At Leang Bulu Bettue, Griffith University Ph.D. prospect Basran Burhan and associates uncovered an abundant series of artifacts, stone tools and animal bones covering much of the Pleistocene date.

“The depth and connection of the cultural series at Leang Bulu Bettue now places this cavern as a flagship website for examining whether these 2 human family trees overlapped in time,” Burhan described.

According to the research study, the earliest stage of profession– dated as far back as about 208,000 years earlier– is specified by fairly easy stone tools and traces of animal butchery.

Amongst the most striking early proof were sturdy stone tools called choices, recommending a recognized cultural custom of antiquated hominins long before contemporary human beings got here.

“These activities appear to represent an antiquated hominin cultural custom that continued on Sulawesi well into the Late Pleistocene,” stated Griffith University’s Professor Adam Brumm.

The archaeologists discovered proof for a striking shift around 40,000 years ago: a brand-new suite of stone innovations and proof of symbolic habits– trademarks related to Humankind

“This later stage included an unique technological toolkit, and the earliest recognized proof for creative expression and symbolic habits on the island,” Burhan stated.

“The significant break might show a significant group and cultural shift on Sulawesi, particularly the arrival of our types in the regional environment and the replacement of the earlier hominin population.”

The island of Sulawesi has actually long been acknowledged as a critical area in the story of human development.

Its position in between continental Asia and the Sahul landmass that as soon as connected Australia and New Guinea made it an important waypoint for early human dispersals.

The area’s thick forests, rugged surface and deep seas have actually left remarkably sporadic historical information– up until now.

Among the most alluring ramifications of this brand-new research study is the possibility that Humankind and previously, now-extinct human family members might have resided on Sulawesi at the very same time.

The scientists recommended that Leang Bulu Bettue might supply the very first direct historical proof for this sequential overlap and possible interaction.

Amongst the most interesting elements of the later layers are indications of symbolic and cultural habits, echoing discoveries at other Sulawesi websites that have actually likewise yielded ancient rock art and advanced tools.

These advancements– when thought about distinct to Humankind — tip that contemporary human beings brought not just brand-new innovations however brand-new cognitive and cultural practices to the island when they showed up.

“That is why doing historical research study in Sulawesi is so amazing,” Professor Brumm stated.

“For example, you might dig as deep as you like at an Australian website and you’ll never ever discover proof for human profession prior to the arrival of our types, since Australia was just ever populated by Humankind“

“But there were hominins in Sulawesi for a million years before we appeared, so if you dig deep enough, you may return in time to the point where 2 human types came in person.”

“There might be a number of more meters of historical layers listed below the inmost level we have actually excavated at Leang Bulu Bettue so far,” Basran stated.

“Further work at this website might for that reason expose brand-new discoveries that will alter our understanding of the early human story on this island, and maybe more commonly.”

The findings were released in December 2025 in the journal PLoS ONE

_____

B. Burhan et al2025. A near-continuous historical record of Pleistocene human profession at Leang Bulu Bettue, Sulawesi, Indonesia. PLoS One 20 (12 ): e0337993; doi: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0337993