Indonesia, the Philippines and Oceanic prehistory

A cultural and chronological scheme is presented for the islands of Taiwan, the Philippines and eastern Indonesia during the last 10,000 years. Four archaeological periods are suggested for the region, namely Preceramic (8000-3000 B.C.), Neolithic (3000- 500 B.C.), Early Metal (500 B.C - A.D. 1000) and Late (A.D. 1000 to ethnographic present). Where possible, developments in these four periods are related to aspects of physical anthropology and linguistics. In addition, they are used as a framework into which may be tied the archaeological manifestations of Austronesian settlement in Micronesia and Melanesia. It is suggested that the initial Austronesian settlement of Melanesia begins in the Neolithic Period, and that the Lapita pottery of Melanesia can be related closely to late Neolithic pottery of similar date (c. 1500-500 B.C.) in Island Southeast Asia.