via Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 08 October 2023: Recent excavations at the Hatu Saur site in north-central Timor-Leste have uncovered a deep archaeological sequence dating back to around 10,500 years ago. These findings by Brockwell et al. shed light on the sociocultural adaptations of local communities in response to Holocene environmental changes. The site, reflecting influences from the Neolithic period and external contacts including Chinese and Makassar traders and European colonization, showcases the evolution of human settlement patterns, resource utilization, and sociopolitical dynamics in the region.
During the Holocene, Wallacea saw dramatic sociocultural changes during the Pre-ceramic, Neolithic, Metal-age, and Colonial periods, as well as climatic and associated environmental changes that affected the landscapes and ecologies of islands. These environmental and cultural processes appear to have influenced human socioeconomic adaptations throughout the archipelago. Here, we present new anthropological and archaeological data demonstrating the effects of these processes. Excavations at the cave site of Hatu Saur on the north coast of Timor-Leste have revealed a deep archaeological sequence that dates from ca. 10,500 years until the present. The site contains extensive assemblages of faunal remains, as well as stone artifacts, revealing settlement patterns that were influenced by sea level change and estuarine infilling after 7 ka. The sequence encompasses the beginning of the Neolithic in Timor-Leste, some 3500 years ago, and the period from ca. 700 years ago when outside influences, including Chinese and Makassar traders and Dutch and Portuguese colonization, greatly affected the indigenous culture and economy on the island of Timor, reflected in the material culture remains from Hatu Saur. The archaeological findings complement related anthropological research in the region that highlights unique local mythologies of settlement origins and their contested histories.
