Mysteries of migration

According to Ding, "Ancient people had superb abilities in navigating nature. With an understanding of currents, wind, stars, and bird migration, they could navigate the Pacific. Using these methods, they arrived at more and more islands, and gradually created the Austronesian cultural circle."

The exhibition also displays a replica of a human skull unearthed from the Qihedong site in Xianghu town, Fujian, estimated to be from 10,000 to 8,400 years ago. It is very precious because it is one of the earliest and most complete ancient human skulls ever discovered in the Fujian area. More importantly, by extracting its DNA, scholars have provided scientific evidence for the origins of the Austronesian peoples.

In 2020, an essay in the journal Science, titled Ancient DNA indicates human population shifts and admixture in northern and southern China, was written by researchers from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Through the genome-wide data of 26 ancient human remains from northern and southern East Asia, spanning 9,500 to 300 years ago, including some extracted from the Qihedong skull, they carried out a series of scientific analyses that "supported a southern China origin for proto-Austronesians".

The research shows the Austronesian peoples, now widely distributed across the Taiwan Strait, Southeast Asia, and the southwestern Pacific islands, have very close genetic ties to the Neolithic coastal populations of southern China. This suggests that the earliest Austronesian peoples originated in Fujian and its neighboring areas in southern China, with their origins traced back 8,400 years.

Moreover, analyses of pottery vessel morphology and cultural traditions shown in the display also support the view that China's southeast coast was one of the major origins of Austronesian peoples.

An important section of the exhibition is the Neolithic cultural relics discovered in Fujian, which may have been left by the ancestors of the Austronesian peoples. Many of them are newly unearthed and being presented to the public for the first time.

Qin says the archaeological discoveries in Fujian seem to show a trend that people developed from mountainous areas to coastal areas, as Paleolithic findings are located in the mountainous regions, while Neolithic discoveries extend to coastal areas.

One highlight is an oyster shell tool from the Xiying site on Pingtan Island in Fujian, which was likely used to extract oyster meat. "This is a stone tool from about 7,000 years ago. We judged its function based on its format, the unearthing environment, and the ethnological materials. This shows ancient people adapted to their environment and made the most of local resources," says Qin.

Communication between present-day Fujian and China's Central Plains can also be traced. For example, a drum-shaped pottery vessel on display, unearthed from the Huangtulun site in Fuzhou from about 3,500 to 3,000 years ago, has a similar style to the bronze drum-shaped vessels found in the Central Plains, indicating possible cultural interactions at that time.

The origins and migrations of Austronesian peoples have been a significant subject in "Archaeology China", a major program that studies early Chinese history through well-planned excavations. In the past few years, archaeologists have excavated the Keqiutou group sites on Pingtan Island and gained a better understanding of the Austronesian peoples' ancestors.

Although scholars have made vital progress in studying the group's origins and how they migrated, the reasons why they migrated are yet to be revealed.

The exhibition is a side event of the second general assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, which was held in Chongqing in November.

To gain a better understanding of the Austronesian peoples, the ACHA Austronesian and Maritime Civilization Committee announced its establishment during the event. The committee's first general conference was then held in Pingtan county, Fujian.

"The Austronesian language family extended from China's southeast coast, across Southeast Asia, and deep into the Pacific. Our shared heritage is both tangible, as seen in archaeological sites and artifacts, and intangible, reflected in our stories, navigational knowledge, agricultural and fishing traditions, and folk customs that still exist today," said Ottino, during the conference.

Contact the writer at wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn