Hidden City Built 140,000 Years Ago Discovered at Bottom of Ocean  

The fossils were discovered by maritime sand miners in 2011. (Getty) 
The fossils were discovered by maritime sand miners in 2011. (Getty) 
TT
20

Hidden City Built 140,000 Years Ago Discovered at Bottom of Ocean  

The fossils were discovered by maritime sand miners in 2011. (Getty) 
The fossils were discovered by maritime sand miners in 2011. (Getty) 

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Indonesia that could rewrite the story of human origins.

They found the skull of Homo erectus, an ancient human ancestor, over 140,000 years after it was first buried, preserved beneath layers of silt and sand in the Madura Strait between the islands of Java and Madura, according to the Daily Mail.

Experts say the site may be the first physical evidence of the lost world, a prehistoric landmass known as Sundaland that once connected Southeast Asia in a vast tropical plain.

Alongside the skull bones, researchers recovered 6,000 of animal fossils of 36 species including those of Komodo dragons, buffalos, deer, and elephant.

Some of these had deliberate cut marks which is proof that early humans were practicing advanced hunting strategies.

These findings provide rare insight into ancient human life and the now-lost lands of Sundaland, offering a glimpse into the behaviors and adaptations of early human populations in response to environmental changes.

The fossils were discovered by maritime sand miners in 2011, but experts just recently established their age and species, marking an important milestone in paleoanthropology.

“This period is characterized by great morphological diversity and mobility of hominin populations in the region," said Harold Berghuis, an archaeologist at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands who led the investigation.

Between 14,000 and 7,000 years ago, melting glaciers caused sea levels to rise more than 120 meters, submerging the low-lying plains of Sundaland.

The discovery began during marine sand mining in the Madura Strait, where dredging brought up fossilized remains.



Kingdom’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Draws Over One Million Visitors

The Kingdom’s involvement in Expo 2025 also serves as a prelude to Expo 2030 Riyadh, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become a global destination. - SPA
The Kingdom’s involvement in Expo 2025 also serves as a prelude to Expo 2030 Riyadh, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become a global destination. - SPA
TT
20

Kingdom’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Draws Over One Million Visitors

The Kingdom’s involvement in Expo 2025 also serves as a prelude to Expo 2030 Riyadh, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become a global destination. - SPA
The Kingdom’s involvement in Expo 2025 also serves as a prelude to Expo 2030 Riyadh, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become a global destination. - SPA

Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has attracted more than one million visitors, reaching this milestone just over two months after its official opening on April 13. Since then, the pavilion has hosted more than 1,137 events across the Expo site, according to SPA.

Saudi Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Kingdom’s Pavilion Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr described the achievement as a testament to the Kingdom’s transformative journey under Vision 2030 while also promoting cultural exchange and sharing its rich heritage with the world.

Dr. Binzagr stated that the Kingdom’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka underscores the strong and enduring ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan, especially as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He noted that the pavilion aims to inspire visitors by illustrating the Kingdom’s advancements and ambitions on the global stage.

The Kingdom’s involvement in Expo 2025 also serves as a prelude to Expo 2030 Riyadh, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become a global destination.

As the second-largest pavilion at the event, after host nation Japan, the Kingdom’s structure is built using lightweight Saudi stone and features a unique design that offers a spatial journey through cities across the Kingdom.