Isotopic evidence for initial coastal colonization and subsequent diversification in the human occupation of Wallacea

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15969-4
• Publication Date: 2020-04-29T10:03:17Z
• Authors: Patrick Roberts; Julien Louys; Jana Zech; Ceri Shipton; Shimona Kealy; Sofia Samper Carro; Stuart Hawkins; Clara Boulanger; Sara Marzo; Bianca Fiedler; Nicole Boivin; Mahirta; Ken Aplin; Sue OʼConnor
• Keywords: Homo erectus; Homo sapiens; Human settlement; Hominidae; Out of africa

Abstract The resource-poor, isolated islands of Wallacea have been considered a major adaptive obstacle for hominins expanding into Australasia. Archaeological evidence has hinted that coastal adaptations in Homo sapiens enabled rapid island dispersal and settlement; however, there no means to directly test this proposition. Here, we apply stable carbon oxygen isotope analysis human faunal tooth enamel from six Late Pleistocene Holocene archaeological sites across Wallacea. results demonstrate the earliest forager found region c . 42,000 years ago made significant use resources prior subsequent niche diversification shown later individuals. We argue our data provides clear insights huge flexibility species, including its ability specialize varied environments, particularly comparison other hominin species known Island Southeast Asia.