A number of stone structures, carvings and artefacts have been found in Seko, estimated to indicate human habitation from at least the 15th century. Earthen mounds and burial sites are also found across the district. Seko contained iron ore mines, one of the few in premodern Indonesia to be easily accessible, and gold was also panned in the rivers, resulting in the region's integration with an ancient trade network. At some point, it was conquered by the Luwu Kingdom, whose ruler assigned the region its current name.
