Variasi Sisa Fauna Vertebrata di Situs Gua Batu Baras, Pegunungan Meratus Zona Tenggara, Kalimantan Selatan pada Kala Holosen

MUHAMMAD LANANG ADIYATMA, Dr. Mahirta, M.A.

2024 | Skripsi | ARKEOLOGI

Situs Gua Batu Baras adalah hunian prasejarah di Pegunungan Meratus, Desa Bangkalan Dayak, Kalimantan Selatan. Hasil ekskavasi yang dilakukan Balai Arkeologi Kalimantan Selatan pada kotak TP 1 dan TP 2 menemukan artefak seperti alat batu, tulang hewan, gerabah, gambar cadas, serta rangka manusia. Berdasarkan analisis C14, situs ini berasal dari periode Holosen Awal (10.480 BP/12.402 calBP – 3.930 BP/4.420 calBP), dengan indikasi adanya hunian berkelanjutan dari Masa Pra-Neolitik hingga Neolitik.

Penelitian zooarkeologi ini menggunakan sisa fauna berupa tulang dan gigi. Hasil identifikasi menunjukkan 13 famili dari 9 ordo dengan jenis fauna yang ditemukan memiliki habitat bervariasi seperti padang rumput, hutan tropis, dan muara/estuari. Beberapa hewan kemungkinan terdeposisi di gua karena faktor alami atau aktivitas konsumsi oleh manusia. Hewan yang memiliki ekosistem di gua seperti tikus, kadal kaca, dan ular kemungkinan terdeposisi akibat faktor alam, sedangkan hewan dengan ekosistem di luar gua seperti ikan, babi, dan monyet nampaknya terdeposisi akibat konsumsi manusia. Kedua kotak ekskavasi didominasi oleh temuan mamalia berukuran sedang (5-300 kg) dengan kemungkinan fauna seperti monyet (Macaca sp), babi (Sus sp), dan rusa (Cervidae).

Hasil analisis sisa fauna, temuan gerabah, dan stratigrafi mengindikasikan okupasi situs terkait dengan aktivitas perburuan Masa Pra-Neolitik hingga Masa Neolitik yang terlihat pada temuan kotak TP 1. Untuk kotak TP 2, layer B sebagai layer dengan temuan arkeologis terbanyak hanya sedikit ditemukan sehingga kurang relevan untuk melihat keberlanjutan aktivitas konsumsi fauna. Pada Masa Pra-Neolitik kuantitas mamalia berukuran sedang meningkat dengan tidak adanya temuan gerabah. Terdapat fenomena pada Masa Neolitik dimana kuantitas mamalia sedang yang menurun seiring dengan kuantitas gerabah yang meningkat, namun korelasinya belum diketahui. Kemungkinan konsumsi fauna seperti babi (Sus sp), monyet (Macaca sp), banteng (Bos sp) dan rusa/kijang berlanjut hingga Masa Neolitik dengan intensitas perburuan yang lebih rendah. 

Batu Baras Cave is a prehistoric habitation site located in the Meratus Mountains, Bangkalan Dayak Village, South Kalimantan. Excavations conducted by South Kalimantan Archaeological Office – now part of BRIN – in boxes TP 1 and TP 2 uncovered artifacts such as stone tools, animal bones, pottery, rock arts, and human remains. Based on C14 analysis, this site dates back to the Early Holocene period (10.480 BP/12.402 calBP – 3.930 BP/4.420 calBP) with indications of continuous habitation from the Pre-Neolithic to the Neolithic period.

This zooarchaeological research studied the animal remains of the two excavation boxes, such as bones and teeth. The identification revealed 13 families from 9 fauna orders, with the fauna exhibiting various habitats, including grasslands, tropical forests, and estuaries. Some animals were possibly deposited in the cave due to natural factors or human consumption activities. Such can be  observed through the way that animals that are a part of cave ecosystems such as rats, lizards, and snakes are likely deposited due to natural factors, while animals with ecosystems outside the cave such as fish, pigs, and monkeys appear to be deposited due to human consumption. Both excavation boxes are dominated by findings of medium-sized mammals (5-300 kg) with possible fauna such as monkeys (Macaca sp), pigs (Sus sp), and deer (Cervidae).

The analysis results of faunal remains, pottery findings, and stratigraphy indicate that the occupation of the site is related to hunting activities from the Pre-Neolithic to Neolithic Periods as seen in the findings of box TP 1. For box TP 2, layer B, as the layer with the most archaeological findings, was seldom seen, therefore, it is less relevant to see the continuity of fauna consumption activities. In the Pre-Neolithic Period, the quantity of medium-sized mammals increased with no pottery findings. It was also observed that there was a phenomenon in the Neolithic Period where the quantity of medium-sized mammals decreased along with the increasing quantity of pottery, but the correlation is yet to be known. It is likely that the consumption of fauna such as pigs (Sus sp), monkeys (Macaca sp), bull (Bos sp) and deer continued into Neolithic Period with a lower hunting intensity.

Kata Kunci : Gua Batu Baras, zooarkeologi, identifikasi fauna vertebrata, habitat fauna.