Underwater surprise. Archaeologists found the remains of a missing world

New archaeological and geological research in this region shed more light on the history of humanity and nature in Southeast Asia. An unexpected breakthrough occurred during seemingly routine mining works, which revealed the remains of the ancient land, which has been under sea settlements for tens of thousands of years.

The remains found and finds not only confirm the existence of the lost Sundaland continent, but also indicate that Homo erectus – Ancestor of modern man – he lived there and developed in an environment full of gigantic beasts.
This is a fascinating window to the past, which reveals how our ancestors coped in a changing climate and landscape.

A surprising discovery during mining

It all began in 2011, when in the Madura Strait near Surabaya, workers carried out works related to the extraction of sea sand. Their activities led to the discovery of over 6,000 fossils of vertebrates, which completely changed the scientific view of the history of the region.

Among the remains found were the bones of dragons from komodo, buffaloes, deer and a huge stegidon – a herbivorous mammal resembling an elephant, which reached over 13 feet of height.

However, what aroused the greatest interest of archaeologists are two fragments of the human skull: frontal and parietal bone. Their construction was extremely similar to the skulls Homo erectus previously discovered at Sambungmacan.

These fragments, although small, turned out to be crucial. With the help of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) it was established that the settlements from which they were excavated were from 162,000 to 119,000 years.

Sundaland – a sunken continent of ancestors

The found bones are the first tangible evidence of the existence of an ancient Sundaland continent-the land, which in the Pleistocene era connected Southeast Asia into one whole.

The find forces scientists to think about existing theories regarding the migration and development of early hominins.

“This period is characterized by a large morphological diversity and mobility of the Hominin population in the region,” emphasizes archaeologist Harold Berghuis from the University of Lej, who managed research.

The remains of animals and people reveal that this area was home to a lively fluvent (river) ecosystem, supported by the ancient Solo River. The geological analysis of sediments showed the presence of a buried river system, which once crossed today’s Sunday shelf, creating favorable living conditions for many species – from large herbivores to predators.

Prehistoric savanna instead of a tropical jungle

Contrary to current ideas of the tropical nature of the region, sundaland did not resemble today’s dense jungle.
Analysis of fossils rather indicates a landscape resembling a savanna. The presence of animals who prefer open spaces, such as antelopes or deer, confirms this hypothesis. This area had to provide abundant food and space for both animals and people.

Researchers also pay attention to the traces of human activity – animal fossils have clear signs of cutting. This is direct proof of the use of tools and the skill of slaughterhouse. This indicates that Homo erectus He was not just a collector, but he actively hunted and processed the meat of large mammals. This is a significant step towards understanding the level of advancement of these communities.

Slowly flooding the land of people and giants

About 14,000 to 7,000 years ago, as a result of the melting of glaciers after the last ice era, the level of the seas rose by over 120 meters. This process gradually sank the Sundaland plains, cutting off land connections between the continental Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago islands.

For people and animals living in this area, it was a breakthrough – changing living conditions, migrations, and perhaps leading to extinction of some species.

Today’s discovery shows that people – at least those of the genre Homo erectus – Not only did they adapt to such environmental variability, but also functioned in complex ecosystems full of threats and possibilities. As Berghuis emphasizes, “discoveries indicate that the ancient population has adapted to its environment using relatively advanced techniques for those times.”

Found traces of the past – a milestone for science

Although the fragments of the skulls found are small, their scientific meaning is huge. Expand the known range of occurrence Homo erectus in Southeast Asia and offer new research perspectives for paleoanthropology.
The anatomy of these hominins – higher growth, longer legs and shorter arms – they have already brought them closer to modern man, and their presence in such a dynamic landscape testifies to high adaptive flexibility.