The mark of Ancient Java is on none of them

Abstract

The mark of Ancient Java refers to the persistence of Homo erectus traits from Javan populations in fossil Homo sapiens Australian crania. This paper argues that hybridization of these two species is unlikely, first because the evidence for chronological overlap is very weak and second because phylogenetic analysis (cladistics and splits network) incorporating the earliest fossils of modern humans from Africa and the Levant indicate no close genetic relationship between a Ngandong-like population from Java and 26 late Pleistocene Australian fossils from the Willandra Lakes.