Nenggih Susilowati

Characteristic of Prehistoric Austronesian Pottery Around Lake Singkarak, Solok, West Sumatra

Introduction

Characteristic of prehistoric austronesian pottery around lake singkarak, solok, west sumatra. Uncover characteristics of prehistoric Austronesian pottery found near Lake Singkarak, West Sumatra. Analyze geometric patterns, red slips, and their link to ancient maritime culture & life.

Abstract

The karst environment with forests and lakes has the potential to be a source of water, food, and materials that are important to the human's ideal location for its inhabitants. Pottery shards found in surveys and excavations illustrate that the site became a place to settle with various human activities. This article aims to determine the characteristics of Austronesian pottery remains at the cave and open sites and determine the relationship with maritime culture around Lake Singkarak. The method used is qualitative, analyzing pottery fragments supported by laboratory analysis. The results of the analysis data note that the discovery of geometric patterns and red slips can illustrate the expertise of supporters in beautifying pottery and describe the cultural history and life of the makers.

Review

The article "Characteristic of Prehistoric Austronesian Pottery Around Lake Singkarak, Solok, West Sumatra" presents an intriguing investigation into prehistoric human activity within the karst-lake environment of West Sumatra. The abstract effectively highlights the potential of this region as an ideal settlement location and outlines the paper's core objective: to characterize Austronesian pottery remains from both cave and open sites, and to explore their connection to maritime culture. The focus on a specific, understudied region, coupled with the explicit aim of linking material culture to broader Austronesian movements, suggests a valuable contribution to regional archaeology and our understanding of early human adaptation and interaction in Southeast Asia. While the abstract states a qualitative methodology supported by laboratory analysis, greater specificity regarding these analytical approaches would enhance clarity for the reader. The described findings, noting the discovery of geometric patterns and red slips, certainly indicate sophisticated pottery production and offer a glimpse into the aesthetic and technical capabilities of the pottery makers. However, the abstract's summary of results could more explicitly address how these specific pottery characteristics—geometric patterns and red slips—directly illustrate "the cultural history and life of the makers," and crucially, how they establish a "relationship with maritime culture," which was a stated primary aim. This connection feels somewhat underexplored in the brief presentation of findings. To strengthen its overall impact, the full paper would benefit from a more explicit discussion on how the identified pottery characteristics align with, or diverge from, established Austronesian pottery traditions elsewhere, particularly in contexts with clear maritime links. Furthermore, detailing the specific aspects of "cultural history and life" inferred from the pottery would provide richer insights. Despite these minor points for potential elaboration, the study promises to shed important light on prehistoric settlement patterns and cultural expressions in West Sumatra. A more detailed elucidation of the methodological framework and a more direct articulation of how the findings address the maritime culture question would undoubtedly elevate the paper's contribution to Austronesian archaeology.

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