Modern Humans Reached Sahul ~60,000 Years Ago via Two Routes, Mitochondrial Genomes Suggest

An international team, including researchers from the University of Southampton, has used large-scale mitochondrial genomes to support a “long chronology” for the peopling of Sahul—the ancient Australia–New Guinea landmass. The study appears in Science Advances, vol. 11, issue 48 (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady9493).

The team analyzed 1,364 B4a1a1 mitochondrial genomes, including 234 newly sequenced samples. Calibrating the molecular clock against known archaeological settlement dates from Pacific islands, the results support human entry into Sahul around 60,000 years ago via at least two routes.

The deepest lineages trace back to Southeast Asia: most samples derive from today’s northern Indonesia and the Philippines, defining a northern route, while a smaller number trace to mainland Southeast Asia, defining a southern route. This two-entry model speaks to long-standing debates about how modern humans spread through the region.

The authors note that the timescale provides a deeper chronological backdrop against which later events, such as the Austronesian expansion, can be set.

Source: International team (incl. University of Southampton). Science Advances, Vol.11, Issue 48, 2025-11-28.