Ref ID:	31713
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	van den Bergh, Gert D. Mubroto, Bondan Aziz, Fachroel Sondaar, Paul Y. de Vos, John
Title:	Did Homo erectus reach the island of Flores?
Date:	1996
Source:	Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association
Notes:	Proceedings of the 15th Congress of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Chiang Mai, Thailand 5 to 12 January 1994
Abstract:	On Flores stone artefacts have been found in situ in a fluvial sandstone layer pertaining to the Early to Middle Pleistocene Ola Bula Formation, near Mata Menge in Ngada District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Paleomagnetic measurements indicate a transition from reverse to normal magnetic polarity in the 3 m thick interval just underneath the layer containing the artefacts. This transition presumably represents the Mauyama-Brunhes boundary and indicates an age of the least Middle Pleistocene for the artefact bearing layer. This relatively old age strongly suggests that the artefacts are the work of Homo erectus. The artefacts were found in association with fossil remains of Stegodon trigonocephalus florensis. Earlier excavation in the same layer by Verhoeven had already yielded numerous in situ artefacts, as well as fossil remains of S. trigonocephalus florensis and a giant murid, Hooijeromys nusatenggara. An older faunal association occurs at the base of the reversed magnetic polarity. It contains a pygmy Stegodon spec. C, a large tortoise and Varanus komodoensis. Though distinct in composition for unbalanced endemic island conditions, These results strongly suggest that Homo erectus was already able to cross a water barrier to reach the palaeo-island of Flores.
Date Created:	10/19/2003
Volume:	14
Page Start:	27
Page End:	36