STUDY OF PREHISTORIC GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF PANGLIMA CAVE, PARUNG MOUNTAIN, EAST KALIMANTAN

• Main Author: Perwira Shidqi, Benyamin
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/67641
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Geoarchaeology is one of the conceptual and implicative approaches of earth science concepts and methods to solve an archaeological issue. Stratigraphic, sedimentology, and paleontological approach in geoarchaeology are applied to give a more comprehensive interpretation of archaeological sites such as cave systems. The National Archaeological Research Centre conducted a survey and excavation at Panglima Cave between 2020 and 2021. The research was conducted to explore new archaeological sites in the new capital city of Indonesia. The excavation yields a new stratigraphic information of Panglima Cave record, vertebrate findings, and artefact and ecofact. However, there is still a gap in knowledge on geoarchaeological evaluation related to stratigraphy, sedimentology, and paleontology in the Panglima Cave findings. The object of this thesis is Panglima Cave (Parung Mountain, East Kalimantan) deposit was observed in TP1 and TP2 excavations pit which has an age ranging in Holocene. This thesis aims to evaluate the geoarchaeological condition of Panglima Cave deposit by combining the stratigraphic zone, sedimentation process, and vertebrate specimen and its context with a prehistoric occupation. The methods used are stratigraphic and sedimentology analysis, as well as paleontological analysis such as taxonomic and taphonomic identification, quantification, and faunal biotopes. The results were combined with the secondary data that consist of artefacts and palaeoclimate to reconstruct the geoarchaeological condition of Panglima Cave during its formation. The data used in this thesis are stratigraphic digital records of TP1 and TP2 pits, sediment samples from TP1, and all the vertebrate specimens from both pits that consist of teeth, jaws, and other bone fragments. Based on the results of sedimentological and stratigraphic analysis, the sediments in the two excavation pits can be divided into five stratigraphic zones from older to younger: Zone I, cave debris fragment, Zone II – IV, cave deposit with artifact and ecofact, and Zone V, modern deposit. Most of Panglima Cave deposits were transported by aeolian mechanism through several times sedimentation phase by water. The grain size distribution is dominated by silt with some clay layer deposits. Based on paleontological analysis, 38 vertebrate faunal taxa ranging from family level to species have been identified. All taxa were divided into 8 main fauna groups, composed of Primates, Artiodactyl, Perissodactyl, Carnivore, Rodent, Reptile, Pholidota, Chiroptera, and Actinopterygii. The total remains of Panglima Cave fossils were 8848 specimens with 2293 of them being identified specimens (NISP) and the rest 6555 are unidentified specimens. The taphonomic condition that can be observed are fragmentation, burn effect, and cutmarks. The faunal biotope of Panglima Cave consists of 4 groups, divided into arboreal, terrestrial, aquatic, cavernicole. Geoarchaeological evidence of Panglima Cave deposits suggests a shifting pattern, which correlates among fauna biotopes, number of fauna specimens, stratigraphic and sedimentology conditions, artifacts and ecofacts. Data correlations were consistent with global climate in form of the monsoon during Holocene. The intensity of occupancy in the Panglima Cave during the cave formation was reflected in changes in the number of specimens and faunal biotopes as a response to possible changes in monsoonal intensity. The monsoonal pattern that began to intensify in the Early Holocene period was likely to have a positive correlation with the emergence of shelter to fill the Panglima Cave space, which can be seen from the findings in zones II – III. More intensive monsoon allowed the formation of puddles in cave area, which may cause occupants to move to different area. This situation is reflected by the presence of cavernicole group which can be seen in zone IV findings. Monsoon intensification possibility also affected the fauna group diversity that lived around the Panglima Cave.