region, searching for additional evidence that could shed light on the precise timing of human arrivals and the identity of the early settlers.
The quest to unravel the secrets of ancient Pacific exploration is far from over. With each new discovery, we move closer to understanding how humans ventured into this vast and captivating region, shaping its diverse cultures and leaving an enduring mark on its history. The ancient resin found in Mololo Cave stands as a powerful testament to the resilience, ingenuity, and adventurous spirit of our ancestors, pushing the boundaries of exploration and leaving behind a legacy that continues to fascinate us today.
