Highlights

•Evidence from Tanimbar Islands shows human occupation 42,000 years ago.

•Early Tanimbar colonizers used advanced maritime technology and exploited land and marine resources.

•Macropods recovered in Tanimbar indicate possible back migration from Sahul to Wallacea.

Here, we present the first evidence of Pleistocene human occupation in the Tanimbar Islands, dating back approximately 42,000 years, representing one of the oldest ages for human occupation in Wallacea. This finding aligns with records from islands in the west of Wallacea, suggesting rapid human movement through the region. The successful colonization of Tanimbar, like other islands in southern Wallacea, required advanced maritime technology.