From Sunda to Sahul: Understanding modern human dispersal, adaptation and behaviour en route to Australia

Australia and the islands to our north are uniquely placed to contribute to our understanding of the global dispersal and behaviour of modern humans. The colonisation of Australia over 50,000 years ago required a series of maritime voyages among the islands of Southeast Asia. It would have required ingenuity, complex planning and high-level maritime skills to make a living on these small islands. This Laureate will use targeted archaeological excavation of key island locations and examination of Museum collections and biotic records, to reveal the nature of modern human dispersal and settlement in our region. The results will strengthen and potentially transform our understanding of modern human behaviour and environmental adaptation.