Paper short abstract:

Long term human ecological interaction during the Pleistocene through zooarchaeological analysis of abundant vertebrate and invertebrate remains recovered from Laili Cave, 12000-44500 BP is discussed. Results indicate that both human predation and climate change influenced these interactions.

Paper long abstract:

Recent excavations at Laili Cave in Timor-Leste have revealed a long chronostratigraphic sequence dating to the late Pleistocene between ca 12000-44500 cal BP, making it the earliest modern human site in Wallacea. Laili Cave has an extensive living floor and is in an elevated location overlooking the rich riverine basin of the Laili River. Abundant small mammal, reptile, fish, bird, crustacean, urchin and shellfish remains were recovered in association with sparse human bone, and concentrated high quality lithic debitage. The site is interpreted as a permanent to semi-permanent campsite where subsistence behaviour was adapted to broad spectrum foraging within a wide range of palaeohabitats (caves, dry monsoon forest, open grassland, river estuarine and inshore reef). Laili Cave provides a rare chance to investigate in great detail long-term human palaeoecological interaction within these palaeohabitats during a period of significant climatic and environmental change associated with the onset of the Last Glacial Maximum (ca. 27-18 ka. BP). This paper focuses on the zooarchaeological analysis of vertebrate and invertebrate remains through taxonomic relative abundance, diversity indexes, skeletal element representation, demographic reconstructions and bone modification. Results indicate that both human predation and climate change influenced these interactions. During the early period of settlement, human impacts shaped interaction with murids, but the onset of the LGM resulted in a decline in forest habitat species relative to grassland birds. Fishing also declined during this period. Forest taxa exploitation broadened and fishing recovered after the height of the LGM, when lithic procurement and shellfish harvesting intensified.

Paper short abstract:

Human subsistence strategies in Timor Leste have been shown to be heavily dependent on marine resources. Here we discuss the zooarchaeological assemblages from a new site in Alor Island, to the north of Timor Leste, which shows a similar reliance on marine foods during the late Pleistocene-early Holocene.

Paper long abstract:

Modern human colonizing the Wallacean Islands had to deal with an impoverished terrestrial fauna and thus appear to have adapted their subsistence strategies to the exploitation of a broad range of marine resources. Sites excavated in Timor Leste, such as Jerimalai or Lene Hara, have produced evidences of pelagic fishing from 42,000 BP and through the Holocene. Here we present the faunal assemblages documented in Alor, a neighboring island in Nusa Tenggara Timor. This site has yielded an archaeological sequence dating from the late Pleistocene through the LGM and the early-mid Holocene. Fish dominate the faunal composition in the whole sequence, but there are differences among layers and occupational phases, which could be related to changes in fishing technology, maritime skills or ecological changes in the offshore environment. Results from the analysis of Alor fauna will complement the data obtained from Timor Leste and allow us to produce a framework of human adaptations and changing fishing practices in the Wallacean Islands during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene periods.

Paper short abstract:

Here we report on worked Nassarius spp. and Oliva spp. shells recovered from Jerimalai, Lene Hara, and Matju Kuru 1 & 2 (Timor-Leste), and which date back to the Terminal Pleistocene. Analysis of technological and residue traces reveals insights into changing ornament traditions.

Paper long abstract:

With recognition of the early Holocene antiquity of marine shell beads in Island Southeast Asia only recently occurring, we become aware of how little is really known regarding this enigmatic class of material culture. Here we report on worked Nassarius spp. and Oliva spp. shells recovered from the Timorese sites of Jerimalai, Lene Hara, and Matju Kuru 1 & 2, and which date back to the Terminal Pleistocene. Analysis of manufacturing traces, use wear and residues apparent on these shell artefacts reveals significant insights into changing ornament traditions in this region. In the case of the Nassarius shell beads, they were most likely used as appliqués attached to a textile or other woven items (such as baskets), and are the first mid-Holocene shell appliqués to be identified in this region. In fact, they are only the second example of this technology at this antiquity identified in the world. For the Oliva spp. shell beads, a longer and possibly more complex tradition of ornament use is identified.

Paper short abstract:

Timor-Leste has been identified as having the world’s earliest pelagic fisheries and fishhooks. Here we present new evidence for similar Pleistocene maritime technology in a neighbouring island in Nusa Tenggara Timor, Alor.

Paper long abstract:

Timor-Leste has been identified as having the world's earliest pelagic fisheries and sophisticated maritime technology, such as fishhooks, appears in the sequence by at least 17,000 calBP. It has been proposed that the reliance on maritime resources seen in the Timor-Leste archaeological record is largely due to the depauperate terrestrial faunal base which focused subsistence on the resources of sea. Here we present new evidence for similar Pleistocene maritime technology in a neighbouring island in Nusa Tenggara Timor, Alor. As well as finished hooks, the Alor assemblages have evidence for hook production allowing us to discuss the process of manufacture. Terrestrial faunal resources in Alor are even more restricted than in Timor-Leste and here again we see subsistence focused on a broad range of marine resources.

Paper short abstract:

The last decade has seen a reassessment of the Neolithic in ISEA, with many authors proposing alternatives to the conventional model of a Neolithic transition driven by movement of Austronesian-speaking farmers out of Taiwan into ISEA. Here evaluate these models in the light new data from Timor-Leste.

Paper long abstract:

The last few years have seen what can only be described as a radical overhaul of the 'Neolithic' in Island Southeast Asia. This has come about as researchers have critiqued the orthodox model of Neolithisation against new data and found it wanting. The orthodox model is primarily derived from Peter Bellwood's vision of an expansion of Austronesian-speaking farming communities out of Taiwan about 4500 years ago. These early farmers supposedly transported pottery, rice and millet, the domestic pig, dog and chicken, stone adzes, bark cloth beaters and net sinkers and a suite of shell artefacts such as fish hooks, arm rings and beads into ISEA, and ultimately out into the Pacific. While recent evaluations of the archaeological, linguistic and biological evidence accommodate aspects of the orthodox model, such as an Austronesian linguistic homeland in Taiwan and subsequent expansion of Malayo-Polynesian into ISEA, they are united in questioning the agricultural impetus for expansion and the movement of a suite of Neolithic material culture. The researchers questioning an agriculturally-driven expansion and package of traits have also proposed a number of alternate visions of 'a Neolithic' or 'Neolithics' for the island archipelago. These have included an emphasis on advanced maritime capacity as the facilitator, if not the driver, of the migration from Taiwan, and a charismatic ideology for accomplishing the rapidity and reach of Austronesian colonisation. Here I evaluate some of these ideas through the lens of the archaeological evidence from Timor-Leste.

Paper short abstract:

This paper addresses the developpment of neolithic practices in Timor Leste. It presents the results of recent research in Atauro island and in Balibo and discusses economic strategies and cultural practices in a wider perspective.

Paper long abstract:

Recent research in Atauro island and in Balibo (Timor-Leste) attest between 4000 and 3000 BP of different economic strategies and cultural influences. The dating of a rich neolithic assemblage in Atauro is further presented and discussed in its regional perspective.

These preliminary archaeological results of a two years research involvement in this island are further discussed in relation to the contemporary natural ressource exploitation and land use in contrasting environments, which might somewhat reflect ancient activities and choices related to the possibilities of specific environments.

Paper short abstract:

New pottery unearthed from the open air site of Dair, 50km west of the capital, Dili, accounts for pre-European exchange networks extending to the Majapahit period and possible older.

Paper long abstract:

Dair is today a small fishermen village located on the northwest coast of Timor-Leste. Archaeological excavations in Dair begun in 2009 and since then, a significant amount of decorated and undecorated earthenware, together with Chinese and Dutch ware, glass and metal, was found. Despite the fact that no radiometric dates are yet available, much of the pottery found seems to pre-date the arrival of the first Europeans, with some clearly relating to the Majapahit kingdom. Here we report new findings from Dair, suggesting that pre-European exchange networks extending to the Majapahit period and possible older existed in Timor long before the first Europeans set foot on the island.

Paper short abstract:

This paper details the finding of three bronze drums in Timor-Leste, two of which were never reported before.

Paper long abstract:

Found across Island Southeast Asia all the way to the Maluku archipelago of Eastern Indonesia, bronze drums were unknown to Timor-Leste until very recently. After the report of a first drum found in 2014, two more were found within a distance of ca. 40 km. Despite the fact that Dong Son-related motifs are found on rock art located not too far from where the drums were found, the sudden amount of drums found at one particular region suggests that exchange networks were in place with neighbouring regions long before the first Europeans arrived. As few metal objects have so far been found in the archaeological record of the northern coast, these finds are also a good indicator for the introduction of the knowledge of bronze metalwork in the island.