New Insights on Treatment of the Dead by Insular Wallacean Peoples in the Early Neolithic Kolana Cemetery, Alor Island

Pratiwi Yuwono1*, Melandri Vlok2, Fayeza Shasliz Arumdhati3, Anna Pineda4, Renaud Joannes-Boyau1, Maxime Aubert1,5, Sonia Reyes Hidalgo1, Mahirta3, Sekar Kinanthi3, Marlon Ririmase6, Hariyadi6, Rama Siswantara6, and Stuart Hawkins4

The intersection of archaeological and ethnographic enquiry has long fuelled interest in Southeast Asian and Pacific burial practices. However, detailed, published accounts from the sites in insular region of Wallacea remain scarce. This paper addresses this gap through a multidisciplinary analysis of the Kolana site on Alor Island, Indonesia, the oldest directly dated Austronesian-associated cemetery east of Wallace’s Line (4000–2500 BP). Integrating U-series dating, bioarchaeology, and field anthropology, we examine how mortuary practices reflect community dynamics and identity formation during Austronesian expansion. Excavation revealed 20 individuals in diverse burial styles, accompanied by shell jewellery, pottery, and ritual faunal deposits. Notably, children comprise nearly half the assemblage, a demographic anomaly compared to adult-biased colonizing groups elsewhere. This suggests either an indigenous adaptive strategy or significant stress within the migrant community. Age graded adornments: smaller shell rings for juveniles, further articulate social identities through material culture. A unique multiple jar burial highlights localized ritual innovation amidst broader Austronesian exchange networks. By detailing these practices, this paper responds to the need for richly documented case studies in the region. It demonstrates how bioarchaeological and material culture analyses can provide fresh insights into Neolithic belief systems and the complex social dynamics of early island populations.