The Goa Topogaro complex: Human migration and mortuary practice in Sulawesi during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene

The Pleistocene Maritime Migration of Modern Humans in Northern Wallacea: The Cases of Topogaro in Sulawesi and Bubog in Mindoro

“…The Pusat Arkeologi Nasional Indonesia (National The excavation in Topogaro 1 (10 m 2 in total) confirmed three cultural layers down to about 1 m depth; the acquired C14 dates indicate they belong to the Holocene: Layer 3-2 as early Holocene during 10 to 8 ka (Table 1), Layer 1 as late Holocene with burial human remains, pottery, glass beads, and metal materials after 600 BP. On the other hand, the excavations along the east wall (Sector A) and west wall (Sector B) of Topogaro 2 (10 m 2 in total) confirmed eleven cultural layers down to about 300 cm depth in Sector A by 2018 (Figure 3 [54,55]. Two charcoal samples retrieved from Layer 15 and 16 (Spit 82 and 85) were C14-dated to around 42 ka, while charcoal samples from Layer 11 to 14 are mainly around 30 ka (Table 1).…”

“…As examples of early settlement along the northern migration routes, we present the cases of Goa Topogaro in Central Sulawesi dated to between 42 and 12 ka based on the results of our recent study [54,55] as well as several rock-shelters on Ilin Island and St. Teresa in Mindoro. Both locations have provided significant timelines for the arrival of modern humans in the northern part of Wallacea and showcase successful human adaptation to maritime environments and their capacity long-distance open seafaring as well as strategies for efficient exploitation of various marine and terrestrial resources.…”

“…bones, which can be associated with human activities (Figures 3 and 4). It is yet to be determined whether there are The Pleistocene Maritime Migration of Modern Humans in Northern Wallacea: The Cases… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.114909 more traces of human occupation below Layer 19 [54,55]. Detailed analysis of excavated artifacts and further excavations will be conducted in 2024.…”

“…On the other hand, the late Pleistocene layers in Topogaro 2 contained lithics and terrestrial animal remains. Regarding the animal remains from the Pleistocene layers in Topogaro 2, the majority belong to murids (some unidentified rat species) and chiropteran (some unidentified bat species) with few remains of two possible species of wild pig including Celebes warty pig (Sus celebensis) and Babirousa (Babyrousa babyrussa), Anoa or dwarf buffalo (Bubalus sp), The Prehistory of Human Migration -Human Expansion, Resource Use, and Mortuary Practice... marsupials (mainly Phalangeridae), and reptiles like snakes (Serpentes) and lizards (Lacertila) [54,55]. Among them, wild pigs are common in both the Holocene and Pleistocene layers in Topogaro caves, while Anoa remains were mainly excavated from the Pleistocene layers.…”

“…Among them, wild pigs are common in both the Holocene and Pleistocene layers in Topogaro caves, while Anoa remains were mainly excavated from the Pleistocene layers. A phalanx of Anoa is associated with several chert flake tools and charcoals dated to 29 ka, while its number increased in the lower deposits dated to between 30 and 42 ka in Topogaro 2 [37,54,55]. For shellfish remains, both bivalvia and gastropod species were excavated mainly from the Holocene layers in Topogaro 2.…”