Indonesia is a vast nation with a diverse array of ethnic groups, races, religions, and regions. Consequently, it is natural for the Indonesian people to possess a multitude of cultures, including natural wealth, intellectual wealth, and ancestral heritage. Given the vastness and significance of this nation, have we ever considered the origins of the Indonesian ancestors?
As the nation’s generation, it is essential to understand the history of the theories concerning the origins of Indonesian ancestors to gain insights into the development of our ancestors’ lifestyles. We are perhaps more familiar with the history of our nation from the period of Dutch, Japanese, and Portuguese colonization up to the independence of Indonesia.
However, long before these historical periods, there was a history of how we came to have various ethnic groups and cultures in several regions. From Sabang to Merauke, the region has a long history before it became part of the Indonesian ethnic groups.
There are several theories regarding the origins of the Indonesian ancestors that are popular among experts, both domestic and international. Below are the theories of the origins of Indonesian ancestors that one should be aware of:
Yunnan Theory
The Yunnan Theory posits that the ancestors of the Indonesian people originated from China, specifically the Yunnan region. It is believed that the ancestors of the Indonesian people left the Yunnan area around the upper reaches of the Salween and Mekong Rivers, which were known for their fertile land. Due to natural disasters and attacks from other tribes, they began to migrate.
These ancestors had a well-developed maritime culture, having invented the original model of the outrigger boat, a characteristic feature of Indonesian vessels at the time. The Austronesian inhabitants of the Indonesian archipelago then settled and eventually became known as the Malay Indonesians.
These people are considered the direct ancestors of the present-day Indonesians. Scholars who support this theory include J.R. Logan, R.H. Geldern, J.H.C. Kern, and J.R. Foster. The primary basis of the Yunnan Theory is the discovery of ancient axes in the Indonesian archipelago that share similarities with ancient axes found in Southeast Asia.
These discoveries indicate a migration process from Southeast Asia to the Indonesian archipelago. The migration was likely driven by pressure from stronger neighboring tribes. According to the Yunnan Theory, there were three waves of migration: Proto-Malay, Deutero-Malay, and Melanoids.
The Yunnan Theory is further supported by linguistic similarities between the languages spoken in the Indonesian archipelago and those in Cambodia, specifically the Polynesian Malay language. This phenomenon suggests that the Cambodians originated from Yunnan by following the Mekong River.
The migration flow continued as some of these people moved into the Indonesian archipelago. Thus, the linguistic similarities between Malay and Cham languages in Cambodia indicate a connection with the Yunnan region.
The Yunnan Theory is also supported by domestic scholar Moh. Ali, who argues that the ancestors of the Indonesian people originated from Yunnan. This theory is based on the presumed migration of people from Mongolia to the south due to pressures from stronger or more powerful tribes.
The three waves of migration in the Yunnan Theory are detailed as follows:
Proto-Malay
The Proto-Malay, or ancient Malays, were Austronesians from Asia who first arrived in the Indonesian archipelago around 1500 BC. They entered the archipelago via two routes: the western route through Malaysia-Sumatra and the eastern route through the Philippines-Sulawesi.
The Proto-Malay people had a more advanced culture compared to earlier humans, characterized by the Neolithic age with polished stone tools. Research by Van Heekeren in Kalumpang or Northern Sumatra shows a fusion of square axe and oval axe traditions.
This tradition was brought by Austronesian people coming from the north or through the Philippines and Sulawesi. The descendants of the Proto-Malay are the Dayak and Toraja tribes, which are part of the Indonesian ethnic groups.
Deutero-Malay
The Deutero-Malay, or young Malays, succeeded in displacing and eventually assimilating with their predecessors, the Proto-Malay, around 400-300 BC. This represents the second wave of migration into the Indonesian archipelago.
The young Malays entered the archipelago from the west, traveling from Yunnan, specifically the Tonkin Gulf, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, and eventually reaching the Indonesian archipelago. This group had a more advanced culture compared to the Proto-Malay, evidenced by their production of bronze and iron artifacts such as bell-shaped axes and tools.
In addition to metal culture, they began developing megalithic culture, including creating menhirs and tiered stones. The descendants of the Deutero-Malay are the Javanese, Malay, and Bugis tribes within the Indonesian ethnic groups.
Melanoids
The Melanoids also appeared in the Papua region around the end of the Ice Age, approximately 70,000 BC.
Primitive Peoples
Before the arrival of the Malay groups (Proto-Malay and Deutero-Malay) in the archipelago, there were already primitive groups that had settled in the region. These primitive peoples had very simple cultures. They lived nomadically with very limited technology, known as Paleolithic technology.
Wedoid Tribe
The remnants of the Wedoid tribe still exist today, such as the Sakai tribe in Siak and the Kubu tribe on the Jambi-Palembang border. These groups survive by gathering forest products and maintaining a simple culture, which makes it difficult for them to adapt to modern society.
Negroid Tribe
The Negroid tribe is no longer found in Indonesia but is still present in the interior regions of Malaysia and the Philippines. Tribes included in this group are the Semang in the Malay Peninsula and the Negrito in the Philippines.
Nusantara Theory
The Nusantara Theory of the origins of Indonesian ancestors is quite different from the Yunnan Theory. This theory suggests that the Indonesian people originated from within Indonesia itself, without migration from other regions. The Nusantara Theory is supported by experts such as Gorys Keraf, J. Crawford, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, and Muhammad Yamin.
The primary basis of the Nusantara Theory is the idea that the Malay people, who had a high level of civilization, developed their culture independently within their region. Thus, the conclusion is that the original Malays in the archipelago grew and developed on their own without migration.
The Nusantara Theory is also supported by the discovery of linguistic similarities between Malay and Cambodian languages as a coincidence. Additionally, the discovery of Homo Soloensis and Homo Wajakensis on Java indicates that the descendants of the Malays have roots in Java.
Differences in language can be attributed to the development of Austronesian languages in the archipelago compared to the languages that evolved in Central Asia, such as Indo-European languages.
Out of Africa Theory
The Out of Africa Theory presents a different perspective on the origins of Indonesian ancestors. This theory suggests that the ancestors of the Indonesian people came from Africa. This assumption is based on genetic studies through mitochondrial DNA research.
These people migrated from Africa to Australia, nearing the Indonesian region. The theory proposes that Africans migrated to Western Asia around 50,000-70,000 years ago. At that time, the Earth was transitioning from the Ice Age, with lower sea levels due to remaining glaciers.
This period allowed for sea crossings using simple boats. The migration of Africans to Asia split into different groups, with some settling temporarily in the Middle East or Southwest Asia, and others migrating along the Arabian Peninsula to India, East Asia, Australia, and Indonesia.
This phenomenon is supported by the discovery of male fossils in Lake Mungo and two potential migration routes: one through the Nile Valley and another through the Sinai Peninsula, north through the Arab Levant, and via the Red Sea.
Out of Taiwan Theory
The Out of Taiwan Theory is similar to previous theories but suggests that the ancestors of the Indonesian people came from the island of Formosa or Taiwan. This theory is supported by expert Harry Truman Simanjuntak, based on arguments related to genetic patterns.
The primary basis of the Out of Taiwan Theory is the absence of genetic similarities between Indonesian chromosomes and those from China. The language used and developed in the archipelago belongs to the Austronesian language family.
The Austronesian language was used by the ancestors of the Indonesian people, especially those who settled on Formosa. Therefore, from a linguistic perspective, it is clear that the people of the archipelago adopted and developed Austronesian culture into the Indonesian identity we have today.
