Oldest human occupation of Wallacea at Laili Cave, Timor-Leste, shows broad-spectrum foraging responses to late Pleistocene environments

Hawkins, Stuart; O’Connor, Sue; Maloney, Tim; Litster, Mirani; Kealy, Shimona; Fenner, Jack N.; Aplin, Ken; Boulanger, C.; Brockwell, Sally; Willan, Richard C.; Piotto, Elena; Louys, Julien

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.07.008

Cited by 90 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…At Laili in northern Timor-Leste, where the deposits date between approx. 44,000 and 11,000 cal BP (Hawkins et al 2017a), the only two obsidian artifacts were found in a unit dated between 15,000 and 11,000 cal BP (Hawkens et al 2017). In Tron Bon Lei in Alor obsidian with the same geochemical signature as the Timor-Leste artifacts occurs in layers post-dating 12,000 cal BP (Reepmeyer et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dominant raw material is a siliceous chert ( Figure 6) ranging in color from blue to red, and often containing flaws from chemical and physical weathering. Chert occurs in Timor-Leste as cobbles in creeks and rivers along the north coast (Hawkins et al 2017a;Marwick et al 2016); however, the HSE chert is less homogenous than chert in the Timor-Leste sites so is unlikely to have had the same origin. Chert seams may occur on Kisar but none have yet been identified.…”

Section: Hse Artifacts Stone Artifactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kisar and the Archaeology of Small Islands in the Wallacean Archipelago

O’Connor

Mahirta

Kealy

et al. 2018

The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology

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The occupation of small islands presents particular challenges for people largely related to limited terrestrial resources and susceptibility to natural disasters. Nevertheless, the challenges and risks inherent in maintaining stable populations on small islands can be offset or overcome through the use of maritime technologies and exchange networks. The archaeology of Here Sorot Entapa rockshelter (HSE) on Kisar Island in the Wallacean Archipelago provides an unparalleled record for examining these issues in Southeast Asia. Kisar is the smallest of the Wallacean islands known to have a Pleistocene occupation record, and one of the smallest permanently inhabited today. Our results indicate that Here Sorot Entapa was first occupied in the terminal Pleistocene by people with advanced maritime technology who made extensive use of local marine resources and engaged in social connections with other islands through an obsidian exchange network. As a result, populations appear to have been maintained on the island for approximately 6,000 years. In the early Holocene occupation at HSE ceased for unknown reasons, and the site was not reoccupied until the mid-Holocene, during which time a major change in the lithic resources can be observed and the exchange network appears to have ceased.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hse Artifacts Stone Artifactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kisar and the Archaeology of Small Islands in the Wallacean Archipelago

O’Connor

Mahirta

Kealy

et al. 2018

The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology

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“…The gap between 50 ka and 41-46 ka coincides with the earliest claimed date for AMH elsewhere in Wallacea, ca. 44 ka at Laili Cave (Timor-Leste) (43).…”

Section: Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

When did Homo sapiens first reach Southeast Asia and Sahul?

O’Connell

Allen

Williams

et al. 2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

207

160

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Anatomically modern humans (, AMH) began spreading across Eurasia from Africa and adjacent Southwest Asia about 50,000-55,000 years ago ( 50-55 ka). Some have argued that human genetic, fossil, and archaeological data indicate one or more prior dispersals, possibly as early as 120 ka. A recently reported age estimate of 65 ka for Madjedbebe, an archaeological site in northern Sahul (Pleistocene Australia-New Guinea), if correct, offers what might be the strongest support yet presented for a pre-55-ka African AMH exodus. We review evidence for AMH arrival on an arc spanning South China through Sahul and then evaluate data from Madjedbebe. We find that an age estimate of >50 ka for this site is unlikely to be valid. While AMH may have moved far beyond Africa well before 50-55 ka, data from the region of interest offered in support of this idea are not compelling.

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“…In 2000, archaeological investigations were resumed in the new nation of Timor-Leste by a joint team from The Australian National University and James Cook University in Australia (O'Connor 2002; O'Connor et al 2002). Since then, several archaeological excavations have been undertaken, at a diverse range of sites, including fortified settlement sites, open shell middens, caves and rockshelters—some of these associated with rock paintings and engravings (O'Connor 2003, 2007; Spriggs et al 2003; Veth et al 2005; O'Connor et al 2010a & b, 2012; Brockwell et al 2016; Hawkins et al 2017). No further metal artefacts, however, have been recovered from stratified contexts.…”

Section: Archaeological Research In Timor-lestementioning

confidence: 99%