Ancient tools unearthed on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi suggest that the ancestors of the ‘Hobbits,’ known as Homo floresiensis, were not alone in their early human existence. A collaborative team of archaeologists from Indonesia and Australia has identified artifacts that indicate the presence of another group of hominins on Sulawesi dating back over a million years.
These seven flaked stone tools were discovered at various depths below ground, with dating estimates placing them between 1.04 million years and 1.48 million years old. The findings could represent the earliest evidence of human activity in Wallacea, a region that has historically separated the Asian and Australian continents.
Uncovering Ancient Connections
Co-lead of the expedition, Adam Brumm, emphasized the significance of this discovery. He noted, “It’s highly unlikely these early hominins had the cognitive capacity required to invent boats. It is more likely that hominins got to Sulawesi by accident, most probably as a result of ‘rafting’ on natural vegetation mats.” Such a method of crossing would have allowed small mammals and potentially hominins to migrate across deep ocean barriers.
The identity of the toolmakers remains uncertain. Brumm has dedicated decades to studying early hominins in the region. He co-led the recent excavation with Budianto Hakim from the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN). Archaeologist Debbie Argue, who was not part of the team, commented on the findings, stating they are “most important” as they provide evidence that early Pleistocene hominins were capable of making sea crossings.
This discovery builds on previous findings in the region, where the earliest evidence of stone tools was thought to be from Flores, dated at around 1.02 million years. Flores is notable for being the site where archaeologists discovered the diminutive Homo floresiensis in 2003. This small hominin, standing just one meter tall, surprised scientists with its unique physical characteristics, which differed significantly from other early humans.
Implications for Human Evolution
The new evidence from Sulawesi raises intriguing questions about the connections between these ancient populations. While no hominin fossils have yet been found on Sulawesi, the presence of stone tools suggests that these early humans did inhabit the island. The late Mike Morwood, a co-discoverer of Homo floresiensis, believed that Sulawesi could hold the key to understanding the origins of this unique species.
Brumm shared Morwood’s perspective, indicating that Sulawesi may have served as a stepping stone for hominins migrating from mainland Asia. In a previous interview, Morwood expressed his belief that tools on Sulawesi could date back two million years, stating, “This is going to put the cat among the pigeons.”
The archaeological team plans to continue their research in Sulawesi, aiming to locate the remains of the mysterious toolmakers. Brumm stated, “We are also working at much younger sites that we hope will provide insight into what happened to these early humans when our species arrived on the island at least 65,000 years ago.” The study detailing these findings has been published in the journal Nature.
As the research unfolds, it may reshape our understanding of human evolution in Southeast Asia. The enigmatic history of these islands is becoming increasingly significant in the narrative of early human migration and adaptation.
