Geologically , the territory of modern Indonesia ( for convenience , hereinafter referred to as the Archipelago ) is a meeting between the three main continental plates : the Eurasian Plate , Indo-Australian Plate and the Pacific Plate ( see article Geology Indonesia) . The Indonesian archipelago as it exists today was formed during the melting of the ice after the end of the Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago .
During the Pleistocene , when it was still connected to the Asian mainland , the first settlers come . The first evidence that indicates the earliest inhabitants were the fossils of Homo erectus of Java man past 2 million to 500,000 years ago. " Flores man " ( Homo floresiensis ) have been discovered in Liang Bua , Flores, propping open the possibility of Homo Erectus until the time of the last Ice Age .
Homo sapiens first entered the archipelago since an estimated 100,000 years ago over the course of the Asian coast of West Asia , and at about 60 000 to 70 000 years ago has reached New Guinea and Australia . Those , who berfenotipe dark skin and curly hair meeting , became the ancestors of indigenous people of Melanesia ( including Papua ) now and bring culture hatchet shaped ( Paleolithic ) . Waves of Austronesian-speaking immigrants to come in waves of Neolithic culture since 3000 BC from South China through Formosa and the Philippines to bring culture square pickaxe ( Dong Son culture ) . The migration process is part of the occupation of the Pacific . The arrival of a wave of Mongoloid population is characterized by inclined towards the west , early residents urged eastward or interbreed with the locals and physically characterize the population of Maluku and Nusa Tenggara . These immigrants brought with farming techniques , including planting rice in paddy fields ( at the latest evidence since the 8th century BC ) , raising buffalo , bronze and iron processing , weaving techniques , megalithic practices , and worship spirits ( animism ) as well as sacred objects ( dynamism ) . In the first century BC already formed settlements and small kingdoms , and quite possibly already in effect as a result of the confidence of the Indian trade relations .
During the Pleistocene , when it was still connected to the Asian mainland , the first settlers come . The first evidence that indicates the earliest inhabitants were the fossils of Homo erectus of Java man past 2 million to 500,000 years ago. " Flores man " ( Homo floresiensis ) have been discovered in Liang Bua , Flores, propping open the possibility of Homo Erectus until the time of the last Ice Age .
Homo sapiens first entered the archipelago since an estimated 100,000 years ago over the course of the Asian coast of West Asia , and at about 60 000 to 70 000 years ago has reached New Guinea and Australia . Those , who berfenotipe dark skin and curly hair meeting , became the ancestors of indigenous people of Melanesia ( including Papua ) now and bring culture hatchet shaped ( Paleolithic ) . Waves of Austronesian-speaking immigrants to come in waves of Neolithic culture since 3000 BC from South China through Formosa and the Philippines to bring culture square pickaxe ( Dong Son culture ) . The migration process is part of the occupation of the Pacific . The arrival of a wave of Mongoloid population is characterized by inclined towards the west , early residents urged eastward or interbreed with the locals and physically characterize the population of Maluku and Nusa Tenggara . These immigrants brought with farming techniques , including planting rice in paddy fields ( at the latest evidence since the 8th century BC ) , raising buffalo , bronze and iron processing , weaving techniques , megalithic practices , and worship spirits ( animism ) as well as sacred objects ( dynamism ) . In the first century BC already formed settlements and small kingdoms , and quite possibly already in effect as a result of the confidence of the Indian trade relations .
