Adaptation to open environments
During the last Ice Age when the climate forced Europeans to live in caves, Malaysia experienced a much milder climate. Thus, the traditional notion of early humans as cave dwellers may not be correct for this region as many Palaeolithic sites are located in open areas. However, towards the end of the Pleistocene and into early Holocene times, caves became the preferred habitation. Only later, during the Neolithic when agricultural lifestyles began, did populations return to open environments.
- Information in the full article includes
- Palaeolithic open sites
- Hoabinhian shell middens
- Neolithic evidence from open sites
- Neolithic farming communities
