GUA-GUA HUNIAN PRASEJARAH DI PULAU ROTE, INDONESIA TIMUR
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This article is written based on the results of several archaeological investigations carried out by the National Research and Development Centre of Archaeology in prehistoric caves, in the Rotendao Regency on the Island of Rote, the Province of East Nusa Tenggara between 2006 - 2009. The investigations were focused on Mbia Hudale, Bafak, and Bote caves which are assumed to have prolific archaeological remains. Excavations on these caves reveal traces of human occupation dated back to Late Pleistocene - Holocene epoch. This is evident in the abundance of cultural remains found in these sites, such as plain and decorated potteries, mollusk shells, jewelry (beads) made of shell, lithic stone flakes and blades, as well as faunal remains. Not a single human bone was found during the excavations. Furthermore, archaeological surveys conducted in this area have identified 18 potential caves and rockshelters, as well as a Palaeolithic opensite which are scattered within 8 districts. The results of the researches suggest that prehistoric caves in the Island of Rote are potential and prospective in illuminating prehistoric human migration and cultural processes that took place in the eastern part of Indonesia during Late Pleistocene until Holocene epoch.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Anderson, Douglas. 1990. Lang Rongrien Rockshelter a Pleistocene-Early Holocene Archaeological site from Krabi, Southwestern Thailand, University Museum Monography 71, Philadelpia: The University Museum.
Barker, Graeme, H.W. Barton, Paul Beavitt, Patrick Daly, Chris Doherty, David Gilbertson, Chris Hunt, John Krigbaum, Helen Lewis, Jessica Manser, Sue Mcclaren, Victor Paz, Phil Piper, Brian Pyatt, Ryan Rabett, Tim Reynolds, Jim Rose, Garry Rushworth and Mark Stephens. 2002. "Prehistoric foragers and farmers in South-east Asia: Renewed investigations at Niah Cave, Sarawak". Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 68.147-164.
Bellwood, Peter, Goenadi Nitihaminoto, Geoffrey Irwin, Gunadi, Agus Waluyo & Daud Tanudijo. 1998. "35,000 Years of prehistory in the northern Moluccas". Dalam Gert-Jan Bartstra (ed), Bird's Head approaches. lrian Jaya studies - a programme for interdisiplinary research. Rotterdam: A.A.Balkema. 233-275.
Birdsell, J.B. 1977. "The Recalibration of a Paradigm for the First Peopling of Greater Australia". Dalam Allen, J., J. Golson, & R. Jones (eds.). Sunda and Sahu/: Studies in Southeast Asia, Melanesia and Australia: 113-167. London Academic Press.
Bulbeck, David, lwan Sumantri, dan Peter Hiscock. 2004. Modern Quaternary Research in Southeast Asia. 18:111-128
Butzer, Karl W, 1964 Environment and Archaelogy. Methuen. London.
Eriawati, Y.J. dan lntan S. Fadhlan M., 1995 'Gua-Gua Di Maros Dan Pangkep, Sulawesi Selatan'. Laporan Penelitian Bidang Arkeometri, Puslit Arkenas. Jakarta (tidak terbit)
Glover, I. C. 1981. "Leang Burung 2: An Upper Palaeolithic Rock Shelter in South Sulawesi". Modern Quaternary Research in Southeast Asia , 6. 1- 38.
Jatmiko, 2008. 'Penelitian Gua-Gua Hunian Pada Kala Holosen di Pulau Rote, Kabupaten Rotendao, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur (Tahap- 1 )'. LPA Puslitbang Arkenas. Jakarta (tidak terbit)
Jatmiko, 2009. 'Penelitian Gua-Gua Hunian Pada Kala Holosen di Pulau Rote, Kabupaten Rotendao, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur (Tahap- 11)'.L PA Puslitbang Arkenas. Jakarta (tidak terbit)
Mahirta. 2004. "Human Occupation on Roti and Sawu Islands, Nusa Tenggara Timur". Disertasi. Australian National University.
O'Connor, Susan, Matthew Spriggs & Peter Veth, 2000 "Excavation at Lene Hara Cave Establishes Occupation in East Timor at least 30.000- 35.000 Years Ago". Antiquity 76: 45-50
Pasveer, Juliette. 2003. "The Djief Hunters. 26,000 years of Lowland Rainforest Exploitation on the Bird's Head of Papua, Indonesia". Rijksuniversiteit Groningen ( diss ).
Simanjuntak, Truman. 2001. "New light on the prehistory of the Southern Mountains of Java", Inda-Pacific Prehistoric Association Bulletin, (Melaka paper), no.21, vol.5. 152-156.
Spriggs, Matthew. 1998. "The archaeology of the Bird's Head in its Pacific and Southeast Asian context", dalam Miedema, Cecilia Ode, Rien A.C. Dam (eds), Perspectives on the Bird's Head of lrian Jaya, Indonesia, Amsterdam: Rodop: 931-940.
