Morowali, Central Sulawesi — Hidden within the dense forests of Morowali lies a prehistoric site believed to hold the oldest human traces in Eastern Indonesia. Known as Topogaro Cave, this site has drawn international attention from archaeologists for preserving cultural remnants of ancient humans estimated to be 42,000 years old. Unfortunately, this irreplaceable legacy now faces serious threat due to the aggressive expansion of nickel and quarry mining in the area.
Topogaro is more than just a cave. It is a complex archaeological site consisting of three main caves—Topogaro 1, 2, and 3—located about 3 kilometers from the eastern coast of Sulawesi and perched 150 meters above sea level. Here, researchers from Indonesia and Japan have uncovered numerous important artifacts: stone tools, pottery shards, prehistoric animal remains like anoa and babirusa, and even a hand stencil painting on a cave wall—marking the earliest form of human expression.
One of the most intriguing discoveries is the resemblance of Topogaro pottery patterns to the Lapita culture found in the Pacific, suggesting a vast network of interregional contact thousands of years ago, long before the invention of modern ships.
“Topogaro is not merely a local site. It could be the key to understanding Homo sapiens migration through Southeast Asia and their connections to Africa and Europe,” said Rintaro Ono, an archaeologist from the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan, who led the excavation alongside Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
Excavations conducted since 2016 revealed 19 cultural layers representing different periods of human life—ranging from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene, or from 42,000 years ago to just a few centuries past.
But now, the site faces real danger from forces outside the academic world. Extensive mining activities, especially for nickel, have already damaged areas around the caves. Some sections of the site have reportedly been destroyed. While the core archaeological zone remains intact, researchers stress the urgent need to designate a legally protected conservation zone to prevent further loss.
“If zoning and legal protection aren’t enforced soon, we risk losing this priceless heritage,” Ono warned.
Archaeologists are calling on the central government and relevant authorities to take concrete action to save the Topogaro site. This is not merely about preserving ancient objects—it’s about safeguarding our identity, knowledge, and the deep roots of human history.
If Topogaro Cave is lost, we don’t just lose an ancient site—we lose part of who we are.
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