Abstract:

The Austronesian ethnic group, known for its strong oceanic connection, has been extensively studied in physical anthropology, linguistics, and archaeology for about a century. Scholars generally agree that the Austronesian people originated from the Taiwan region and the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland. However, the question of how their ancestors arrived in Taiwan and then spread to other oceanic regions remains unanswered. Archaeological excavations along the coastal areas of the Taiwan Strait mainly reveal Neolithic artifacts with common features such as stamped pattern pottery, net sinkers, and layers of seashell middens. Notable examples include the Dabenkeng culture on the Taiwan side of the eastern Taiwan Strait and the Keqiutou culture on the Fujian side of the western Taiwan Strait. These cultures share similarities but also exhibit differences in stone tools and pottery. For instance, Dabenkeng pottery mainly features cord marks, while Keqiutou pottery includes additional patterns such as shell imprints, stamped hemp-dot marks, and engraved parallel lines. Some researchers speculate on a possible hereditary relationship between the two cultures, but they are puzzled by how they managed to cross the vast strait with limited maritime skills and without any clear maritime shift orientations and purposes in prehistoric voyages. It is noteworthy that most of the cultural ages of Keqiutou, Dabenkeng, and other discovered sites in the study area date back no earlier than approximately 7.4 kaBP, coinciding with the rise in sea levels to about the present level after the last deglacial period. Therefore, it is logical to consider the influence of sea-level changes on the origin and migration of the Austronesian people. Based on an analysis of the last deglacial sea-level rise, resulting ancient environmental changes, and current cultural features of excavated sites, we propose a possibility that the Austronesian ancestors emerged during the early Holocene (approximately 11.7~7.4 kaBP). This emergence was centered around the areas of both the nearshore of the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan Shoal, where they developed a “proto-Austronesian culture”. As sea levels gradually rose, their habitat was progressively submerged, compelling them to retreat to the inshore highlands on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Austronesian relics discovered, such as Dabenkeng, Keqiutou, and Fuguodun, are actually offshoots of the Austronesian ancestors, inheriting their marine ecological characteristics. A scarcity of Neolithic remains older than 7.4 kaBP in the study area can be attributed to a “survivor bias” phenomenon. According to previous research on cultural relics and molecular anthropology, it is evident that there were at least three lineages for prehistoric humans in the Taiwan Strait area. The first lineage consisted of a late Paleolithic “local” community, which became extinct without leaving any inheritable evidence for later communities. The second lineage consisted of a quasi-local Austronesian community, i.e., the Dabenkeng and Keqiutou cultures, originating from the early Neolithic “proto-Austronesian” culture submerged in the areas of the nearshore and Taiwan Shoal and retaining their marine traditions and island characteristics. The only known example of the “proto-Austronesian culture” is the discovery of Liangdao Man I. The “proto-Austronesian culture” was originated by inheriting and developing the earliest pottery-making techniques and maritime skills, likely in very early Holocene or towards the end of the Pleistocene. The third lineage was an immigrant community that migrated southward from the area of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, bringing paddy farming practices. This community merged with the second lineage approximately 4 kaBP, leading to the formation of a widespread middle Neolithic culture in the study area. The incorporation of the second and third lineages advanced voyaging capabilities, providing a foundation for the expansion of Austronesian culture into the open ocean. The submerged areas of the Taiwan Strait nearshore and Taiwan Shoal, considered the cradle of Austronesian culture, await further discovery through submarine archaeological exploration.

Key words: Austronesian, Taiwan Strait, paleoenvironment, Last Deglacial period, changes of sea-level