Prehistoric Occupation Traces in the Southeast Peninsula of Sulawesi: New Findings and their Relationship to Prehistory in Wallacea

Muh. Alif1, Yadi Mulyadi2, Enriko1, Hermawan1, Darfin1, Fahran Reza2, Mega Ayu Alfitri1, Fakhri3, Supriadi2, Hasanuddin4, Syamsul Bahri1, Muhammad Ilham Nur1, Muhammad Agang1, Bernadeta AKW4

The karst regions of the Southeast peninsula of Sulawesi hold strategic potential for understanding the dynamics of prehistoric human cultures in Wallacea. The Lo’ko Landoi site, located in Larui Village, Purehu District, North Kolaka Regency, is a significant location for reconstructing the history of human occupation in this region. This research was conducted through systematic excavation using the test-pit method (U6B1) to a depth of 100 cm, yielding rich stratigraphic data. Analysis of lithic artefacts, earthenware, stoneware, molluscs, faunal remains, and charred soil indicates two distinct phases of site utilisation. The first phase indicates a Palaeometallic culture, characterised by findings of earthenware fragments, stoneware, human bone fragments, and faunal remains. The second phase indicates traces of an older culture (estimated from the Neolithic to Pre-Neolithic periods), featuring lithic artefacts, faunal remains, bone points, traces of burning in the form of charcoal, ochre, and shell middens (Mollusca). The discovery of bone point artefacts demonstrates technological similarities with the Toalean culture of South Sulawesi. This finding strengthens the hypothesis of inter-regional cultural connectivity within Wallacea, while emphasising the importance of further research, particularly radiocarbon dating for each stratigraphic layer and burial context.

Prehistoric Occupation Traces in the Southeast Peninsula of Sulawesi: New Findings and their Relationship to Prehistory in Wallacea

Muh. Alif1, Yadi Mulyadi2, Enriko1, Hermawan1, Darfin1, Fahran Reza2, Mega Ayu Alfitri1, Fakhri3, Supriadi2, Hasanuddin4, Syamsul Bahri1, Muhammad Ilham Nur1, Muhammad Agang1, Bernadeta AKW4

Kawasan karst di lengan Tenggara Sulawesi memiliki potensi strategis dalam memahami dinamika kebudayaan manusia prasejarah di Wallacea. Situs Lo’ko Landoi, yang terletak di Desa Larui, Kecamatan Purehu, Kabupaten Kolaka Utara, menjadi salah satu lokasi penting dalam rekonstruksi sejarah hunian manusia di kawasan ini. Penelitian dilakukan melalui ekskavasi sistematis dengan metode test-pit (U6B1) hingga kedalaman 100 cm, menghasilkan data stratigrafi yang kaya.  Analisis terhadap artefak batu, tembikar, stoneware, moluska, sisa fauna, serta tanah bekas pembakaran menunjukkan adanya dua fase pemanfaatan situs. Fase pertama mengindikasikan budaya Paleometalik dengan ciri temuan berupa fragmen tembikar,stoneware, fragmen tulang manusia, dan fragmen tulang hewan. Selanjutnya, pada fase kedua mengindikasikan jejak budaya yang diperkirakan lebih tua (Neolitik hingga Pra-Neolitik), dengan ciri temuan berupa artefak batu, fragmen tulang hewan, bone point, jejak pembakaran berupa arang, oker, dan Kumpulan kerang (Mollusca).  Temuan artefak tulang berbentuk lancipan (bone point) menunjukkan adanya kemiripan teknologi dengan budaya Toalean di Sulawesi Selatan. Hal ini memperkuat hipotesis keterhubungan budaya antarkawasan di Wallacea, sekaligus menegaskan pentingnya penelitian lanjutan, khususnya pertanggalan radiokarbon pada setiap lapisan stratigrafi dan konteks penguburan.