During glacial maxima, Australia, new guinea, and Tasmania were a single land mass called Sahul.
The single Pleistocene continent known as Sahul united Australia with New Guinea and Tasmania. Rising sea levels gave rise to the distinct landmasses that we can now recognize, even though the sea level at the time was up to 150 meters (490 feet) lower than it is now.
Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, and Seram were all parts of the ancient continent Sahul.
Since the Last Glacial Maximum, sea levels have risen. Around 18,000 years ago, Sahul began to be partially submerged. Sea levels kept rising until roughly 5000 BCE.
After leaving Africa, early human migrations began in Sahul and Sunda. According to recent study, hundreds of individuals traveled in groups on bamboo rafts and eventually settled on Sahul.
