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Productive discussion! Thinking back to the Hunan site with the phoenix bird and the infusion of new mythic symbolism at some 7000 years ago, you might want to throw in the genetic links the Orang Asli of Malaysia (Proto-Malay or Negrito). Today, they are stuck in an agricultural, early iron age culture, however, they were the first to farm rice, had pottery very early and have genetic ties with Korea, South China, India, the Middle East and East Europ. All with no apparent explaination and the "universal" common myths (ie. great birds, flood, serpents, etc.). They also are about the only genetic tie some of the more isolated New Guinea tribes have. Along with the mystry of the Anui and Joman, they must have had the problem that the only early pathways over long distances are found in the stepps and the coastline which is now submerged.