Cultural Dental Modification in Prehistoric Population in Indonesia

The purpose of this paper is to describe the variation of dental modification related to the history of human migration in Indonesia. Material used in this study were cranium of ancient populations from Java (Binangun, Leran), Bali (Semawang, Gilimanuk), Sumba (Melolo) and Flores (Liang Bua, Liang Toge, Lewoleba). The pattern of dental modification were observed and categorized. It is assumed that the variation of dental modification was influenced by culture that was brought by migrant population, or it could be, there was a mix-culture between migrant’s and indigenous population. Furthermore, the variation of dental modification indicates the in-migration from different time and different group of migrant people. The pattern of dental modification that disappeared earlier is the oldest pattern that has ever been practiced in Indonesia. In the other hand, the youngest patterns or the newest influence is the patterns that existed in longer time. This information is suitable with pattern of migration of Austronesian people into Indonesia