The Nusantara Theory was first proposed by John Crawfurd (1821). This theory asserts that the ancestors of the Indonesian people originated from the Nusantara (Indonesian Archipelago) itself, as they had a highly developed culture from early times.
The similarities in language between Indonesians and those living in mainland Southeast Asia, East Asian islands, China, Korea, and Mongolia are viewed merely as coincidences rather than indicators of common ancestry. These coincidences are believed to result from the high mobility of the Nusantara people. Moreover, the discovery of Homo Wajakensis and Homo Soloensis indicates no connection to modern humans from Africa.
Other ancient human fossils discovered in Indonesia — such as Meganthropus Paleojavanicus, Pithecanthropus Mojokertensis, Pithecanthropus Erectus, Pithecanthropus Soloensis, Homo Floresiensis, and Homo Sapiens — also do not show any clear relation to other regions. This suggests the possibility that modern humans in Indonesia may have originated from the Nusantara itself. However, this claim still requires further scientific evidence in the future.
