A Sunken Land of Life and Intelligence: The Lost World of Homo Erectus Resurfaces After 140,000 Years

Arkeonews
25 May 2025


An ancient world long swallowed by the sea has come back to light—along with clues about one of humanity’s earliest ancestors. Researchers have uncovered fossilized remains of Homo erectus, along with dozens of extinct animal species, from the bottom of the Madura Strait between Java and Madura islands in Indonesia.

The fossils, dating back approximately 140,000 years, were discovered during dredging operations and include two Homo erectus skull fragments, bones with cut marks from butchering tools, and evidence of deliberate hunting behavior. The find sheds new light on early human life in Sundaland, a now-submerged landmass that once connected much of Southeast Asia.

“This discovery paints a vivid picture of a thriving ecosystem and an intelligent, adaptive Homo erectus population,” said Dr. Harold Berghuis, lead archaeologist from Leiden University.

A Sunken Land of Life and Intelligence

During the last Ice Age, global sea levels dropped by over 100 meters, exposing vast lowlands. What is now ocean between Indonesia’s islands was once a savannah-like region filled with elephants, rhinos, crocodiles, river sharks, Komodo dragons, and early humans.



Map of the Madura Strait north of Surabaya showing the locations of the sub-bottom profiling sections (red lines labeled A–C) and deep drilling sites (red circles) used in this study. The dotted area indicates the estimated position of the sand-filled ancient river valley (paleovalley). Credit: Berghuis et al. (2024), Quaternary Environments and Humans.
Map of the Madura Strait north of Surabaya showing the locations of the sub-bottom profiling sections (red lines labeled A–C) and deep drilling sites (red circles) used in this study. The dotted area indicates the estimated position of the sand-filled ancient river valley (paleovalley). Credit: Berghuis et al. (2024), Quaternary Environments and Humans.

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