The biological and cultural markers that define this ancient individual
GUP001
5350 BCE - 5250 BCE
Female
M1
Ancient Hunter-Gatherers of Indonesia
Where this individual was discovered
When this individual lived in the broader context of human history
The narrative of this ancient life
The ancient hunter-gatherers of Indonesia, particularly in regions like Sulawesi, represent a fascinating chapter of human prehistory, revealing insights into early human migration, adaptation, and cultural development. These early inhabitants of Indonesia are often associated with the broader Austronesian migration patterns, although hunter-gatherer cultures existed long before the widespread distribution of Austronesian-speaking peoples.
Sulawesi is one of the largest islands in Indonesia with a diverse and rugged landscape featuring mountains, tropical forests, and coastlines. This varied geography provided numerous ecological niches, which likely influenced the lifestyle and subsistence strategies of its ancient inhabitants. The island's position in the Indo-Pacific region also made it a pivotal location for human migration and cultural exchanges.
The earliest evidence of human habitation in Sulawesi dates back over 40,000 years. This is based on archaeological findings, including stone tools and cave art, most notably the hand stencils and animal depictions in the Maros-Pangkep karst region, which are among the oldest known artworks in the world.
The ancient hunter-gatherers of Sulawesi led a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, relying on the rich biodiversity around them. Their subsistence likely included:
Hunting: They hunted a variety of animals including small to medium-sized mammals and birds, making use of tools like stone blades and possibly early projectile points.
Fishing and Gathering: Proximity to coastal and riverine environments would have made fish and other aquatic resources a significant part of their diet. This would also include shellfish gathering along the coasts.
Plant Foraging: Collection of fruits, nuts, roots, and tubers from the diverse plant life in tropical forests would have been essential for sustenance.
These communities were likely organized into small, kin-based groups, typical of hunter-gatherer societies. Social structures would have been egalitarian, with shared responsibilities in hunting, gathering, and childcare. Cultural aspects such as art, religion, and tool-making indicate a complex and rich societal fabric.
While the ancient hunter-gatherers of Sulawesi predate the Austronesian migrations, these later waves of Austronesian-speaking people, who began expanding out of Taiwan around 5,000 years ago, eventually reached Indonesia. As these Austronesian groups migrated, they introduced new technologies, agricultural practices, and languages, assimilating and interacting with existing populations.
The adaptability of these ancient hunter-gatherers is evident in their successful occupation of various environmental niches. They developed a deep understanding of their surroundings, leading to refined hunting techniques and resource management.
The ancient hunter-gatherers of Sulawesi and broader Indonesia laid foundational cultural and genetic contributions that would persist in the region's subsequent Austronesian societies. Their adaptability and creativity are reflected in archaeological findings that continue to shed light on their complex interactions with the environment and each other. As such, they represent a crucial link in understanding human evolution and cultural development in Southeast Asia.
Other ancient individuals connected to this sample
Scientific publications and genetic data
Much remains unknown about the population history of early modern humans in southeast Asia, where the archaeological record is sparse and the tropical climate is inimical to the preservation of ancient human DNA1. So far, only two low-coverage pre-Neolithic human genomes have been sequenced from this region. Both are from mainland Hòabìnhian hunter-gatherer sites: Pha Faen in Laos, dated to 7939-7751 calibrated years before present (yr cal BP; present taken as AD 1950), and Gua Cha in Malaysia (4.4-4.2 kyr cal BP)1. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first ancient human genome from Wallacea, the oceanic island zone between the Sunda Shelf (comprising mainland southeast Asia and the continental islands of western Indonesia) and Pleistocene Sahul (Australia-New Guinea). We extracted DNA from the petrous bone of a young female hunter-gatherer buried 7.3-7.2 kyr cal BP at the limestone cave of Leang Panninge2 in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Genetic analyses show that this pre-Neolithic forager, who is associated with the 'Toalean' technocomplex3,4, shares most genetic drift and morphological similarities with present-day Papuan and Indigenous Australian groups, yet represents a previously unknown divergent human lineage that branched off around the time of the split between these populations approximately 37,000 years ago5. We also describe Denisovan and deep Asian-related ancestries in the Leang Panninge genome, and infer their large-scale displacement from the region today.
