Protohistoric archaeology and settlement in Central Maluku, Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

Maluku played a major role in history for at least 2000 years as the sole source region of the highly demanded spices, clove, nutmeg, and mace. However, historic documents from visitors and indigenes emerge only in the 16th century or later. Few archaeological projects have been conducted in Maluku to shed light on the protohistoric period. The purpose of this thesis is designed to explore the late protohistoric period through archaeological data, especially the artifactual assemblages from a few relatively large walled settlements possibly dating to the 8th-15th centuries. Factors relating to the emergence, location and distribution of these sites are explored as well as factors possibly relating to sitesb possible abandonment towards the end of the 15th century. Compositional studies coupled with identification of foreign ceramics to known time periods indicate several local and extra-local exchange spheres existed. New settlements appear to have emerged in the subsequent colonial period. Continuities, changes and possible influential factors in the transition from protohistoric to historic periods are also discussed.