Lene Hara cave
Lautém District | |
| Region | eastern tip of East Timor |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 8°23′32″S 127°17′25″E / 8.39222°S 127.29028°E |
The Lena Hara cave is the main cave of a system of
The cave was first investigated in 1963 by Portuguese anthropologist Antonio de Almeida, when Timor Leste was still under Portuguese rule.[1] Radiocarbon dating of the cave taken from digs beside those investigated by Almeida, by a team led by Sue O'Connor from the Australian National University, shows deposition of shells (trochus and strombus) by transitory inhabitants beginning 35,000 years BP.[1]
O'Connor et al pointed out that the earliest occupation of Australia is dated to around 55,000 BP, so it is unclear whether the early Timor settlers belong to the same wave of colonisation as the first Australian settlers.[1]
O'Connor also reported[2] finding in Lena Hara Holocene fish hooks made from shell, and shell beads.[3]
In May 2009, carved faces were found high in the cave, and have since been dated to 10,000 years. This was reported in the journal Antiquity of February 2011.[4] Paintings in Ile Kére Kére are believed to be 2,000 to 6,000 years old.
In March 2020, 16
References
- ^ S2CID 163141684.
- S2CID 162658431.
- ^ O'Connor, Sue; Spriggs, Matthew; Veth, Peter (1 January 2002). "Direct dating of shell beads from Lene Hara Cave, East Timor". Australian Archaeology.
- ABC News Online, 11 February 2011
- .
Further reading
- Protecting the rock art of Tutuala / Proteje Arte Fatuk Tutuala nian (Report) (in English and Tetum). Jakarta: UNESCO. 2017. JAK/2018/PI/H/9. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
External links
Media related to Lene Hara at Wikimedia Commons