World’s Oldest Seafaring Boats Built in Southeast Asia 40,000 Years Ago

From Ancient Origins

Exactly how these peoples achieved such daring ocean crossings is an enduring mystery, as organic materials like wood and fiber used for boats rarely survive in the archaeological record. This is especially a problem in tropical climates, where rates of organic decay are elevated beyond what occurs in higher latitudes.

Nevertheless, archaeological sites in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste are now providing strong evidence that ancient seafarers had a technological sophistication comparable to much later civilizations, including those located in other parts of the globe.