The Origins and Evolution of the Dayak People Based on Archaeological Findings in Niah Cave
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| Through archaeological studies of Niah Cave, we can trace the early human presence in Borneo. Photo credit: Rmsp. |
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background
The Dayak people are an indigenous ethnic group native to the island of Borneo (Kalimantan). Their identity and presence have spanned thousands of years, marked by a rich and complex heritage of culture, language, and customs. However, questions regarding the origins and early migration routes of the Dayak ancestors remain a topic of debate among archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians.
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One of the most significant archaeological discoveries that sheds light on Borneo's ancient history is the Niah Cave site, located in Sarawak, Malaysia. This site records traces of Homo sapiens dating back approximately 40,000 years, with some studies suggesting the presence of modern humans as far back as 65,000 years ago. These findings make Niah Cave one of the oldest known sites in Southeast Asia inhabited by modern humans.
Through archaeological studies of Niah Cave, we can trace the early human presence in Borneo, which may be closely linked to the ancestors of today’s Dayak communities. Human remains, artifacts, and remnants of prehistoric activity found in the cave strongly suggest that the Dayak may be direct descendants of Niah Cave's early inhabitants.
B. Problem Statement
What are the key archaeological findings in Niah Cave related to early human presence?
How are the findings in Niah Cave connected to the origins and evolution of the Dayak people?
What role does Niah Cave play in shaping the contemporary cultural identity of the Dayak?
C. Research Objectives
To identify and examine major archaeological findings in Niah Cave.
To analyze the relationship between Niah Cave inhabitants and Dayak ancestors.
To develop an interpretation of Dayak cultural evolution and migration based on archaeological data.
II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This study employs a qualitative-descriptive approach, primarily through literature review. Data sources include archaeological reports, academic journals, historical books, and documented field data related to the excavation of Niah Cave.
The author is currently conducting research and gathering data at the Niah Archaeological Museum Photo credit: The author.
Methodological steps include:
Reviewing primary and secondary literature on Niah Cave findings.
Comparative analysis between archaeological data and contemporary Dayak culture.
Conducting research on primary and secondary sources at the Niah Archaeological Museum.
Synthesizing information to construct a narrative of Dayak evolution.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Traces of Early Humans in Niah Cave: The Foundations of Borneo’s History
Niah Cave, located in Batu Niah, Miri, Sarawak, is a highly significant archaeological site in Southeast Asia, particularly within the context of Borneo. The discovery of a modern human skull fragment (known as the Deep Skull) by Tom and Barbara Harrisson in 1958 marked a crucial point in understanding Homo sapiens’ early presence in this region.
The skull belonged to an adolescent estimated to be around 16–17 years old and has been radiocarbon dated to approximately 39,600 years ago. More recent studies even suggest human presence as far back as 65,000 years.
This discovery has major implications for the narrative of Dayak origins. If modern humans have indeed inhabited Borneo since 40,000–65,000 years ago, this indicates a deep and continuous lineage between the ancient cave dwellers and today's Dayak communities. From an archaeological and anthropological perspective, this supports the legitimacy of the Dayak as direct heirs of the region.
B. Artifact Diversity: Evidence of Technology, Cultural Expression, and Innovation
Artifacts found in Niah Cave are diverse and reflect the level of innovation and adaptability of prehistoric societies. Among the tools discovered are:
- Flaked stone tools, mainly made from quartz, used for cutting or food preparation. These show simple yet effective technological capabilities.
- Bone tools such as spatulas, which were carefully shaped and likely used for food processing or crafting other tools.
- Prehistoric pottery, though younger in age (around 4,000 years old), indicating established household activities.
- Charcoal from fire pits, reflecting fire management—crucial for cooking, warmth, and social activities.
Calcified human bones scattered across the cave, suggesting long-term habitation and use as a communal living and burial space.
These findings indicate that the cave’s inhabitants were not merely nomadic foragers, but rather a community with an organized lifestyle, social structure, and technological capability that allowed them to thrive in a challenging tropical environment.
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C. Ecological Adaptation: Harmonious Relationship with the Tropical Environment
One of the site’s key strengths is the well-preserved fauna and flora remains, which reveal dietary habits and environmental adaptation:
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Toe bone of the giant pangolin (Manis palaeojavanica), a species that eventually went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene epoch. Source: Niah Archaeological Museum. Reproduction: Masri Sareb. |
- Giant pangolin (Manis palaeojavanica) and Sumatran tapir (Tapirus indicus), showing that large mammal hunting was practiced.
- Bearded pigs, bears, porcupines, sambar deer, and monkeys, all indicate a varied diet and ecological knowledge.
- Findings of freshwater fish, shellfish, and remnants of wild fruits suggest a flexible lifestyle across riverine, forest, and cave ecosystems.
- Pangium edule (kepayang tree seeds) indicate not random foraging but ecological intelligence, as these seeds are toxic and require specific processing techniques to be edible—evidence of advanced ecological cognition and culinary traditions still present in Dayak communities today.
All of this illustrates that the early humans in Niah Cave had deep ecological knowledge, including seasonal cycles, food preparation techniques, and hunting-gathering strategies.
Read The Human Skull from Niah Cave is 40,000 Years Old, Confirming the Origins of Borneo's Humans
D. The Cave as a Hub of Life: Social, Ritual, and Cosmological Functions
Niah Cave served more than just a shelter. Archaeological evidence reveals multiple roles of the cave as a center for spiritual and social life.
Death Rituals: Numerous human remains and burial traces show the cave was used as a cemetery, implying beliefs in an afterlife and early spiritual frameworks.
Communal Decision-making Center: The cave’s spacious interior and spatial divisions suggest functional social organization. The front area may have served as a gathering place for discussions or resource sharing.
Economic Function: The cave stored hunting yields, served as a food processing site, and was a center for basic tool production.
This model of cave dwelling can be viewed as a proto-longhouse, where humans lived communally, shared food and rituals, and organized collective life.
E. Modern Dayak Values Reflecting the Legacy of Niah Cave Ancestors
The archaeological record from Niah Cave clearly shows that the cave’s early inhabitants lived communally, made use of environmental knowledge, practiced spiritual rituals, and built a cohesive society based on cooperation and shared cosmologies. These traditions did not simply vanish but evolved and persisted across generations.
The longhouses found across modern Borneo are, in essence, architectural descendants of communal cave life. Similarly, the Dayak's reverence for forests, rivers, and sacred mountains echoes a worldview shaped by millennia of living in close, respectful interaction with nature. The presence of burial sites, fire pits, and food preparation areas within Niah Cave reveals that early Bornean humans held complex beliefs about life, death, and the spiritual world—beliefs that still permeate Dayak customs today.
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| Excavation of artifacts, ceramic studies, and ancestral historical remains in Niah Cave for carbon dating and research in Nevada, United States. Source: Niah Archaeological Museum. |
Thus, Dayak culture did not emerge in a vacuum. It is the result of a long process of evolution, meaning-making, and adaptation to Borneo’s unique ecology. Niah Cave stands not only as an archaeological site but also as a cultural and spiritual anchor that connects the Dayak of today with their prehistoric ancestors.
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the archaeological findings in Niah Cave, it can be concluded that the island of Borneo has been inhabited by modern humans for tens of thousands of years. Artifacts, human remains, and traces of prehistoric life serve as concrete evidence of the Dayak ancestors’ presence in this region.
Therefore, the origins of the Dayak people are inseparable from the deep history of Niah Cave. Instead, there exists a continuity of culture and values passed down from prehistoric times to contemporary Dayak society. This research affirms the Dayak people’s rightful status as the legitimate heirs to the land and cultural heritage of Borneo.
-- Masri Sareb Putra, M.A.
References
Manser, J. M. (2005). Morphological analysis of the human burial series at Niah Cave: Implications for late Pleistocene-Holocene Southeast Asian human evolution. NYU Dentistry
Barker, G., Barton, H., Beavitt, P., Bird, M., Daly, P., Dykes, A., Farr, L., Gilbertson, D., Hunt, C., Krigbaum, J., Lewis, H., Manser, J., McLaren, S., Paz, V., Piper, P., Pyatt, B., Rabett, R., Reynolds, T., Rose, J., Rushworth, G., Stephens, M., Stringer, C., Thompson, J., & Whittaker, P. (2002). Prehistoric foragers and farmers in south-east Asia: Renewed investigations at Niah Cave, Sarawak. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 68, 147-164. Research Portal Plus
Krigbaum, J., & Manser, J. (In preparation). The West Mouth (Niah Cave, Sarawak) burial series: A stable isotope perspective. JSTOR
Barker, G., Barton, H., Bird, M., Daly, P., Dykes, A., Farr, L., Gilbertson, D., Hunt, C., Krigbaum, J., Lewis, H., Manser, J., McLaren, S., Paz, V., Piper, P., Pyatt, B., Rabett, R., Reynolds, T., Rose, J., Rushworth, G., Stephens, M., Stringer, C., Thompson, J., & Whittaker, P. (2003). The Niah Cave Project: Preliminary report on the fourth (2003) season of fieldwork. Sarawak Museum Journal, 79, 45-120. Pure
Barker, G., Barton, H., Bird, M., Daly, P., Dykes, A., Farr, L., Gilbertson, D., Hunt, C., Krigbaum, J., Lewis, H., Manser, J., McLaren, S., Paz, V., Piper, P., Pyatt, B., Rabett, R., Reynolds, T., Rose, J., Rushworth, G., Stephens, M., Stringer, C., Thompson, J., & Whittaker, P. (2005). The archaeology of foraging and farming at Niah Cave, Sarawak. Asian Perspectives, 44(1), 90-106.