Osteobiography of Late Historic Burial from Pantar Island, East Nusa Tenggara

Fayeza Shasliz Arumdhati1*, Mahirta1, Stuart Hawkins2, Pratiwi Yuwono3, and Sue O'Connor2

This study presents the discovery of an adult female that was found buried in Jareng Bori rock shelter, a Metal-Age site spanning c. 1800 cal. BP up to the late historic period located in Pantar Island, East Nusa

Tenggara, deposited in historic occupation layers dated to 0-429 cal. BP. Despite poor preservation and natural disturbances, we attempted to integrate field anthropology, osteological analysis, dental pathology, stable isotopes and enamel peptide analysis to reconstruct her life history. Identified dental pathology includes calculus, caries, hypoplasia, and periodontitis. Enamel hypoplasia indicates physiological stress during childhood, potentially linked to malnutrition or infectious disease possibly occurred in this tropical island environment. Stable isotope analysis and associated marine fauna suggest a diet rich in marine resources and carbohydrates, contributing to dental disease (calculus and caries). Ante-mortem tooth filing also found, confirms the spread of belief systems and beauty standards of cultural practice that also documented in Java and Bali during the last millennium. Ancient DNA reveals mixed Asian and Papuan ancestry, reflecting population mobility and admixture in Wallacea. This study demonstrates how multiple bioarchaeological approaches can help interpret the interaction between health and cultural identity in tropical Island Southeast Asia, even from fragmented skeletal remains.