Prehistorical era

Negroid: curly-haired, dark skin

  • The ancestor of indigenous Melanesians, including Papua

The first fossil of Homo sapiens in Java was found by Rietschoten, Dubois member, in 1889. The fossils were found on the river banks of Brantas River.

The fossil was known as Java Man or Wajak fossil since it was found in Wajak, a small village near Tulungagung. The fossil was similar to the fossil races of Niah Cave in Sarawak and Tabon Cave in Palawan Island. This fossil was considered from the Pleistocene period and shows the characteristics of an Austrolomelanosoid. This race was the users of axes (chops), and this inluding with the culture of Paleolithic.

Java:

  • Traders 

    • Spices

  • Missionary

    • Religion

    • Education

    • Humanity

    • Culture

  • Scientists

    • Research area

Negroid is the name that the scientist/historian gave

The evidence of the existence of the first Homo Sapien was known from the skuls and the remains of the bones not just in Wajak or Niah cave but also in Sewu Mountain during the early second half of the 20th century to the present, extending from Gunung Kidul to the Gulf of Pacitan. The fossil in Niah Cave shows the age to be 40,000 years. The other fossils that were found also have similarities with the fossils in Braholo (Gunung Kidul) in 2002, song or cave in Keplek found around 10,000 years ago before the modern era. All the predictions came from the tools that found attached with them.

In 1934, G.H.R Von Koenigswald and his team found varies of fossil homo sapien in the valley along the Solo river, which in Sangiran and Ngadong as well as in the banks of the Brantas river near Mojokerto. The most paleontologist believe that all the fossils from Java is a Homo Erectus and in primitive form.

Human species in Chronological Order

  1. Meganthropus paleojavanicus

This human fossil discovered by G.V.H Von Koenigswald in 1941 at Sangiran Central Java. This kind is estimated to live in a period 1 to 2 million years ago. Another name for this kind is a Giant Man from ancient Java. The name was given because these people are physically large and sturdy, with lower jaws which is much bigger than Pithecanthropus. Up to now this kind is considered as the oldest man in Indonesia.

  1. Pithecanthropus mojokertensis

Was found in Mojokerto by Koenigswald in 1936 at Perning near Mojokerto and Sangiran. They lived around 2,000,000 years ago.

  1. Pithecanthropus Robustus

This means big and strong pithecanthropus. This fossil was found by Von Koenigswald in 1939 in Bengawan Solo Valley at Trinil. The fossil came from lower pleistoscene layer, same like the other pithecanthropus but it had stronger and bigger body.

  1. Pithecanthropus Erectus

This means Pithecanthropus that walks on his feet. This kind was found by Dubois in 1890 at trimil in the form of jaw bones, two mollars, upper part of the skull and thigh bone. The proofs especially the thighbone, indicate that the man already walked upright

  1. Homo Wajakensis

Discovered in Wajak Village, in river Brantas valley in 1889 by Rietschoten but it was then delivered by Dubois to be studied. Lived around 40,000 years ago.

  1. Homo Soloensis

Discovered by Koenigswald and Weidenreich in 1934. They found 11 skeleton fossils, jawbones and teeth in Ngandong in the valley of the Bengawan Solo River.

Characteristics of Different Humans

Pithecanthropus

  1. Strong body

  2. Large skull

  3. Brain volume around 750-1000 cc

  4. Oval head

Homo Sapien

  1. Brain volume around 1000-2000 cc

  2. They can stand straight.

Meganthropus

  1. Thick cheeckbone

  2. Strong jaw

  3. Sturdy body

  4. Large, strong nape bones

Eras

  1. Early stone age era (Paleolithic) 600,000 years long

Varieties: tools are basic & limited. When they use tools, they use it for multiple functions.

Tools discovered (Indonesia) were found in Pacitan & Ngandong.

Main characteristic of tools, no handles

Eating anything that pasts. No place to stay

  1. Middle stone age era (Mesolithic) 20,000 years long

More advanced tools, shaping the stones (sharpening). Changing habits, hunting, find animals or fruits (hunting skills) (nomadic). Live under a cave. Legacy discovered in South Sulawesi, found in Leang Leang cave

  1. New stone age era (Neolithic) -

The people improved their tool by sharpening them and giving them a handle. They cooked their meat. Hunting farther than their area. Legacy found in Sumatera, Java and Bali.

  1. Great stone age (Megalithic) Metal Era

Similar with new stone age, different intellectual, worship spirit & ancestor, have believe. Legacy:

  1. Menhir - For praying and worshipping

  2. Dolmen - For sacrifices and is made of stone

  3. Sarcophagus - Coffin made of stone

Legacy in Besuki, Wonosori, Cepu, Bali and Cirebon

This era can be split into 3 sub eras

  1. Copper Era → Legacy in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam

  2. Bronze Era → Legacy in Sumatera, Jawa, Bali, Kei Island

  3. Iron Era → Legacy in Sumatera, Jawa, Bali, Kei Island

  1. Hunting period & collecting the food.

The people on this period lived nearby water sources in the low lands. Only hunt animals that passes by them, don’t hunt & chase.

  1. Hunting period (Epi Paleolithic Era)

Cover & protect themself in caves. And in the caves, they created tools for hunting. When the food is rare/scarce they move to places with more abundant food. Known as Nomadic. For example in Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi. People lives in groups divided by specialties

  1. Farming period (Neolithic)

Prehistoric humans used more qualified tools, lived in area with around 300-400 people.

When people start living permanently, changed lifestyle from food-gathering → food-producing

Food producing: ability to provide food without relying on the environment but produce by growing plants & rearing (taking care (domesticating)) animals