Konsumsi Limpet (Lottidae, Nacellidae, dan Patellidae) dan Intensitas Okupasi di Gua Makpan Pulau Alor pada Masa Prasejarah

Zahrotun Nisa, Dr. Mahirta, M.A.

2024 | Skripsi | ARKEOLOGI

Penelitian ini membahas tentang konsumsi limpet (Lottidae, Nacellidae, dan Patellidae) dan intensitas okupasi berdasarkan kepadatan temuan jenis kerang lain, artefak batu, dan sisa mikro tumbuhan berupa butir pati (starch) di Gua Makpan pada masa prasejarah. Pengambilan sampel temuan berdasarkan pada lapisan yang mewakili fase hunian Plestosen Akhir, Terminal Pleistosen, Transisi Pleistosen-Holosen, Holosen Awal-Tengah, dan Holosen Akhir. Untuk mengetahui tentang konsumsi limpet selama masa hunian, maka dilakukan identifikasi hingga tingkat spesies dan pengukuran total panjang cangkang limpet. Hasil pengukuran tersebut dihitung rata-ratanya dan dibandingkan pada setiap lapisan hunian. Hasil analisis limpet menunjukkan bahwa penghuni Gua Makpan telah mengonsumsi limpet sejak masa Pleistosen Akhir (40,360-38,585 cal BP). Spesies limpet Scutellastra flexuosa famili Patellidae merupakan kerang limpet yang paling banyak dikonsumsi sejak awal hunian, terutama pada masa Terminal Pleistosen. Limpet jenis Nacellidae dan Lottidae juga dikonsumsi, namun jumlahya tidak sebanyak Patellidae. Dilihat dari rata-rata panjang cangkang limpet sejak awal hunian, ukuran Patellidae cenderung semakin mengecil, memberi indikasi bahwa limpet ini dikonsumsi sangat intensif. Hal ini didukung dengan banyaknya temuan artefak batu pada masa padat hunian ketika jumlah Patellidae sangat banyak. Menariknya, ukuran limpet Lottidae cenderung membesar dan Nacellidae cenderung berukuran sama. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa limpet tersebut tumbuh dengan optimum karena kedua limpet tersebut tidak banyak dikonsumsi. Fenomena tersebut menunjukkan bahwa terdapat adanya perubahan ukuran  rata-rata cangkang yang dipengaruhi oleh seleksi pengumpulan kerang. Selain mengonsumsi limpet, penghuni Gua Makpan juga diduga mengonsumsi sumber makanan lain seperti umbi-umbian. Hal tersebut didukung oleh adanya temuan starch umbi-umbian yang bervariasi pada temuan artefak batu.

This study discusses the consumption of limpets (Lottidae, Nacellidae, dan Patellidae) and occupation intensity based on the density of other shellfish taxa, stone artifacts, and plant micro remains (starch) in Makpan Cave during the prehistoric period. Sampling of findings was based on layers representing the Late Pleistocene, Terminal Pleistocene, Pleistocene-Holocene Transition, Early-Middle Holocene, and Late Holocene habitation phases. To understand the consumption of limpets during the habitation period, identification was carried out to the species level, and the total length of limpet shells was measured. The measured results were averaged and compared in each habitation layer. The analysis of limpets indicates that the inhabitants of Makpan Cave have been consuming limpets since the Late Pleistocene period (40,360-38,585 cal BP). The limpet species Scutellastra flexuosa of the Patellidae family was the most consumed limpet since the early habitation, especially during the Terminal Pleistocene period. Limpets of the Nacellidae and Lottidae were also consumed, but their quantities are not as much as Patellidae. The average length of limpet shells since the early habitation showed the sizes of Patellidae tended to decrease, indicating intensive consumption of these limpet. This is supported by the abundance of stone artifact findings during the dense habitation period when the number of Patellidae is very high. Interestingly, the size of Lottidae limpets tends to increase, and Nacellidae limpets tend to be of the same size. This indicates that these limpets grow optimally because both types are not extensively consumed. This phenomenon indicates changes in the average shell size influenced by shell collection selection. In addition to consuming limpets, the inhabitants of Makpan Cave are also thought to have consumed other food sources such as tubers. This is supported by the varied findings of tuber starch in stone artifacts.

Kata Kunci : konsumsi limpet, Gua Makpan, intensitas okupasi, masa prasejarah