| Timestamp | Username | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Environmental and Ecological Impacts == The exposure of the Sahul Landbridge during low sea levels allowed for the exchange of terrestrial species within Sahul but highlighted biogeographic barriers, with biotic diversity decreasing eastward from Sahul. Human arrival coincided with broad diets and technological innovations, including seafaring, driven by optimal foraging strategies in response to resource availability.<br><br>Sea level fluctuations influenced coastal habitats: stable or rising levels promoted productive reefs, lagoons, and estuaries, while falling levels inhibited them. This variability affected human subsistence patterns, with evidence of marine resource use patchy until the mid-Holocene due to submerged shorelines and processing behaviors.<ref>O’Connell, J.F., Allen, J., & Hawkes, K. 2010. Pleistocene Sahul and the origins of seafaring. Online. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251888687 Accessed 25 August 2014.</ref> | |||
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==Sahul Shelf== {{Infobox landform | name = Sahul Landbridge | image = ../Images/sahul.png | width = 200 | caption = Sahul Continent | type = Land bridge (historical) | location = Between Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania | formed_by = Glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations | age = Pleistocene epoch | free_label = Period of exposure | free_data = During low sea levels, e.g., Last Glacial Maximum }} The Sahul Landbridge, also known as the Sahul Shelf, refers to the exposed continental shelf that connected the modern-day landmasses of Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania during periods of lower sea levels in the Pleistocene epoch. This land connection formed a single continuous landmass known as Sahul, allowing for the migration of flora, fauna, and early human populations across what are now separated by water. | |||
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Geographic Setting == Sahul is centered on the combined landmass of Australia and its continental islands, extending northward to include New Guinea and southward to Tasmania. Over the last several million years, glacio-eustatic fluctuations in sea level have repeatedly exposed large areas of the surrounding continental shelf. At times of maximum low sea levels, such as during the Last Glacial Maximum around 20,000 years ago, sea levels dropped by approximately 120 meters relative to modern levels, creating a continuous landmass from New Guinea in the north through Australia to Tasmania in the south.<br><br>To the west of Sahul lies the Sunda Shelf, comprising the Malay Peninsula and the islands of western Indonesia, which similarly formed a large sub-continental peninsula during low sea levels. Between Sunda and Sahul is the Wallacean Archipelago, a 1,500 km-wide chain of islands that has never been fully bridged by dry land, even at the lowest sea levels. This archipelago required multiple sea crossings for any migration between Sunda and Sahul, with distances including one leg over 70 km and at least three over 30 km.<br><br>Northeast of Sahul are the islands of Near Oceania, including the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. Water gaps here are generally shorter, but some, like those to Manus and Bougainville, exceed 140-300 km depending on sea levels.<br><br>The Sahul Landbridge acted as a biogeographic connector within Sahul but maintained separation from Asia due to the persistent water barriers in Wallacea. Prior to human arrival, no large-bodied terrestrial mammals crossed Wallacea in either direction successfully. | |||
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Human Colonization == Archaeological evidence indicates that Sahul was first colonized by modern humans (Homo sapiens) around 45,000 to 46,000 years before present (BP). This colonization involved crossing the Wallacean Archipelago, implying deliberate seafaring capabilities, as accidental drift is deemed unlikely given the rapid and successful establishment of populations.<br><br>Genetic data from Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA haplogroups (types C, K, M, N, R) support origins in East Africa or South Asia, with rapid migration to Sahul around 45,000 years BP. The colonization process likely involved purposeful voyages using wind- or paddle-powered boats, facilitated by inter-visible islands and seasonal wind reversals in the region.<br><br>Evidence of early seafaring includes occupation sites in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands shortly after Sahul, such as Buka by 34,000 years BP and Manus by over 25,000 years BP, requiring open-ocean voyages of 140-300 km. Deep-sea fishing remains, including tuna and sharks, from sites like Buang Merabak (New Ireland, 35,000-45,000 years BP), Kilu Cave (Buka, over 30,000 years BP), and Jerimalai (Timor, over 42,000 years BP), further indicate advanced marine capabilities. | |||
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Environmental and Ecological Impacts == The exposure of the Sahul Landbridge during low sea levels allowed for the exchange of terrestrial species within Sahul but highlighted biogeographic barriers, with biotic diversity decreasing eastward from Sahul. Human arrival coincided with broad diets and technological innovations, including seafaring, driven by optimal foraging strategies in response to resource availability.<br><br>Sea level fluctuations influenced coastal habitats: stable or rising levels promoted productive reefs, lagoons, and estuaries, while falling levels inhibited them. This variability affected human subsistence patterns, with evidence of marine resource use patchy until the mid-Holocene due to submerged shorelines and processing behaviors. | |||
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==Human evolution in Sunda and Sahul== During the study of human origins in the regions of Sunda and Sahul, researchers have long debated the relationships between fossil human species. Two key viewpoints developed — one favoring the recognition of many distinct species based on physical differences, and another treating these fossils as part of a single evolving population.<br><br>In the twentieth century, Alan Thorne’s “regional continuity” model proposed that modern humans in Australasia descended directly from local Homo erectus populations, suggesting long-term regional development. His “dihybrid” theory proposed two early migrations into Australia — one from ancient Java and another from ancient China.<br><br>Colin Groves, arriving in Australia in the 1970s, provided a contrasting scientific framework. He emphasized evolutionary replacement rather than long continuity, helping to redefine debates on the first Australians and human diversity in Southeast Asia.<br><br>Groves’ research contributed to identifying species such as Homo ergaster and evaluating fossils from Java, Flores, and Australia. He questioned whether early fossils from Java represented a pre-erectus species, later termed Homo modjokertensis. The discovery of Homo floresiensis on Flores suggested that early hominins crossed the Wallace Line far earlier than once thought, revealing unexpected diversity within the human family.<br><br>Later Javan fossils, including those from Ngandong and Sambungmacan, showed gradual anatomical changes over hundreds of thousands of years. Some scholars proposed a new species name, Homo soloensis, to describe these advanced forms of Homo erectus.<br><br>Modern humans (Homo sapiens) eventually entered the region around 50 000 years ago, replacing earlier species. Fossil evidence from sites such as Lake Mungo and the Willandra Lakes shows both gracile and robust forms, likely reflecting climate adaptation and cultural practices like cranial shaping rather than hybrid ancestry.<br><br>Genetic studies indicate that Australia’s first inhabitants descended from a single early migration from Africa through Asia. Ancient DNA analyses have revealed traces of interbreeding between early modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans, but not with Homo erectus.<br><br>Groves’ lasting impact lies in his insistence on careful taxonomic classification and the use of evolutionary biology to clarify human ancestry in Australasia. His work established a foundation for ongoing research that combines fossil evidence, DNA studies, and improved dating techniques to trace the complex story of human evolution in this region.<ref>Michael C. Westaway, Arthur Durband, and David Lambert, “Human evolution in Sunda and Sahul and the continuing contributions of Professor Colin Groves,” in Taxonomic Tapestries: The threads of evolutionary, behavioural and conservation research, ANU Press, 2015, pp. 249–276.</ref> | |||
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == See Also == * Sunda Shelf * Wallacea * Pleistocene human migrations | |||
| 15:58, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==References== {{Reflist}} | |||
| 15:53, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==Sahul Shelf== {{Infobox landform | name = Sahul Landbridge | image = ../Images/sahul.png | width = 200 | caption = Sahul Continent | type = Land bridge (historical) | location = Between Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania | formed_by = Glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations | age = Pleistocene epoch | free_label = Period of exposure | free_data = During low sea levels, e.g., Last Glacial Maximum }}<br><br>The Sahul Landbridge, also known as the Sahul Shelf, refers to the exposed continental shelf that connected the modern-day landmasses of Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania during periods of lower sea levels in the Pleistocene epoch. This land connection formed a single continuous landmass known as Sahul, allowing for the migration of flora, fauna, and early human populations across what are now separated by water. | |||
| 15:53, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Geographic Setting == Sahul is centered on the combined landmass of Australia and its continental islands, extending northward to include New Guinea and southward to Tasmania. Over the last several million years, glacio-eustatic fluctuations in sea level have repeatedly exposed large areas of the surrounding continental shelf. At times of maximum low sea levels, such as during the Last Glacial Maximum around 20,000 years ago, sea levels dropped by approximately 120 meters relative to modern levels, creating a continuous landmass from New Guinea in the north through Australia to Tasmania in the south.<br><br>To the west of Sahul lies the Sunda Shelf, comprising the Malay Peninsula and the islands of western Indonesia, which similarly formed a large sub-continental peninsula during low sea levels. Between Sunda and Sahul is the Wallacean Archipelago, a 1,500 km-wide chain of islands that has never been fully bridged by dry land, even at the lowest sea levels. This archipelago required multiple sea crossings for any migration between Sunda and Sahul, with distances including one leg over 70 km and at least three over 30 km.<br><br>Northeast of Sahul are the islands of Near Oceania, including the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. Water gaps here are generally shorter, but some, like those to Manus and Bougainville, exceed 140-300 km depending on sea levels.<br><br>The Sahul Landbridge acted as a biogeographic connector within Sahul but maintained separation from Asia due to the persistent water barriers in Wallacea. Prior to human arrival, no large-bodied terrestrial mammals crossed Wallacea in either direction successfully. | |||
| 15:53, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Human Colonization == Archaeological evidence indicates that Sahul was first colonized by modern humans (Homo sapiens) around 45,000 to 46,000 years before present (BP). This colonization involved crossing the Wallacean Archipelago, implying deliberate seafaring capabilities, as accidental drift is deemed unlikely given the rapid and successful establishment of populations.<br><br>Genetic data from Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA haplogroups (types C, K, M, N, R) support origins in East Africa or South Asia, with rapid migration to Sahul around 45,000 years BP. The colonization process likely involved purposeful voyages using wind- or paddle-powered boats, facilitated by inter-visible islands and seasonal wind reversals in the region.<br><br>Evidence of early seafaring includes occupation sites in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands shortly after Sahul, such as Buka by 34,000 years BP and Manus by over 25,000 years BP, requiring open-ocean voyages of 140-300 km. Deep-sea fishing remains, including tuna and sharks, from sites like Buang Merabak (New Ireland, 35,000-45,000 years BP), Kilu Cave (Buka, over 30,000 years BP), and Jerimalai (Timor, over 42,000 years BP), further indicate advanced marine capabilities. | |||
| 15:53, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Environmental and Ecological Impacts == The exposure of the Sahul Landbridge during low sea levels allowed for the exchange of terrestrial species within Sahul but highlighted biogeographic barriers, with biotic diversity decreasing eastward from Sahul. Human arrival coincided with broad diets and technological innovations, including seafaring, driven by optimal foraging strategies in response to resource availability.<br><br>Sea level fluctuations influenced coastal habitats: stable or rising levels promoted productive reefs, lagoons, and estuaries, while falling levels inhibited them. This variability affected human subsistence patterns, with evidence of marine resource use patchy until the mid-Holocene due to submerged shorelines and processing behaviors. | |||
| 15:53, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==Human evolution in Sunda and Sahul== During the study of human origins in the regions of Sunda and Sahul, researchers have long debated the relationships between fossil human species. Two key viewpoints developed — one favoring the recognition of many distinct species based on physical differences, and another treating these fossils as part of a single evolving population.<br><br>In the twentieth century, Alan Thorne’s “regional continuity” model proposed that modern humans in Australasia descended directly from local Homo erectus populations, suggesting long-term regional development. His “dihybrid” theory proposed two early migrations into Australia — one from ancient Java and another from ancient China.<br><br>Colin Groves, arriving in Australia in the 1970s, provided a contrasting scientific framework. He emphasized evolutionary replacement rather than long continuity, helping to redefine debates on the first Australians and human diversity in Southeast Asia.<br><br>Groves’ research contributed to identifying species such as *Homo ergaster* and evaluating fossils from Java, Flores, and Australia. He questioned whether early fossils from Java represented a pre-erectus species, later termed *Homo modjokertensis*. The discovery of *Homo floresiensis* on Flores suggested that early hominins crossed the Wallace Line far earlier than once thought, revealing unexpected diversity within the human family.<br><br>Later Javan fossils, including those from Ngandong and Sambungmacan, showed gradual anatomical changes over hundreds of thousands of years. Some scholars proposed a new species name, *Homo soloensis*, to describe these advanced forms of *Homo erectus*.<br><br>Modern humans (*Homo sapiens*) eventually entered the region around 50 000 years ago, replacing earlier species. Fossil evidence from sites such as Lake Mungo and the Willandra Lakes shows both gracile and robust forms, likely reflecting climate adaptation and cultural practices like cranial shaping rather than hybrid ancestry.<br><br>Genetic studies indicate that Australia’s first inhabitants descended from a single early migration from Africa through Asia. Ancient DNA analyses have revealed traces of interbreeding between early modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans, but not with *Homo erectus*.<br><br>Groves’ lasting impact lies in his insistence on careful taxonomic classification and the use of evolutionary biology to clarify human ancestry in Australasia. His work established a foundation for ongoing research that combines fossil evidence, DNA studies, and improved dating techniques to trace the complex story of human evolution in this region.<ref>Michael C. Westaway, Arthur Durband, and David Lambert, “Human evolution in Sunda and Sahul and the continuing contributions of Professor Colin Groves,” in *Taxonomic Tapestries: The threads of evolutionary, behavioural and conservation research*, ANU Press, 2015, pp. 249–276.</ref> | |||
| 15:53, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == See Also == * Sunda Shelf * Wallacea * Pleistocene human migrations | |||
| 15:53, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==References== {{Reflist}} | |||
| 15:51, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==Sahul Shelf== {{Infobox landform | name = Sahul Landbridge | image = ../Images/sahul.png | width = 200 | caption = Sahul Continent | type = Land bridge (historical) | location = Between Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania | formed_by = Glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations | age = Pleistocene epoch | free_label = Period of exposure | free_data = During low sea levels, e.g., Last Glacial Maximum }}<br><br>The Sahul Landbridge, also known as the Sahul Shelf, refers to the exposed continental shelf that connected the modern-day landmasses of Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania during periods of lower sea levels in the Pleistocene epoch. This land connection formed a single continuous landmass known as Sahul, allowing for the migration of flora, fauna, and early human populations across what are now separated by water. | |||
| 15:51, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Geographic Setting == Sahul is centered on the combined landmass of Australia and its continental islands, extending northward to include New Guinea and southward to Tasmania. Over the last several million years, glacio-eustatic fluctuations in sea level have repeatedly exposed large areas of the surrounding continental shelf. At times of maximum low sea levels, such as during the Last Glacial Maximum around 20,000 years ago, sea levels dropped by approximately 120 meters relative to modern levels, creating a continuous landmass from New Guinea in the north through Australia to Tasmania in the south.<br><br>To the west of Sahul lies the Sunda Shelf, comprising the Malay Peninsula and the islands of western Indonesia, which similarly formed a large sub-continental peninsula during low sea levels. Between Sunda and Sahul is the Wallacean Archipelago, a 1,500 km-wide chain of islands that has never been fully bridged by dry land, even at the lowest sea levels. This archipelago required multiple sea crossings for any migration between Sunda and Sahul, with distances including one leg over 70 km and at least three over 30 km.<br><br>Northeast of Sahul are the islands of Near Oceania, including the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. Water gaps here are generally shorter, but some, like those to Manus and Bougainville, exceed 140-300 km depending on sea levels.<br><br>The Sahul Landbridge acted as a biogeographic connector within Sahul but maintained separation from Asia due to the persistent water barriers in Wallacea. Prior to human arrival, no large-bodied terrestrial mammals crossed Wallacea in either direction successfully. | |||
| 15:51, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Human Colonization == Archaeological evidence indicates that Sahul was first colonized by modern humans (Homo sapiens) around 45,000 to 46,000 years before present (BP). This colonization involved crossing the Wallacean Archipelago, implying deliberate seafaring capabilities, as accidental drift is deemed unlikely given the rapid and successful establishment of populations.<br><br>Genetic data from Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA haplogroups (types C, K, M, N, R) support origins in East Africa or South Asia, with rapid migration to Sahul around 45,000 years BP. The colonization process likely involved purposeful voyages using wind- or paddle-powered boats, facilitated by inter-visible islands and seasonal wind reversals in the region.<br><br>Evidence of early seafaring includes occupation sites in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands shortly after Sahul, such as Buka by 34,000 years BP and Manus by over 25,000 years BP, requiring open-ocean voyages of 140-300 km. Deep-sea fishing remains, including tuna and sharks, from sites like Buang Merabak (New Ireland, 35,000-45,000 years BP), Kilu Cave (Buka, over 30,000 years BP), and Jerimalai (Timor, over 42,000 years BP), further indicate advanced marine capabilities. | |||
| 15:51, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Environmental and Ecological Impacts == The exposure of the Sahul Landbridge during low sea levels allowed for the exchange of terrestrial species within Sahul but highlighted biogeographic barriers, with biotic diversity decreasing eastward from Sahul. Human arrival coincided with broad diets and technological innovations, including seafaring, driven by optimal foraging strategies in response to resource availability.<br><br>Sea level fluctuations influenced coastal habitats: stable or rising levels promoted productive reefs, lagoons, and estuaries, while falling levels inhibited them. This variability affected human subsistence patterns, with evidence of marine resource use patchy until the mid-Holocene due to submerged shorelines and processing behaviors. | |||
| 15:51, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == Archaeological Significance == The Sahul Landbridge is key to understanding the origins of seafaring and the peopling of Oceania. Models suggest colonization was deliberate, countering ideas of accidental drift, and involved economic strategies focused on high-ranked coastal resources. The simplicity of later Australian watercraft compared to inferred Pleistocene vessels is attributed to varying opportunity costs in resource exploitation.<br><br>Sites providing evidence include Bobongara (New Guinea, over 44,000 years BP), Buang Merabak, and others listed in regional chronologies, with dates calibrated from radiocarbon and luminescence methods.<ref>Pleistocene Sahul and the origins of seafaring.pdf, P.1-24</ref> | |||
| 15:51, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| == See Also == * Sunda Shelf * Wallacea * Pleistocene human migrations | |||
| 15:51, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==References== {{Reflist}} | |||
| 15:32, 03 October 2025 | Armoured Jupiter | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==Sahul Shelf== {{Infobox landform | name = Sahul Landbridge | caption = Sahul Continent | type = Land bridge (historical) | location = Between Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania | formed_by = Glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations | age = Pleistocene epoch | free_label = Period of exposure | free_data = During low sea levels, e.g., Last Glacial Maximum }} The Sahul Landbridge, also known as the Sahul Shelf, refers to the exposed continental shelf that connected the modern-day landmasses of Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania during periods of lower sea levels in the Pleistocene epoch. This land connection formed a single continuous landmass known as Sahul, allowing for the migration of flora, fauna, and early human populations across what are now separated by water. | |||
| 15:25, 03 October 2025 | Armoured Jupiter | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Sahul_Shelf.php | |
| ==Sahul Shelf== {{Infobox landform | name = Sahul Landbridge | caption = Sahul Continent | type = Land bridge (historical) | location = Between Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania | formed_by = Glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations | age = Pleistocene epoch | free_label = Period of exposure | free_data = During low sea levels, e.g., Last Glacial Maximum }} The Sahul Landbridge, also known as the Sahul Shelf, refers to the exposed continental shelf that connected the modern-day landmasses of Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania during periods of lower sea levels in the Pleistocene epoch. This land connection formed a single continuous landmass known as Sahul, allowing for the migration of flora, fauna, and early human populations across what are now separated by water. | |||
