S10-13

XRF Analysis of Metals Objects From Topogaro in Central Sulawesi: Contribution to Indonesian Metals Chronology

Harry Octavianus Sofian1, Ono Rintaro2, Nasrullah Aziz1, Sri Wigati1, Rizcar Fuentes3, Nico Alamsyah1

1The Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia

2National Museum of Ethnology, Japan

3Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines

Metals are first evident in Indonesia from the early centuries CE. However, very few studies in the region discuss the emergence and/or analyses of early metals in the region, and more research is needed to construct a robust chronological framework and increase our knowledge of metallurgy in Indonesia. The prehistoric cave site of Topogaro in Central Sulawesi, excavated by a collaborative team of researchers from Indonesia and Japan between 2016-2019 produced a stratigraphic sequence of habitation and burial that included evidence for the use of early metal. This paper focuses on the results of XRF analysis carried out on 30 metal objects found at Topogaro. The results are expected to contribute to our understanding of the history of early metal knowledge in Indonesia, especially in Sulawesi.