Protomalays (Melayu asli, Melayu purba) - a Mongoloid people who speak Austronesian languages , who migrated from the main part of Asia to the Malacca Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago during several migrations between 2500 and 1500 BC. e.
| Protomalays | |
|---|---|
| Modern self-name | Melayu asli, Melayu purba |
| Abundance and area | |
| West Malaysia | |
| Tongue | indigenous malay languages |
| Religion | animism , islam , christianity |
A number of scientists (RH Geldern, JHC Kern, JR Foster, JR Logen, Slametmuljana, Asmah Haji Omar) spoke in support of the migration of Protomalays from the territory of the Chinese province of Yunnan . In their opinion, the Protomalai (Melayu asli) possessed primarily agricultural skills, while those who arrived around 1500 BC. e. "Secondary Malays" were fishermen and sailors. During the migration, both waves mixed with the population of the islands south of Malaysia, as well as with the aborigines of australoid origin.
Among the evidence in support of this theory:
- stone tools discovered on the Malay archipelago are similar to the Central Asian ones.
- similarity of customs of Malays and Assamese .
- similarity of the Malay language with the Khmer.