Human culture of Lemuria

The earliest evidence of hominid occupation in Lemuria dates to 600,000 years BCE. These seem to belong to Homo erectus, and seem to have been a relatively small and restricted population, though genetic studies seem to imply a longer period of survival, perhaps as recently as 30,000 years ago. By 100,000 years BCE, Deniovans arrived, and offer some of the best surviving material of these hominids to date, with near complete skeletons on the southern peninsula.

These pre-Homo sapiens populations appear to have largely been restricted to the eastern peninsulas, likely due to a combination of favourable habitats, inability to cross the central mountan ranges and predation from birds of prey limiting them to more forested enviroments. Avoiding infections from the Titicula (a resident of the more arid environments) might have also played a role.

The earliest Homo sapiens probably arrived at the same time as they made landfall on Australia +70,000 years BCE. These populations were made up of two main groups: one related to the Andaman Islanders and another to Aboriginal Australians and Papuans. Likely, there were several episodes of migration back and forth from Lemuria and Asia/Sahul.

This era is known as the Formative Period (Damin Luruku), and lasted from landfall to the development of agriculture 12,000 years BCE. During this time, human populations made seldom more progress than their relatives, though by the end they could be found across the entire continent. Homo erectus and the Denisovans were integrated into Homo sapiens societies and assimilated as they did elsewhere.

Sprout Era (Damin Yera) (12,000-4,000 BCE)

This era sees the development of agriculture and complex societies in Lemuria. The first crops were Sammangal, yams and fruit-bearing ginkgos; bananas, breadfruit and taro were present towards the final millenium of the era, but it is unclear if they demonstrate early contact with Austronesians or other people.

Much like in New Guinea, the standard agricultural practise of the peoples of Lemuria was a “garden”: Sammangal strategically surrounding other crops. This lead to a spread of the Sammangal biome into regions where the normal monsoon conditions are not present, but the dependence on ginkgos (which are also water-demmanding) allowed for rainforest species to find refuge. In essence, the island became a well maintained massive garden, much as Australia before colonization.

No solid empire existed on Lemuria. This was an era of numerous city states, allocated primarily towards the east and center but with a few along the western deltas such as Along-kor. Archicture relied on solid stone bases and wooden houses build above; this means that, due to the poor preservation of wood in tropical environments, most of what this architecture looked like is sadly lost to time, but the size of the stone bases imply palatial complexes, complex aqueducts and large plazas. It is here that the Lemurian language family has its roots, sharing mostly in common with Andamanese languages with aspects from non-Pama-Nyugan Australian languages.

Writing was developed around 8,000 BCE. The early script was similar to the Irish Ogham and likely started as means of measuring numbers, before more complex information was developed. Most literature of this time has been lost, but inscriptions on stone bases survive, likely as means of decoration. At least one story, The Drama of the Moon, has survived in these inscriptions, likely a pivottal story to the cultures of the era.

It is unclear if these people had a religion; later Austronesian arrivals are often credited wth introducing religion; indeed, the closely related Andamanese have no religion either. However, the story The Drama of the Moon clearly indicates at least personification of natural phenomena, and sun symbols are commonly inscribed, perhaps indicating that the Lemurian Sun goddess was worshipped at this point.

Weapons were mostly wooden, having developed wood swords and “khopesh” much like the sword clubs of Aboriginal Australians. Smelting mettalurgy was non-existent, though jade and gold were precious commodities, battered into ornaments and jewelry.

While warfare was most certainly present, no expanding empires are known from this time. Most nations were city-states, ruled by gerontocracies of elders. In general, these were rather egalitarian societies, stratified only by “skin groups” like Aboriginal Australians, determining who to marry or do trade with. Both men and women performed most roles in these societies; if there were other genders is unclear, as the various genders that later Lemurian societies would boast are often claimed to have been introduced by the Austronesians.

It is unclear when the dog was introduced to Lemuria. Genetic data seems to favor a later Austronesian arrival, but canine bones are known in some late Sprout Era sites dating to up to 7000 BCE, and the word for “dog” appears to be shared with Andamanese languages in its root.

War Era (Damin Ku) (4,000 BCE-1200 CE)

This is the time when Austronesians first explored the islands of Indonesia, and it did not take them long to reach Lemuria. Much as the Lapita culture, most of these newcomers established settlements offshore or in secluded areas to avoid competing with the locals for space, and soon their coastal villages were present all across Lemuria.

Initially, both Austronesians and Lemurians exhanged culture and trade peacefully. Austronesians provided crops (though see above), livestock such as pigs and chicken, seafood, goods from other lands as well as cultural practises such as tattoos, Austronesian languages, tooth blackening, human sacrifice and, alledgedly, both the worship of gods (again, see above) and the six genders in Lemurian societies. In turn, the local Lemurians provided an alphabet, as well as an easy footing for westerwards journeys, allowing the Austronesians to reach Madagascar soon after establishing themselves on the continent.

In general, Lemuria east to the mountain ranges was most extensively affected by Austronesian influences. Gradually, the gerontocracies were replaced by monarchies, and city states began to expand into nascent empires. Two empires in particular achieved great dominance: the western Arrokath and the Eastern Betsana.

Black: Betsana Empire. Red: Arrokath Empire. Green: neutral/unaffiliated city states. Great Mountains and Great Lakes not painted over, as they inform the geographical borders of these nations.

To the north, city states became the norm, albeit now lead by monarchs/aristocracy and fighting amidst themselves, much as the Maya and medieval/Renaissance Italy.

Indian Era (Damin Hinda) (1200-1500 CE)

Due to the commerce brought upon by the Austronesians, the nations of India turned their eyes southwards. Soon, the Chola Dynasty set foot on northern Lemuria, and the whole continent became another part of the Indian sphere of influence. Architecture, smelting mettalurgy (including the unique Damascus steel), rice, domestic animals such as horses and cows, Hinduism and even Buddhism, the latter becoming a dominant religion in it’s Lemurian form, Chakravartin Buddhism. The latter in particular resulted in the end of human sacrifices, though most indigenous religious practises remained.

Modern Era (Damin Alkal) (1500 CE – present)

This era begins with the arrival of the Portuguese to west Lemuria’s shores. Shortly after, they formed various ports across the island; while forced convertions and enslavement were attempted, the Portuguese remained mostly pragmatic, as the indigenous peoples had not succumbed so easily to plagues (sharing them with the europeans via India). Soon came France, but again it was thwarted, much as it was in Madagascar.

Numerous colonization attempts by the Mughal Empire were made, but the Lemurian kingdoms and dynasties have successfully repelled them. Still, Muslim influences became particularly strong, particularly on West Lemuria.

Lemuria remained neutral in the two world wars, just barely escaping Japanese occupation. It has since remained the wealthiest country in its sphere of influence after India, due to surviving the worst of colonization and CIA saboutage.

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