Part 10/11:

Humans, however, have a different story. In a notable twist, ancient humans, specifically the Denisovans—extinct relatives of modern humans—are believed to have crossed the Wallace Line. Genetic evidence shows a significant portion of Denisovan DNA in the ancestry of modern Papuans and Australians. This migration likely involved navigating challenging sea currents using crafted tools, a feat that represents a remarkable adaptation compared to animal behaviors in crossing the line.

Despite hints of their presence, the fossil record has not yielded definitive evidence of Denisovan life on the eastern side of the Wallace Line. This absence has fueled ongoing debates among researchers about the degree of interaction between Denisovans and later human populations in Australia and nearby islands.