Archaeologists have discovered seven stone tools on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, dating back up to 1.5 million years. These artifacts represent the earliest evidence of ancient humans making sea crossings in the region and suggest the presence of hominids on Sulawesi at least one million years ago. The findings could shed light on the migration and evolution of early human species in Southeast Asia, including possible ancestors of Homo floresiensis, the small-bodied hominins known as 'hobbits' that inhabited nearby Flores island. This discovery challenges previous understandings of human colonization in Wallacea, the group of islands between Asia and Australia, and may provide new insights into the origins and dispersal of early Homo species in the area. No hominid bones have been found alongside the tools, leaving the exact identity of the toolmakers uncertain.