INSULARITY AND ADAPTATION INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF EXCHANGE AND INTER-ISLAND INTERACTION IN THE BANDA ISLANDS, INDONESIA Emily J. Peterson A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Washington 2015 Reading Committee: Peter V. Lape, Chair James K. Feathers Benjamin Marwick Program Authorized to Offer Degree: Anthropology ©Copyright 2015 Emily J. Peterson University of Washington Abstract Insularity and Adaptation Investigating the role of exchange and inter-island interaction in the Banda Islands, Indonesia Emily J. Peterson Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Peter V. Lape Department of Anthropology Trade and exchange exerted a powerful force in the historic and protohistoric past of Island Southeast Asian communities. Exchange and interaction are also hypothesized to have played an important role in the spread of new technologies and lifestyles throughout the region during the Neolithic period. Although it is clear that interaction has played an important role in shaping Island Southeast Asian cultures on a regional scale, little is known about local histories and trajectories of exchange in much of the region. This dissertation aims to improve our understanding of the adaptive role played by exchange and interaction through an exploration of change over time in the connectedness of island communities in the Banda Islands, eastern Indonesia. Connectedness is examined by measuring source diversity for two different types of archaeological materials. Chemical characterization of pottery using LA-ICP-MS allows the identification of geochemically different paste groups within the earthenware assemblages of two Banda Islands sites. Source diversity measures are employed to identify differences in relative connectedness between these sites and changes over time. Similarly, stable and radiogenic i isotope ratios (δ13C, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb) are used to identify source groups and quantify source diversity for pigs reared in different locations. Increases in connectedness were expected during periods of increased environmental variability around 3000 BP and 2000 BP, although there is considerable disparity in the timing of these climate shifts based on paleoclimate proxy records from the eastern and western Pacific. At Banda Islands site PA1, connectedness was relatively high at initial occupation approximately 3500 BP and peaked ~500 years later. A correlation with an increase in El Niño frequency around this time is possible but cannot be confirmed without a well-dated local paleoclimate proxy record. A decline in connectedness as measured by earthenware diversity just after 2300 BP may relate to a change in site use away from permanent occupation. This may be linked with a more dramatic increase in frequency and amplitude of El Niño events and attendant variability in rainfall. In addition to variation in connectedness over time within the PA1 sequence, there is variability in the connectedness of the two sites in this study. At BN1 there was higher diversity of Banda Islands clay sources but PA1 had higher diversity of non-Banda sources. Despite close proximity these communities appear to have operated within different social landscapes. This result highlights the potential of this approach for studying exchange and interaction to reveal nuances about the social geographies of the past. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many individuals and organizations have contributed to this research. I want to thank the members of my reading committee, Jim Feathers, Ben Marwick, and especially my chair Peter Lape whose patience, encouragement, and advice have never failed me. Thanks to John Krigbaum, Ben Valentine, George Kamenov, and Jason Curtis for making me part of the extended UF family, providing access to facilities, expert advice, and friendship. I want to thank Laure Dussubieux and the Field Museum, Chicago for welcoming me and guiding me through the LA-ICP-MS analysis. Some of my fondest memories of graduate school are from time spent in the field in the Banda Islands. This fieldwork was made possible by generous funding from the National Geographic Society and the Henry Luce Foundation. Laboratory analysis was funded through a dissertation fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies with funding from the Henry Luce Foundation. Many thanks to Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi Republik Indonesia, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Direktorat Jenderal Sejarah dan Purbakala, Balai Arkeologi Ambon, and Universitas Gadjah Mada. To my Indonesian colleagues and friends: Daud Tanudirjo, Gusti Made Sudarmika, Marlon Ririmasse, Simon Latupupua, Wuri Handoko, Hari Wibowo, Johan Arif, and Unggul Prasetyo Wibowo—Terima Kasih! Thanks also to all the members of the 2007 research team and the students and staff of the 2009 Banda Islands Arcaheology Field School. iii I have had the great priviledge of knowing, learning from, and leaning on an amazing group of fellow graduate students at the University of Washington. Special thanks to Jennifer Huff, David Carlson, Erik Gjesfjeld, Shelby Anderson, Jacob Fisher, Chung-Ching Shiung, Amanda Taylor, Becky Kessler, Jack Johnson, Haiying Zhang, and Megan Luce. Finally, I want to thank my family—Mom, Dad, Kristin and Benny, your love and support mean the world to me. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................viii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Islands, Isolation, and Exchange ........................................................................................................... 2 Characterizing Exchange Networks ...................................................................................................... 8 Chemical characterization.................................................................................................................... 8 Pottery ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Pigs ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Climate and Environmental variability in the Indo-Pacific ................................................................... 12 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2: The Neolithic in Island Southeast Asia .................................................................................. 16 Perspectives on Neolithisation in Island Southeast Asia ..................................................................... 17 Out of Taiwan .................................................................................................................................... 19 Linguistics ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Genetics ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Chronology and the Neolithic Package ........................................................................................... 23 Subsistence Economy .................................................................................................................... 24 Alternative perspectives .................................................................................................................... 26 Exchange in the Indo-Pacific .............................................................................................................. 30 Chapter 3: Geology and Environment of the Banda Islands .................................................................... 34 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Geology ............................................................................................................................................. 35 Patterns of geochemical variation ...................................................................................................... 39 Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 4. Climate ................................................................................................................................. 51 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 51 Paleoclimate Proxies .........................................................................................................................