Reconstruction of Austronesian culture

Some experts have identified common traits of Austronesian speakers, despite the interactions and changes in culture and biology for centuries. The general characteristics possessed by Austronesian speakers are mentioned as follows. 1) most of Austronesian speakers outside Melanesia and the Philippines have biological characteristics that can be classified as Southern Mongoloid race (Southern Mongoloid); 2) According to culture, Austronesian speakers in the past had a tradition of tattooing the body; 3) used sail in canoe/boat; 4) In ethnography and in prehistoric times they had style of art, and social characteristics associated with birth order (birth order) for siblings; and 5) the worship of ancestors who considered the forerunner/founding descent.

This paper focuses on the similarities of culture and language as an essential characteristic that is inherited by Austronesian speakers spread from Formosa/Taiwan (in the north) to New Zealand (to the south), and Madagascar (in the west) to Easter Island (east). Socio-cultural approach, especially using comparative method was applied in the writing of this paper. In addition, qualitative approach relying on technique of observation/observation in the collection of data and information was also applied. Theories related to cultural reconstruction was used to analyze the data.