Homo sapiens have occupied East and Southeast Asia during the Late Pleistocene, and transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to farming practices during the Holocene. This dispersal into East and Southeast Asia is crucial for understanding the genetic diversity and cultural evolution of populations in these regions. Before that, the regions were already occupied by early or pre-sapiens hominins (e.g. Homo erectus) including endemic species (e.g. Homo floresiensis). The genetic diversity observed in East and Southeast Asia is very significant, influenced by various historical dispersals and adaptations to diverse environments, which is essential for studying human evolution and population dynamics. Moreover, the rich heritage of indigenous peoples in East and Southeast Asia, with their unique cultures and languages, reflects the complex history of human adaptation and cultural development in the region.
Archaeological sites across East and Southeast Asia provide critical evidence of initial Homo sapiens‘ presence and their lifestyles, helping us to piece together the history of human settlement and cultural evolution. These insights highlight the complex interaction of dispersal, adaptation, evolution, genetic diversity, and cultural richness that characterizes Homo sapiens in East and Southeast Asia.
For inquiries and submissions, please contact:
Sofwan Noerwidi, Research Center for Archaeometry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia – sofwannoerwidi@gmail.com | sofw002@brin.go.id
Hirofumi Matsumura, School of Health Science, Sapporo Medical University, Japan – hiromura@sapmed.ac.jp
Melandri Vlok, School of Health Science, University of Notre Dame, Australia – melandri.vlok@nd.edu.au
