Recent Advances in the Study of Austronesian Origins and Dispersal from an Archaeological Perspective

Abstract The origins and dispersal of the Austronesians constitute one of the most significant research topics in prehistoric archaeology across Island Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. This subject demands multidisciplinary collaboration—particularly among linguistics, archaeology, physical anthropology, and genetics—with archaeology playing an indispensable role. In recent years, new discoveries in regions such as Taiwan (China), the Philippines, and Micronesia have significantly advanced archaeological understanding of Austronesian migrations. Both domestic and international scholars have made notable progress, bringing renewed attention to the northern coast of the South China Sea as a key area for research on Austronesian origins and dispersal.