Serrated stone points have been documented in a variety of archaeological settings worldwide. In Indonesia, serrated points known as Maros point began to appear during the mid-Holocene as part of the Toalean techno-complex in southern South Sulawesi. Researchers have speculated functional and cultural reason behind the emergence of these distinctive artefact as projectile points, an assumption that has yet to be verified by archaeological data. In particular, the edge serration has been suggested to allow for deeper penetration and/or act as barbs to prevent the easy withdrawal of the points from the target. In this study, we experimentally test these functional hypotheses regarding the effect of edge serration on stone arrowheads resembling Maros points when fired using different bow draw weights. We also investigate variation in breakage and impact fracture pattern between serrated and non-serrated points. Our result show that, compared to the non-serrated points, the serrated arrows not only deliver deeper penetrations, but also require less force to withdraw from the ballistic gel target. However, these relationships are complicated by the inclusion of skin and bone in the ballistic target. The findings demonstrate that the effect of serrated stone points on projectile performance depends on factors such as the projectile delivery system and prey type. Moreover, under identical firing settings, the serrated points develop more variable macrofracture patterns than the non-serrated points, likely owing the irregular edge morphologies. Taking these results together, we discuss the implications of our experimental study on the appearance of Maros points and the Toalean techno-complex in South Sulawesi during the mid-Holocene.

AbstrakFosil tulang dan gigi merupakan temuan yang biasanya ditemukan dalam penelitian arkeologi. Di beberapa tempat temuan tulang yang memiliki jejak potong oleh aktifitas manusia memberikan informasi yang sahih akan keberadaan manusia, oleh karena itu tulang dan gigi merupakan objek yang sangat tepat untuk dilakukan pengujian umur pada lapisan arkeologi. Pada penanggalan geokronologi, penggabungan dua metode seperti ESR/U-series semakin sering digunakan tiga dekade belakangan ini. Metode ini dapat digunakan di situs yang memiliki konteks geologi berbeda -beda (fluvial, lacustrine atau karstic) dalam rentang waktu 300.000 -20.000.000 tahun yang lalu. Selain itu metode ini dapat diaplikasikan tidak hanya untuk gigi fauna namun dapat diaplikasikan juga untuk gigi hominid. Akan tetapi untuk menggunakan metode ini diperlukan beberapa tahapan yang harus dilakukan. Dalam artikel ini akan dijelaskan mengenai tahapan yang harus dilakukan sebelum sampel tersebut siap untuk dihitung umurnya, mengingat masih sedikit tulisan yang menyinggung mengenai proses persiapan tersebut secara terperinci. AbstractFossil bones and teeth are findings that are usually found in archeological research. In some places where bone findings have traces of human activities, provide valid information about human existence, therefore bones and teeth are very appropriate objects for age testing at the archeological layer. In geochronological dating, the merger of two methods such as the ESR and U-series is increasingly being used in the past three decades for dating. This method can be used on sites that have different geological contexts (fluvial, lacustrine or karstic) in the span of 300.000 -20.000.000 years ago. Besides, this method can be applied not only for fauna teeth but can also be applied to hominid teeth. However, to use this method several steps must be taken. In this article we will explain the steps that must be taken before the sample is ready to be calculated for its age, considering that there are still a few writings that pertain to the preparation process in detail.

Cisaar Valley is located on the east part of Sumedang Regency, West Jawa Province. It’s close to the boundary of Sumedang-Majalengka Regency. In this location the sandy and clay dominated sedimentary rocks are well exposed along the outcrops in the Cisaar Valley. These sedimentary rocks is inferred from Pliocene-Pleistocene deposits from Kaliwangu and Citalang Formation. Foraminifera microfossil that commonly used for interpretation of depositional environment is rarely found, whereas freshwater mollusk and vertebrate fossils often found in the sediment rocks of this area.  This condition raises a question, what is the environment of this valley in the past? Data obtained from measured stratigraphic sections along Cisaar river and its tributary rivers in Cibengkung and Cirendang hamlets, Jembarwangi village. There are at least three depositional paleoenvironments which from old to young are: shallow marine, estuarine and fluviatil braided channel depositional paleoenvironment.  Characteristics of the lower, middle and upper of the estuarine environment were found in this Cisaar Valley as the evidences of the oceanic regression processes was happened in the past in this area.

Abstract. Gua Mabitce: New Evidence of Hoabinh Site in Northern Sumatra. Gua Mabitce Cave is one of the caves that have the potential for archaeological research on the western coast of Aceh. The surface archaeological data of Sumatralith and the shell layers indicated this location possibly occupied in the past. How occupation and cultural characteristics are found at this site? What questions can be answered by conducting excavations to collect the underground archaeological data? The excavation data are analyzed and interpreted to describe the occupation in Gua Mabitce Cave. Although the dating of this site chronology cannot be obtained because the samples have not been analyzed, the results of the analysis of stone artifacts showed the cultural character of Hoabinh with stone tools artifacts, Sumatralith and flakes as its main equipment. The use of direct percussion is a very dominant technique for making stone tools. The cultural and residential characteristics of the Mabitce Cave are similar to other pre-neolithic sites in northern Sumatra, such as open sites on the east coast of northern Sumatra and cave/rock-shelter sites in the Bukit Barisan Mountains in the Aceh and North Sumatra regions.   Abstrak. Gua Mabitce merupakan salah satu gua di Pesisir Barat Aceh yang memiliki potensi untuk diteliti secara arkeologis. Temuan kapak batu sumatralit dan fitur lapisan cangkang kerang di permukaan lantainya memberikan gambaran awal kemungkinan adanya hunian pada masa lalu. Bagaimana hunian dan karakter budaya yang ditemukan di lokasi ini? Jawaban pertanyaan itu perlu dilakukan ekskavasi di Gua Mabitce untuk memperoleh data arkeologi di bawah permukaan. Data artefak, ekofak, fitur, dan sebarannya dianalisis dan diinterpretasikan untuk menemukan gambaran kronologi dan penghunian di Gua Mabitce. Walaupun kronologi waktu situs belum dapat diperoleh karena sampel pertanggalan belum  dapat dianalisis, hasil analisis artefak batu menunjukkan karakter budaya Hoabinh dengan artefak batu,  sumatralith, dan serpih batu sebagai peralatan utamanya. Penggunaan kerakal yang dipangkas pada satu  sisi sangat dominan ditemukan. Karakter budaya dan hunian di Gua Mabitce memiliki kesamaan dengan situs-situs pre-Neolitik lainnya di Sumatra bagian utara, seperti situs terbuka di pesisir timur Sumatra  bagian utara dan situs gua/ceruk di Pegunungan Bukit Barisan di wilayah Aceh dan Sumatra Utara.