Anatomically Modern Humans in Southeast Asia: Fossil and Archaeological Records

Abstract

This paper presents archaeological evidence of the people of Mainland and Island Southeast Asia, including fossilized cranial, post-cranial, and dental elements and the artifacts, paintings, burials, and workshops created by anatomically modern humans (AMH) during the late Middle Pleistocene and early Late Pleistocene (ca. 70,000 – 12,000 BP). Both fossil and archaeological evidence suggests that early modern humans successfully adapted to the diverse environments in various regions of Southeast Asia and developed locally unique cultural traditions through time.