Sensation under water: traces of Homo erectus found dating back 140,000 years

An international team of archaeologists has discovered a sunken world off the coast of the Indonesian island of Java, dating back about 140,000 years. Fragments of Homo erectus skulls and more than six thousand fossils of ancient fauna were raised from the bottom of the Madura Strait. Cut marks found on animal bones indicate deliberate hunting.

An international team of archaeologists has made a discovery off the coast of the Indonesian island of Java, uncovering a sunken world dating back about 140,000 years. The find was made at the bottom of the Madura Strait during large-scale dredging operations. Scientists recovered fragments of human skulls, which are associated with late representatives of Javanese Homo erectus. Analysis identified more than six thousand fossils representing at least 36 species of ancient fauna: elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, giant cattle, freshwater crocodiles, Komodo dragons, and river sharks. Optically stimulated luminescence dating placed the sediments between 162,000 and 119,000 years old, with the finds attributed to around 140,000 years ago. Cut and flake marks on some animal bones indicate processing for bone marrow. Analysis of the age structure of the animals showed a predominance of adults with almost no old individuals, suggesting deliberate and selective hunting. During the Pleistocene epoch, this area was a flourishing landmass, with sea levels about 100 meters lower than today, and Java was part of the giant landmass of Sundaland.