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| The History of Dayak: A definitive and foundational volume that serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding Borneo and the Dayak in their full complexity, across multiple dimensions. Exceptional. | Chapter 4 | From Varuna-Dvipa to Borneo | Observing the historical dynamics of Borneo across the centuries is a fascinating endeavor. The island, now recognized as the third largest in the world, has appeared under a variety of names and designations throughout history. | The philologist R. Ng. Poerbatjaraka briefly alludes to Tanjungpura in his writings. Even within the famous Sumpah Palapa, the phrase “…Tanjungpura pula” appears among the territories that would be subdued or turned into feudatories of the Majapahit Empire at the time. In its original formulation, the oath reads “Lamun huwus kalah Nusantara,” which literally means “when Nusantara has been conquered.” Thus, the verb implies conquest, not unification, contrary to the interpretation often promoted by later ideological narratives. | As we know, the classical Javanese text Nagarakretagama records the name Bakulapura. The word bakula refers to a cape or promontory. Meanwhile, the chronicle Pararaton refers to Borneo as Tanjungpura. It seems, therefore, that early Nusantara historiography recognized Tanjungpura as a designation for this immense island. In earlier times, the archipelago commonly employed descriptive epithets for its islands. For instance, Jawadwipa, the “Island of Rice,” referred to Java; Suwarnadwipa, the “Island of Gold,” referred to Sumatra; and Hipa Dwipa, the island said to conceal diamonds within the depths of its earth. The latter was also sometimes called Ratna Dwipa, the island strewn with precious gems (Lontaan, 1975: 70–71). | For this reason, it remains both intriguing and intellectually challenging to compose a comprehensive history of Borneo comparable to The History of Java, although parts of that work were later suspected to contain plagiarized material. When one examines historical maps of Borneo through the centuries, an interesting pattern emerges. At first the island appears upright; over time it seems increasingly tilted. Yet its outline, strikingly reminiscent of a tiger poised to pounce, has never fundamentally changed. | Venturing further into the prehistory of Borneo reveals a number of remarkable scholarly works. Among them is the study “Borneo and Iron” by the linguist Robert Blust. Based on linguistic evidence, Blust argues that knowledge of iron technology significantly predates the earliest documented iron artifacts on the island, which date from roughly 500–200 BCE. | Pieces of obsidian traced to sources as far away as Britain suggest that inter-island trade networks may have existed as early as 1000 BCE. The island’s substantial deposits of high-grade iron ore make Borneo a plausible locus in Southeast Asia for the transition from reliance on imported iron tools to the development of local ironworking traditions. | From a geological perspective, the island’s formation is also linked to the phenomenon known as Deglaciation. Deglaciation refers to the transition from the full glacial conditions of the Ice Age to a warmer interglacial climate, marked by global warming and rising sea levels as continental ice sheets receded. | For millions of years, approximately 2.5 million years ago until around 10,000 years ago, Borneo was physically connected to mainland Southeast Asia as part of a vast landmass known as Sundaland. | During that period, human and animal populations could migrate freely across what is now ocean floor. When global deglaciation eventually raised sea levels, this land bridge disappeared, transforming Borneo once again into an island. | Archaeological evidence indicates that humans reached Sarawak by land at least 40,000 years ago. Further discoveries demonstrate that prehistoric communities once lived within Niah Caves, located near Miri. These findings are discussed in studies by Charles Tyler (1993) and Masri (2021). From Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak, the archaeological site lies roughly an hour’s journey away. | The historical evidence uncovered there is difficult to dispute. The archaeological record strongly indicates that Borneo has been inhabited by humans for tens of thousands of years. Indeed, research conducted by Graeme Barker and colleagues (2007) suggests that human presence on the island may date back at least 46,000 years. These early populations appear to have settled in the hilly landscapes surrounding Niah in Sarawak, leaving behind traces that continue to illuminate the deep human past of Borneo. | (More to come) | Readers who wish to obtain a copy of this book may contact: anyarmart.com or WA +62 812-8774-378 |
