Ancient human tools found on Sulawesi

Researchers have uncovered stone tools indicating early human presence on Sulawesi over a million years ago.

Discovery of ancient tools reveals early human presence on Sulawesi

Researchers from Griffith University have made a significant discovery on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. They found stone tools dating back at least 1.04 million years at the Calio site. This indicates that early hominins crossed deep-sea waters to reach the island much earlier than previously thought. The excavation was led by Budianto Hakim of Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency and Professor Adam Brumm from Griffith University. The tools were retrieved from sedimentary layers in a cornfield, suggesting that this area was once a site for tool-making and likely hunting activities, near a river channel. These artifacts consist of small stone fragments that early humans used for creating tools, showing advanced skills. This finding adds to earlier evidence of hominin presence in the Wallacea region, particularly at sites like Wolo Sege and Talepu, marking a rich history of human adaptation in diverse island environments.

The recent discovery on Sulawesi opens new avenues for understanding early human migration patterns across the Wallace Line. The tools indicate that our ancestors were far more adventurous than previously recognized. The mystery remains about whether these tool-makers eventually evolved similarly to the hobbits of Flores or took a different evolutionary path. As researchers continue to probe the implications of these findings, they underscore the complexity of human adaptation in unique ecosystems. Such discoveries challenge simplified narratives of migration and adaptation, instead painting a picture of dynamic, multifaceted human histories across island landscapes.

Highlights

Future research may reveal more about the evolutionary journey of these early hominins.