Journal article
Early human symbolic behavior in the Late Pleistocene of Wallacea
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.114(16), pp.4105-4110
18/04/2017
PMCID: PMC5402422
PMID: 28373568
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Wallacea, the zone of oceanic islands separating the continental regions of Southeast Asia and Australia, has yielded sparse evidence for the symbolic culture of early modern humans. Here we report evidence for symbolic activity 30,000-22,000 y ago at Leang Bulu Bettue, a cave and rock-shelter site on the Wallacean island of Sulawesi. We describe hitherto undocumented practices of personal ornamentation and portable art, alongside evidence for pigment processing and use in deposits that are the same age as dated rock art in the surrounding karst region. Previously, assemblages of multiple and diverse types of Pleistocene "symbolic" artifacts were entirely unknown from this region. The Leang Bulu Bettue assemblage provides insight into the complexity and diversification of modern human culture during a key period in the global dispersal of our species. It also shows that early inhabitants of Sulawesi fashioned ornaments from body parts of endemic animals, suggesting modern humans integrated exotic faunas and other novel resources into their symbolic world as they colonized the biogeographically unique regions southeast of continental Eurasia.
Details
- Title
- Early human symbolic behavior in the Late Pleistocene of Wallacea
- Creators
- Adam Brumm - Griffith UniversityMichelle C. Langley - Griffith UniversityMark W. Moore - University of New EnglandBudianto Hakim - Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi SelatanMuhammad Ramli - Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya (BPCB)Iwan Sumantri - Hasanuddin UniversityBasran Burhan - hPrivate address, Makassar, Indonesia 90241;Andi Muhammad Saiful - Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi SelatanLinda Siagian - Indonesian Coral Reef FoundationSuryatman - Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi SelatanRatno Sardi - Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi SelatanAndi Jusdi - Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya (BPCB)Abdullah - Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya (BPCB)Andi Pampang Mubarak - Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya (BPCB)Hasliana - Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi SelatanHasrianti - Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi SelatanAdhi Agus Oktaviana - Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi NasionalShinatria Adhityatama - Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi NasionalGerrit D. van den Bergh - University of WollongongMaxime Aubert - Griffith UniversityJian-xin Zhao - University of QueenslandJillian Huntley - Griffith UniversityBo Li - University of WollongongRichard G. Roberts - University of WollongongE. Wahyu Saptomo - University of WollongongYinika Perston - University of New EnglandRainer Grun - Australian National University
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.114(16), pp.4105-4110
- Publisher
- Natl Acad Sciences
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- Griffith University DE130101560 / Australian Research Council (ARC); Australian Research Council Wenner Gren Foundation FT140100384; FT1010384; FL130100116; DE140100254; DP1093342 / ARC; Australian Research Council University of Wollongong
- Identifiers
- 991013103888402368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article