Archeologists at National Tsing Hua University have uncovered the oldest and largest production area for shell tools found in the Pacific, providing early evidence of interaction between Austronesians in Taiwan and overseas.
The burial site on Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, contains a trove of artifacts dating back 3,800 to 4,200 years, said university associate professor of anthropology Chiu Hung-lin (邱鴻霖), who is leading the excavation with fellow anthropology professor Li Kuang-ti (李匡悌).
The site was discovered in 2017 during renovations of a building by the Kenting National Park Administration.
Photo: Courtesy of National Tsing Hua University
Between 2019 and last year, Chiu and Li excavated the site, finding sarcophagi, shell mounds, ash pits and a large number of other artifacts.
Fifty-one sets of human remains were uncovered, 10 of which were buried with stone slabs or coral burial artifacts, providing valuable insight into the burial practices, culture and physiognomy of Taiwan’s early residents, Chiu said.
ROBUST CAPABILITIES
They also found a large number of shell tools in many stages of completion, as well as the byproducts of their production, showing that the prehistoric people of Oluanpi had robust shell toolmaking capabilities, the university said.
Considering the similarities between the tools and others found across the Pacific, the finding proves early interaction between the peoples in Taiwan and overseas, having significant implications for Austronesian studies, Chiu said.
This is the first time such a large number of shell tools has been found in Taiwan, he added.
The artifacts are worth protecting, but the needs of local residents must also be considered, Chiu said, calling on the authorities to find a balance between preservation and development, while also finding a way to keep and display the artifacts near where they were found.
EVA Air is prohibiting the use of portable chargers on board all flights starting from Saturday, while China Airlines is advising passengers not to use them, following the lead of South Korean airlines. Current regulations prohibit portable chargers and lithium batteries from check-in luggage and require them to be properly packed in carry-on baggage, EVA Air said. To improve onboard safety, portable chargers and spare lithium batteries would be prohibited from use on all fights starting on Saturday, it said. Passengers are advised to fully charge electronic devices before boarding and use the AC and USB charging outlets at their seat, it said. South
Hong Kong-based American singer-songwriter Khalil Fong (方大同) has passed away at the age of 41, Fong’s record label confirmed yesterday. “With unwavering optimism in the face of a relentless illness for five years, Khalil Fong gently and gracefully bid farewell to this world on the morning of February 21, 2025, stepping into the next realm of existence to carry forward his purpose and dreams,” Fu Music wrote on the company’s official Facebook page. “The music and graphic novels he gifted to the world remain an eternal testament to his luminous spirit, a timeless treasure for generations to come,” it said. Although Fong’s
WAR SIMULATION: The developers of the board game ‘2045’ consulted experts and analysts, and made maps based on real-life Chinese People’s Liberation Army exercises To stop invading Chinese forces seizing Taiwan, board gamer Ruth Zhong chooses the nuclear option: Dropping an atomic bomb on Taipei to secure the nation’s freedom and her victory. The Taiwanese board game 2045 is a zero-sum contest of military strategy and individual self-interest that puts players on the front lines of a simulated Chinese attack. Their battlefield game tactics would determine the theoretical future of Taiwan, which in the real world faces the constant threat of a Chinese invasion. “The most interesting part of this game is that you have to make continuous decisions based on the evolving situation,
China’s military buildup in the southern portion of the first island chain poses a serious threat to Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, a defense analyst warned. Writing in a bulletin on the National Defense and Security Research’s Web site on Thursday, Huang Tsung-ting (黃宗鼎) said that China might choke off Taiwan’s energy supply without it. Beginning last year, China entrenched its position in the southern region of the first island chain, often with Russia’s active support, he said. In May of the same year, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) force consisting of a Type 054A destroyer, Type 055 destroyer,
RSS