New Books Network Charles Higham, "Early Southeast Asia: From First Humans to First Civilizations" (NUS Press, 2024)
Dec 1, 2025
Charles Higham, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Otago, delves into Southeast Asia's rich history, covering nearly two million years from early human species to the rise of civilizations. He highlights the groundbreaking discoveries of Homo erectus and the mysterious island hominins like Homo floresiensis. Higham also discusses the impact of recent technologies like LiDAR on understanding Angkor's urban layout and the influences of trade and Indian culture in forming early states. The connection between ancient populations and modern Southeast Asians is another intriguing highlight.
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A Failed Interview Shaped A Career
- Charles Higham failed an interview at Birmingham and took a lectureship in New Zealand, which redirected his career to Southeast Asia.
- A chance request to identify animal bones led him into fieldwork and lifelong research in the region.
Early Human Expansion Out Of Africa
- Early humans left Africa and reached East and Southeast Asia as early as 2.1–1.9 million years ago.
- Homo erectus and possibly earlier hominins colonized wide parts of Asia long before Homo sapiens arrived.
Sea-Level Rise Reshaped Habitats
- A major postglacial sea-level rise (about 14,000–12,000 years ago) reshaped Southeast Asia and submerged large habitable areas.
- Lost coastal archaeology implies population relocation and changing settlement patterns during the Holocene.
