A groundbreaking discovery was made in the Madura Strait between Java and Madura Island in Southeast Asia. Scientists have found a part of a skull of the Homo erectus species, which is about 140,000 years old. This discovery is considered not only the history of ancient mankind, but also direct evidence of the existence of an ancient land called ‘Sundaland’ that was lost underwater.
This information was recently published in the international journal ‘Quaternary Environments and Human’. Although the skull was first found in a layer of sand lifted during a construction project in 2011, its full analysis and formal research results have come this time.
The head of the research team, Harold Berghuis, said that the shape, location of the skull and the fossils of Komodo dragons, elephants, buffaloes and deer found around it have increased its importance many times over. The surprising information is that the bones of some animals also bear marks of knives or weapons made by humans. As a result, it is believed that this ancient human group may have been skilled in hunting and using weapons.
The lost land of ‘Sundaland’
According to scientists, this region was once a vast green land—Sundaland. But when the ice melted and the sea level rose by 120 meters between 14,000 and 7,000 years ago, that land went completely under water. Where today’s sea is, there may once have been human settlements, group cultures, and signs of hunting.
Why is this discovery so important?
Homo erectus was the ancestor of our modern species, Homo sapiens. They were tall, strong, and highly adaptable. This new skull proves that this species not only lived, but they may have also reached the initial stage of cultural communication and technology.
Looking to the future
Researchers believe that this discovery has opened a new chapter in human history. There may be many more unknown facts and artifacts hidden beneath the Madura Strait and Sundaland, which will one day shed more light on the past of mankind.
This recent discovery opens the door to an unimaginable possibility of finding not only past history, but also the roots of modern humanity.