In a remarkable discovery beneath the sea, scientists may have uncovered evidence of an ancient civilisation linked to the submerged landmass known as Sundaland. A 140,000-year-old Homo erectus skull, found buried in the Madura Strait between Java and Madura islands in Indonesia, could be the key to understanding a lost world that once connected much of Southeast Asia.
The fossil was unearthed during sand dredging operations in 2011 as part of a large construction project, but its significance only came to light recently with the publication of findings in the journal Quaternary Environments and Human.
“This period is marked by significant movement and diversity among early hominin groups,” said lead researcher Harold Berghuis. The skull was preserved under layers of silt and sand, indicating it had remained untouched for millennia.
Sundaland, a vast tropical plain that linked several Southeast Asian islands to the mainland, was submerged between 14,000 and 7,000 years ago as rising sea levels from melting glaciers flooded the region. This new evidence suggests that Homo erectus may have inhabited and hunted across these plains long before they disappeared beneath the ocean.
Researchers also uncovered more than 6,000 animal fossils from 36 species, including Komodo dragons, elephants, deer, and buffalo. Notably, some bones bore distinct cut marks a sign of human activity, possibly from hunting or butchering.
“The cut marks suggest that early humans had developed advanced hunting strategies,” Berghuis explained. “It’s possible that these techniques evolved locally, or they may be the result of cultural exchanges with other ancient groups.”
This discovery could reshape our understanding of early human migration and settlement patterns in Asia. Until now, evidence of Homo erectus in these regions had been sparse and limited mostly to land-based sites.
Who were Homo erectus?
Homo erectus is considered a crucial link in the human evolutionary chain. They were the first hominins to show body proportions similar to modern humans taller, with longer legs, shorter arms, and robust physical builds. These adaptations likely supported long-distance walking and hunting.
The newly published findings not only extend the known geographic range of Homo erectus but also open the door to speculation about long-lost human communities that once thrived on land now hidden beneath the sea.
If confirmed through further research, this site in the Madura Strait could become the first physical evidence of human life on ancient Sundaland — a civilisation submerged and largely forgotten until now.