How Early Humans reached Australia?

Early modern humans departing Africa likely stopped in India, where the first diversifications of mitochondrial and Y chromosome lineages outside Africa occurred. From India, one group moved eastward to South East Asia. This coastal migration facilitated the exploration of the lost continents of Sunda and Sahul. Welcome to Anthromedia. In this video, we will discuss one of the greatest achievements of early humans, the colonization of Australia and New Guinea called Sahul.
During periods of low sea levels in the past, Southeast Asian regions, including islands like Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Borneo, formed an extended landmass known as Sundaland or Sunda. This landmass was linked by substantial land bridges during the last glacial maximum, around 20,000 years ago. Over time, Sundaland experienced three major sea-level rises, approximately 14,000, 11,000, and 8,000 years ago, resulting in a sea-level increase of 120 meters that shaped the present-day geographical layout of Southeast Asia.
Sahul comprised regions like Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania, connected during the last glacial maximum due to lower sea levels. Situated between Sunda and Sahul are the 17,000 islands of the Wallacean Archipelago. Wallacea, as a transitional zone between Asian and Australian ecosystems, is known for its unique flora and fauna. Land bridges did not connect these islands over time, and deep ocean trenches separated them from nearby Oceania.
Wallacea, located in the central Malay Archipelago, includes islands like Sulawesi, the Moluccas, and the Lesser Sunda Islands. This region was named after British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.
The separation of the Sunda and Sahul landmass by 60 miles of Wallace's Line led to the independent evolution of Asian and Australian fauna. Asia developed placental mammals, while Sahul hosted marsupials. The island of Flores revealed evidence of Stegodon elephants and Homo floresiensis. Besides Homo floresiensis, Southeast Asia's human habitation history of nearly 2 million years includes Homo erectus and potentially Denisovans.
Anatomically modern humans reached Australia through ancient seafaring, supported by archaeological finds. The earliest human occupation on Sahul offers indirect evidence of advanced seafaring skills. Crossing the 60-mile-wide channel between Sunda and Sahul required intentional voyaging and likely guidance from indicators like forest fires or bird migrations.