Not a bathtub: A consideration of sea-level physics for archaeological models of human migration

Accurately reconstructing past sea level is key to simulating potential migration pathways of ancient hominins, including early Homo sapiens. Models of ancient human migration events commonly construct estimates of paleoenvironments using the bathtub model, in which sea level is assumed to rise and fall according to a eustatic (global average) value over time. However, large uncertainties exist on past ice sheet sizes and shapes, particularly prior to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), similar to 26,000 years ago. Moreover, regional sea level varies significantly due to the effects of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). That process includes Earth's gravitational, deformational, and rotational response to changing surface (ice plus ocean) loads across the ice age. Here, we offer an updated account of the physics of GIA-induced sea-level change and consider the impacts of these effects, together with a newly published ice sheet history, on sea-level changes across the last glacial cycle. As illustrations, we highlight the significance of these issues for studies of ancient human migration from Sunda to Sahul and for the timing of the final, post-LGM flooding of the Strait of Dover. These examples demonstrate the importance of incorporating updated ice sheet histories and accurate sea-level physics into archaeological research.

Automated summary

Accurate reconstruction of past sea levels is crucial for understanding ancient human migration routes. The bathtub model used in previous studies for estimating ancient environments has uncertainties, especially prior to the last glacial maximum. Regional sea level variations due to glacial isostatic adjustment play a significant role in sea level changes.