Indonesian Megaliths: A Forgotten Cultural Heritage

Indonesian Megaliths are a forgotten cultural heritage that reflect the rise to prominence of local chiefs in a context of acculturation. They are relatively recent in origin, but offer similarities to their counterparts in the Middle East and Arabia. This new exploration clarifies various elements of the megaliths, including their function in the daily life of the tribes and the use of certain stones for musical purposes. Ethno-anthropological studies of Nias, Sumba, and Toraya provide a unique chance to complement the archaeological perspectives on megalithic monuments abandoned for centuries in the rest of the Archipelago.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 118 pages
\n Publication date: 30 September 2018
\n Publisher: Archaeopress
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Indonesian megaliths, a forgotten cultural heritage, shed light on aspects of Indonesian culture that are often misunderstood and at risk of destruction. While these structures may be relatively recent in origin, they share similarities with their counterparts in the Middle East and Arabia, reflecting the rise of local chiefs and the need to construct megalithic monuments to bury the dead, honor, commemorate, and communicate with ancestors. In societies with oral traditions, these stones serve as landmarks that transmit the memory of men and social structures from generation to generation. Through a comprehensive exploration based on scientific documents, archaeological reports, and field visits, this new research clarifies various aspects of Indonesian megaliths, including their role in the daily lives of tribes and the use of certain stones for musical purposes (lithophony). In Nias, Sumba, and Toraya, the megalith tradition remains alive, offering unique ethno-anthropological perspectives that complement the archaeological understanding of megalithic monuments abandoned in the rest of the Archipelago for centuries. The book includes numerous photographs that document the monuments captured during the authors' stay in Indonesia (2010-2013).

\n Weight: 448g\n
Dimension: 205 x 289 x 12 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781784918439\n \n