Review

.2018 Aug 21;115(34):8482-8490.

doi: 10.1073/pnas.1808385115. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

When didHomo sapiens first reach Southeast Asia and Sahul?

James F O'Connell¹, Jim Allen², Martin A J Williams³, Alan N Williams^{4 5}, Chris S M Turney^{6 7}, Nigel A Spooner^{8 9}, Johan Kamminga¹⁰, Graham Brown^{11 12 13}, Alan Cooper^{7 14}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; oconnell@anthro.utah.edu.
² Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
³ Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
⁴ Extent Heritage Pty Ltd, Pyrmont, NSW 2009.
⁵ College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
⁶ Palaeontology, Geobiology and Earth Archives Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁷ Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁸ School of Physical Sciences and Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005.
⁹ Weapons and Combat Systems Division, Defence Science and Technology Group, Edinburgh, SA 5111, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Natural History, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
¹¹ Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT 0801.
¹² Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization Land and Water, Winnellie, NT 0822 Australia.
¹³ Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia.
¹⁴ Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

PMID:30082377
PMCID: PMC6112744
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1808385115

Review

When didHomo sapiens first reach Southeast Asia and Sahul?

James F O'Connell et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.2018.

.2018 Aug 21;115(34):8482-8490.

doi: 10.1073/pnas.1808385115. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Authors

James F O'Connell¹, Jim Allen², Martin A J Williams³, Alan N Williams^{4 5}, Chris S M Turney^{6 7}, Nigel A Spooner^{8 9}, Johan Kamminga¹⁰, Graham Brown^{11 12 13}, Alan Cooper^{7 14}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; oconnell@anthro.utah.edu.
² Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
³ Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
⁴ Extent Heritage Pty Ltd, Pyrmont, NSW 2009.
⁵ College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
⁶ Palaeontology, Geobiology and Earth Archives Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁷ Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁸ School of Physical Sciences and Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005.
⁹ Weapons and Combat Systems Division, Defence Science and Technology Group, Edinburgh, SA 5111, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Natural History, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
¹¹ Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT 0801.
¹² Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization Land and Water, Winnellie, NT 0822 Australia.
¹³ Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia.
¹⁴ Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

PMID:30082377
PMCID: PMC6112744
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1808385115

Abstract

Anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens, AMH) began spreading across Eurasia from Africa and adjacent Southwest Asia about 50,000-55,000 years ago (ca 50-55 ka). Some have argued that human genetic, fossil, and archaeological data indicate one or more prior dispersals, possibly as early as 120 ka. A recently reported age estimate of 65 ka for Madjedbebe, an archaeological site in northern Sahul (Pleistocene Australia-New Guinea), if correct, offers what might be the strongest support yet presented for a pre-55-ka African AMH exodus. We review evidence for AMH arrival on an arc spanning South China through Sahul and then evaluate data from Madjedbebe. We find that an age estimate of >50 ka for this site is unlikely to be valid. While AMH may have moved far beyond Africa well before 50-55 ka, data from the region of interest offered in support of this idea are not compelling.

Keywords: Homo sapiens; Late Pleistocene; Madjedbebe; Sahul; anatomically modern humans.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Fig. 1.**
Map of the SCS arc showing the locations of all fossil and archaeological sites mentioned in the text and of the WHL between Sunda and western Wallacea.

**Fig. 2.**
Radiometric ages for the eight oldest securely dated archaeological sites in Sahul vs. Madjedbebe phase 2 (, –84).

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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When didHomo sapiens first reach Southeast Asia and Sahul?

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When didHomo sapiens first reach Southeast Asia and Sahul?

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