DNA Study Reveals Humans Reached Australia 60,000 Years Ago
New genetic research, combined with archaeological evidence, has significantly reshaped our understanding of human migration into Australia and the Pacific. The findings suggest that people first arrived in the landmass known as Sahul approximately 60,000 years ago, challenging previous timelines that placed this event closer to 45,000 years ago.
Genetic Evidence Points to Earlier Arrival
The study, titled "Genomic evidence supports the 'long chronology' for the peopling of Sahul," provides compelling genetic data indicating an earlier human presence. Analysis of maternal DNA lineages found across Australia and New Guinea reveals a level of diversity that cannot be explained by a later arrival. This genetic diversity required more time to develop, strongly supporting the 60,000-year timeline.
Even with lower sea levels during that period, crossing open water would have been necessary, implying the use of boats. This suggests intentional migration and accumulated seafaring experience rather than accidental arrival.
Complex Migration Patterns
The research indicates that migration was not a single, straightforward event. Instead, it involved multiple streams of movement. One group likely traveled north through Island Southeast Asia into New Guinea and nearby islands, while another took a more southern route into Australia.
These journeys were not isolated. For extended periods, populations maintained contact across regions now separated by water, facilitated by narrow seas and changing coastlines. This ongoing interaction explains the overlapping cultural and genetic features observed across the area.
Long-Term Regional Connections
Early populations did not immediately become isolated. DNA signals suggest repeated contact between groups in Australia and New Guinea, even as they adapted to new environments. This connectivity persisted until rising sea levels eventually widened distances and led to greater isolation.
Foundation for Pacific Expansion
The settlement of Sahul laid the groundwork for later expansion into the Pacific. Genetic markers associated with Polynesian ancestry appear to have formed around New Guinea several thousand years ago. From there, movement eastward continued, aligning with archaeological evidence from Lapita sites.
This indicates that the roots of long-distance voyaging in the Pacific were local and developed gradually over time, rather than being introduced suddenly from outside the region.
Gradual Development of Seafaring
The evidence points to a process of trial and adjustment spanning generations. Boats improved, knowledge accumulated, and social systems adapted to support travel and exchange. Early crossings into Sahul were not just arrivals but practice runs that built the expertise needed for later exploration.
A Longer Human Story
This research paints a picture of human presence in Australia and the Pacific as a long, persistent process rather than a single dramatic event. People moved, stopped, returned, and adapted as coastlines changed, leaving a complex and enduring legacy.
The settlement of this vast region emerges as a slow, spreading presence, marked by resilience and adaptation over millennia.
