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Humans reached Australia 60,000 years ago, new DNA study reveals

Date:

April 9, 2026

Source:

University of Huddersfield

Summary:

Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence that humans reached New Guinea and Australia around 60,000 years ago—earlier than some recent theories suggested. By tracing maternal DNA lineages, the team discovered that these early travelers likely used at least two different migration routes through Southeast Asia. This points to sophisticated navigation and seafaring skills far earlier than once believed. The research helps clarify a long-standing mystery about how humans spread across the globe.

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FULL STORY

A map showing the migration of the first settlers to Sahul 60,000 years ago. Credit: Helen Farr and Erich Fisher

A large international collaboration between researchers at the University of Huddersfield and the University of Southampton has provided new insight into when and how modern humans, Homo sapiens, first settled New Guinea and Australia.

The project brought together experts in archaeogenetics and maritime archaeology, with funding from the European Research Council awarded to Professor Helen Farr at the University of Southampton. The genetic analysis was led by Professor Martin Richards at the University of Huddersfield.

Ancient Sahul and Early Human Migration

During the last Ice Age, global sea levels were much lower than they are today. At that time, New Guinea and Australia were joined as a single landmass called Sahul. Scientists have long debated when people first arrived on this ancient continent and which routes they used to get there.

To tackle these questions, researchers combined expertise from multiple fields, including genetics, archaeology, earth science, and oceanography. Their goal was to better understand who these early migrants were, where they came from, and when they made the journey.

Long Versus Short Chronology Debate

It is well established that the ancestors of New Guineans and Aboriginal Australians have lived in Sahul for tens of thousands of years. Many Aboriginal Australians maintain a deep cultural connection to the land that reflects this long history.

However, scientists have not always agreed on the exact timing of the first settlement. Two main theories exist. The "long chronology" proposes that humans arrived around 60,000 years ago. The competing "short chronology" suggests a later arrival, roughly 45,000 to 50,000 years ago.

To investigate this debate, the research team analyzed human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is passed down through the maternal line. Because mtDNA accumulates changes over generations, it can be used to reconstruct detailed family lineages stretching far back in time.

DNA Evidence Points to Earlier Arrival

The team studied nearly 2,500 mtDNA genomes from Aboriginal Australians, New Guineans, and populations across Southeast Asia and the western Pacific. By building a genetic family tree and tracking how lineages spread between regions, they were able to estimate when different groups diverged.

Using the gradual accumulation of genetic changes, known as the "molecular clock," the researchers dated the oldest lineages found only in Aboriginal Australians and New Guineans to about 60,000 years ago. This strongly supports the long chronology model.

Multiple Routes Into Sahul

The genetic evidence also revealed where these early populations came from. The oldest lineages trace back to Southeast Asia, but not from a single location.

Most lineages point to northern areas such as northern Indonesia and the Philippines. At the same time, a notable portion originates from southern regions including southern Indonesia, Malaysia, and Indochina. This pattern suggests that early humans likely entered Sahul along at least two separate migration routes, both occurring around the same time.

Why the Findings Matter

These results are important because they align well with archaeological and environmental evidence. In recent years, some genetic studies had begun to favor a more recent arrival, but this new analysis provides strong support for an earlier timeline.

Professor Richards said: "We feel that this is strong support for the long chronology. Still, estimates based on the molecular clock can always be challenged, and the mitochondrial DNA is only one line of descent. We are currently analysing hundreds of whole human genome sequences -- 3 billion bases each, compared to 16,000 -- to test our results against the many thousands of other lines of descent throughout the human genome. In the future, there will be further archaeological discoveries, and we can also hope that ancient DNA might be recovered from key remains, so we can more directly test these models and distinguish between them."

Professor Farr added: "This is a great story that helps refine our understanding of human origins, maritime mobilit