A collaborative research project initiated by the Center for Archaeological Research Collaboration (PKR) of Sulawesi has successfully mapped the long trajectory of stone tool technology development in South Sulawesi. Based on findings at the Leang Panninge prehistoric site in Maros Regency, the evolution of these tools is known to have occurred continuously over a span of 40,000 years.
This latest study has been published internationally in the reputable scientific journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. The research findings debunk long-held assumptions by proving that the distinctive Toalean culture did not emerge suddenly, but instead transformed gradually from a foundation of local technology that had existed since the Late Pleistocene epoch.
This key research involved cross-institutional collaboration, including the Department of Archaeology at Hasanuddin University (Unhas), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Griffith University Australia, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Center of South Sulawesi, Bumi Toala Indonesia, NALAR, and the Association of Indonesian Archaeologists (IAAI) SULAMPAPUA.
Through excavation and in-depth analysis of stone artifacts dating from 40,000 to 3,500 years ago, the research team identified a structured pattern of change. In the initial phase, early humans in the region produced simple stone flakes for daily practical needs. They also implemented stone reduction strategies, including the bipolar technique, which is believed to be closely linked to the processing of red ochre as raw material for prehistoric cave paintings.
Over time, stone tool innovations continued to evolve rapidly, leading to the emergence of the distinctive Toalean culture feature: serrated arrowheads known as Maros Points around 8,000 years ago. Entering the Late Toalean phase, the production system became much more structured, producing smaller, more uniform stone tools by applying backing technology.
Suryatman, the lead researcher from Hasanuddin University, explained that these findings provide a new perspective on the continuity of local culture in South Sulawesi. Echoing this sentiment, Professor of Archaeology at Unhas, Prof. Akin Duli, emphasized that the Leang Panninge site plays a crucial role not only because of its artifact discoveries but also due to its contribution to reconstructing the history of human migration and civilization in the Indonesian archipelago.
