Early modern human migration into Sulawesi and Island adaptation in Wallacea

ABSTRACT

Maritime migration and island adaptation by anatomically modern humans (AMH) are among the most significant current issues in Southeast Asian archaeology and directly related to their behavioural and technological advancement. In the center of this research hotspot are the Wallacean islands, situated between the Pleistocene landmasses of Sunda and Sahul. Two major migration routes have been suggested for the initial maritime migration from Sunda via Wallacea into Sahul, a northern route into the region of New Guinea and a southern route leading into northern Australia. Here, we report the outcomes of new archaeological research in Central Sulawesi, the most likely entry location for the northern route. Based on our latest findings and new C14 dates from Goa Topogaro 2, we discuss the evidence and timeline for the migration of early modern humans into the Wallacean islands and their adaptation to insular environments during the Late Pleistocene.

KEYWORDS:

• Human migration
• Wallacea
• Sulawesi
• Pleistocene
• adaptation

Author contributions

Investigations: RO, HOS, NA, RF, MR, MG. Formal Analysis: RO, HOS, RF, NA, CK, AP. Figures: RO, HOS, RF, AP. Writing (original draft): RO, HOS, RF, AP. Writing (review & editing): RO, HOS, NA, RF, MR, MG, CK, AP.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by Cultural History of PaleoAsia (Grant Number: 16H06409) as well as by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Grants (Grant Number: 21H04368, 20K20504). The research of Riczar Fuentes and Alfred Pawlik were supported by the University Research Council of Ateneo de Manila University and an AdMU Loyola Schools Research and Creative Work (RCW) Faculty Grant. This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Yonas Frans William Negelen who kindly supported us during our analysis in Manado and was always ready to help and assist us. He will be dearly misse.

Notes on contributors

Rintaro Ono

Rintaro Ono, National Museum of Ethnology, Senri Expo Park 10-1, Suita, Osaka, Japan. [email protected].

Harry Octavianus Sofian

Harry Octavianus Sofian, Badan Riset dan Innovasi Nasional (BRIN), Jakarta 12510, Indonesia. [email protected].

Riczar Fuentes

Riczar Fuentes, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University, School of Social Sciences, Ricardo & Dr. Rosita Leong Hall, Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108, Philippines. Traces ASIA, Anthropological and Sociological Initiatives of the Ateneo (ASIA), Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines. Research Centre “The Role of Culture in Early Expansions of Humans” (ROCEEH), Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Hölderlinstrasse 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany. [email protected].

Nasrullah Aziz

Nasrullah Aziz, Badan Riset dan Innovasi Nasional (BRIN), Jakarta 12510, Indonesia. [email protected].

Marlon Ririmasse

Marlon Ririmasse, Badan Riset dan Innovasi Nasional (BRIN), Jakarta 12510, Indonesia. [email protected].

I. Made Geria

I. MadeGeria, Badan Riset dan Innovasi Nasional (BRIN), Jakarta 12510, Indonesia. [email protected].

Chiaki Katagiri

Chiaki Katagiri, Okinawa Prefectural Archaeological Center, Okinawa, Japan. [email protected].

Alfred Pawlik

Alfred Pawlik, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University, School of Social Sciences, Ricardo & Dr. Rosita Leong Hall, Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108, Philippines. Traces ASIA, Anthropological and Sociological Initiatives of the Ateneo (ASIA), Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines. Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Schloss Hohentübingen, 72070 Tübingen, Germany. [email protected].