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.