Dr. Anggraeni, a lecturer of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), was officially inaugurated as a professor in the field of prehistoric archaeology on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the UGM Senate Hall. During the inauguration ceremony, she delivered her professorial speech titled “Adaptive Strategies in Prehistoric Societies and Their Relevance Today.”
In her address, Professor Anggraeni emphasized that many of the current global issues, such as hunger, health, social interaction, economy, environment, and waste, can be understood through archaeological remains, which offer insights into human experiences in the past.
Archaeological findings indicate that even in prehistoric times, humans relied on efficiency as an adaptive strategy to cope with climate-related risks and limited resources.
“We can observe this through the adaptive strategies employed by prehistoric communities, especially those found at sites across Indonesia,” she explained.
Professor Anggraeni noted that climate change from the end of the Pleistocene to the early Holocene drove prehistoric humans to adapt to shifting resources.
This is evident from remnants such as habitation traces, stone tools, and flakes, which show that hunter-gatherers developed new technologies.
“The dominance of tools made from specific stones indicates they were selective in their material choices and efficient in utilizing scarce resources,” she said.
Additionally, remains from early village communities reveal a transition from a hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming.
This is reflected in settlement traces, such as postholes, fragments of pottery vessels, and finely polished stone tools.
Professor Anggraeni focused her discussion on the adaptive strategies of early Austronesian-speaking migrants (2000 – 1500 BCE), generally associated with carefully prepared stone artifacts and pottery vessels found throughout Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The availability of food sources, tools, and the reduction of other risk factors seemingly encouraged early migrants to adapt quickly to new environments.
Artifacts found at the Neolithic sites of Minanga Sipakko and Kamassi suggest not only swift adaptation but also that inhabitants of these sites lived comfortably, with enough leisure time to produce a variety of high-quality items.
Moreover, the availability of plant-based food, animal protein, and other essential materials contributed to the ease of life in rural Kalumpang.
The lives of early migrants in mainland and island Southeast Asia between 500 BCE and 1000 CE appeared to be more established and stable, leading to population growth.
This is evident from the increased quantity and quality of artifacts found at the two early Neolithic sites in Kalumpang, which also marked the rise of new villages.
During this period, trade emerged as an adaptive strategy in response to the increasing complexity of society.
Many challenges faced by modern Indonesian society today are similar to those in prehistoric times.
Lifestyle trends such as “back to nature” movements and the culture of reuse and recycling were also practiced in prehistoric times.
The use of pottery and natural dyes is another example.
“Many aspects of prehistoric heritage remain relevant and can be applied as adaptive strategies today,” she remarked.
Professor M. Baiquni, Chair of the UGM Board of Professors, stated that Professor Anggraeni is one of 526 active professors at UGM and one of 17 currently active professors out of 45 who have served at FIB UGM.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian