A hidden city beneath the sea has just been uncovered by scientists in Indonesia, and it may give us the first strong evidence of a mythical lost world. This exciting discovery includes an ancient human skull believed to be 140,000 years old, along with thousands of animal fossils. The site was found in the Madura Strait, near Surabaya, in an area once known as Sundaland.
This underwater treasure not only tells us more about early humans but also gives a deeper look into the land that existed before rising seas covered it long ago.
What Did Scientists Discover?
A team of archaeologists recently studied fossils that were originally found by sand miners in 2011. The miners had no idea what they had unearthed at the time. Years later, scientists began examining the fossils properly and found over 6,000 bones from 36 different species, including Komodo dragons, deer, and even an ancient elephant-like animal called a Stegodon.
But the most important find was a Homo erectus skull, belonging to a human ancestor who lived between 119,000 and 162,000 years ago.
A Lost World Under the Sea
This site was once part of a vast landmass known as Sundaland, which connected parts of Southeast Asia thousands of years ago. The land disappeared beneath the sea after glaciers melted and sea levels rose between 14,000 and 7,000 years ago.
What remains today is an underwater valley, which used to be part of the ancient Solo River system. Scientists found clear signs that this valley supported rich wildlife and was home to early humans who hunted animals and lived off the land.
Clues to Early Human Life
Some of the animal bones showed cut marks, proving that early humans used tools for hunting. The presence of both forest and grassland animals tells scientists that this area was once full of water, trees, and vegetation—perfect for early life to thrive.
According to Dr. Harold Berghuis from the University of Leiden, this discovery shows how ancient human species like Homo erectus moved across regions and adapted to different environments.
Why This Discovery Matters
This is the first time human fossils have been found underwater in Sundaland. It opens a new chapter in the search for how humans evolved and how their environment shaped their survival.
The Stegodon, for example, was a giant, plant-eating animal that weighed more than 10 tons and stood over 13 feet tall. These creatures lived alongside humans, giving us a picture of life from over a hundred thousand years ago.