Behaviors and Adaptations of Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers in the (Sub)Tropical Rainforest Area—Archaeology, Chronology and Paleoenvironment

Tropical and subtropical rainforests are recognized as unique living environments for prehistoric hunter-gatherers. Within these diverse environments, different human species have been identified, including Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis, early modern humans, and probably other unknown archaic human species (e.g., Denisovans), all of which collectively demonstrate both the antiquity and complexity of human evolution in these regions. As a result, understanding how early humans coped with and adapted to the unique climate, animal and plant resources in these environments has become a hot topic in both archaeological and Quaternary research. From a broader perspective, their study provides a unique perspective from which to understand the cultural adaptability and diversity of our ancestors.

The study of behaviors and adaptations of prehistoric hunter-gatherers in tropical and subtropical rainforest environments is an attractive area of research for scholars. However, due to the often highly weathered and eroded cultural remains and sediments in these rainy and humid settings, much information (e.g., technological strategies, environmental contexts and high-resolution chronological frameworks) is still missing and detailed future studies are needed to further improve our understanding of these complex landscapes. This is especially true in comparison to the extensively studied (sub)tropical Savannah in Africa, and the temperate grassland environment in northern Eurasia. As solutions, quantitative technological attribute analysis on lithic assemblages, microscopic use-wear and residue analyses will all be crucial approaches to reveal information about these landscapes and early human adaptations. In addition, zooarchaeology, landscape archaeology, and multiple geochronological dating studies will also be crucial.

The research topic will focus on interactions between prehistoric hunter-gatherers and rainforest environments, along with corresponding subsistence strategies and technological and behavioral evolutionary trends, all situated within an accurate geochronological framework. Various cultural remains, including stone artifacts, bone artifacts, ochre, ornaments, as well as plant and animal fossils, can be used for analyses. Five specific themes are listed for consideration:
• technology, functions and symbolism of cultural remains;
• rainforest landscapes and resource exploitation and usage;
• mobility, settlement and social networks of prehistoric hunter-gatherers;
• paleoenvironmental reconstruction;
• geochronological dating;