Original scientific paper
Prehistoric populations from Gua Bedug in the context of early-mid holocene of Java, Indonesia
Hari Wibowo
orcid.org/0000-0001-8901-4684
*
Sofwan Noerwidi
Daud Aris Tanudirjo
Ashwin Prayudi
Nia Marniati Etie Fajari
Cahyo Rahmadi
orcid.org/0000-0001-5928-9513
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Until recently, research on the early arrival of modern humans on the north coast of Java, Indonesia were limited. Previous research has focused more on the southern part of the island. Our research in the karst area of the Rembang Zone in the northern coast of Central Java has recovered human remains that offer potential new insights into the early occupation of Java Island by modern humans, especially during the Early-Mid Holocene. This paper presents the analysis results of 29 dental specimens from Gua Bedug, Rembang Regency. The studies aimed to determine racial affinities based on dental metrics and morphology. The results show that characteristics of the East Asian population were present at Gua Bedug at least from 5.800 BP. Specimens with East Asian characteristics were discovered in the context of Preneolithic culture, along with other specimens that represent Australo-Melanesian characteristics, highlighting the diversity of human inhabitants of the region during that period. The results also suggest that the occupation of the north coast of Java during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, around 12.000 BP, was more complex than previously thought.
Keywords
dentition; prehistory; affinity; migration; cave site
Hrčak ID:
332384
URI
Publication date:
18.6.2025.
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