Megalithic Sites Research Articles

Megalithic monuments and ancestral sites: An ethnoarchaeological investigation of continuity of tradition among Austroasiatic communities of Jharkhand

Over the years, several megalithic sites have been reported from different regions of Jharkhand. The initial investigations were conducted during the second half of the 19th century and the early phase of the 20th century by colonial ethnographers and anthropologists. An excavation was conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 1965-66 at the site of Khuntitoli, where evidence of cremated bones of multiple individuals was found separately under a stone slab, indicating evidence of a secondary family burial. Recent investigations are carried out by the members of INTACH, Hazaribagh. The author has recently conducted an ethnoarchaeological study as part of the doctoral research, studying the continuing tradition and culture of raising megalithic monuments, comparing them with the archaeological parallels in light of evidence found through the survey of ancient sites and ethnographic analogy. This paper briefs the research of the present tradition of Austroasiatic communities; Mundas, Bhumij, and Hos in light of present monuments and ancestral sites, which indicate the distribution of megaliths on their possible route of the movement in Chotanagpur plateau throughout the past and existence of old and recent burial monuments over different ancestral sites.

New Dates for Megalithic Stele Monuments of Gedeo, South Ethiopia

Abstract This paper reports the results of an archaeological survey and test excavation conducted in one of the ancient megalithic stele sites in south Ethiopia, Sakaro Sodo. The Sakaro Sodo stele site is situated in Gedeo zone, which is known to have the largest number and highest concentration of megalithic stele monuments in Africa, with an estimate of more than 10,000 stelae in sixty or more sites. Prior to our work, only one absolute date was available (850 ± 40 BP) (Joussaume 2012) from a stele site in the Gedeo zone, suggesting stele sites began to be constructed in the region approximately a millennium ago. We report here new AMS dates suggesting that stelae were being emplaced about 2000 BP, pushing the creation of these monuments back at least a millennium. Additionally, we report preliminary findings from characterizing the geochemical properties of obsidian artifacts recovered from stele sites, and stone used to make stelae. While compositional analysis of obsidian suggests long-distance movement of material from sources located in northern Kenya, petrographic microscopy and electron microprobe analyses show a strong connection of stelae to local geological tuff exposures/sources.

O encantamento de sítios arqueológicos e a busca da transformação pessoal

Os estudos etnográficos atestam cada vez mais a conversão de sítios arqueológicos em lugares utilizados para uma miríade de propósitos espirituais associados à cultura da transformação pessoal. A partir da análise de dados coletados sobre as práticas espirituais contemporâneas realizadas em Carnac, um sítio megalítico localizado no noroeste da França, este artigo argumenta que a ressignificação de lugares antigos como "sagrados" e "energéticos" é uma estratégia para desenvolver e representar a busca interior e o trabalho de si mesmo. Os dados coletados permitem compreender as conceitualizações e utilizações que os atores dão ao referido lugar, ao mesmo tempo que sugerem novas linhas de investigação para avaliar as relações entre espiritualidade, transformação pessoal e o encantamento de sítios arqueológicos.

Situs Megalitik Tutari sebagai Sumber Inspirasi Penciptaan Koreografi Site-Specific “Tutari MegArt Lithic”

The Tutari Megalithic Site is a large stone age civilization site located in Doyo Lama Village, Waibu District, Jayapura Regency, Papua. Visually, on this site, there are stones with various motifs of prehistoric paintings on them. However, if it is studied in-depth, primarily through the perspective of choreography, this site has a broad potential to be a source of inspiration for creating works of art. Collaborating with previous research from the Papua Archeology Center, the creation of this Tutari MegArt Lithic artwork is focused on specific parts of the Tutari Megalithic site that can be used as inspiration for creating artworks. The method used in this writing is descriptive analysis. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of how choreography can collaborate across disciplines in the creation of works of art staged at the Tutari archaeological site. This paper describes the sources of inspiration for creating site-specific choreographic works of art entitled Tutari MegArt Lithic, including visual inspiration, artistic inspiration and idea inspiration.Keywords: Tutari Megalithic Site; site-specific choreography; source of inspiration; painting motive

Microbial activity and studies on excavated megalithic micaceous potsherds from Peninsular India

The abundantly available mica flakes were added in raw materials to manufacture pottery in Central Peninsular India during the early Iron Age (700-300 BCE) for storage and glittering. The micaceous potsherds from the excavated megalithic site of Nagpur were studied for their composition, manufacturing techniques, microstructural features, microbial colonization, and estimation of firing temperature. The analytical techniques used were micro-XRF, FTIR, XRD, FEG-SEM, mercury porosimetry (MIP), and thermal analysis. The XRF and SEM-EDX data revealed that the potteries were coated with aqueous iron oxide on either surface for red hue and subsequently fired at an estimated temperature of 700-750 °C in a reducing atmosphere as determined by vibrational and mineralogical analysis. The X-ray microscopy and FEG-SEM images showed a grey color sandwich layer representing the original clay composition between iron oxide-coated red surface layers. MIP showed that the fine ware had a high porosity of 21-26% with a void ratio (e) of 0.28-0.36. The loosely adhered mica flakes influenced the strength and stability of the pottery. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the presence of Bacillus velezensis within the round and elongated pits within the potsherds drawing nutrients from minerals.

Technology and raw material sources of pottery from Mulyosari Site based on petrographic analysis

Since the research in 2018 until 2019, pottery sherds are the most dominant artifact from Mulyosari megalithic site amongst other. Hence, analysis conducted towards pottery directly associated with the megaliths are important. Petrographic analysis that was applied in this research is aiming to understand the technology and the material source of pottery at Mulyosari Site. It is necessary to know whether the pottery is locally made or imported from other region. Petrographic analysis was carried out to several excavated pottery samples. All the samples were not randomly chosen; instead they were based on specific character of pottery sherds. The result of analysis shows that the source of pottery material located within geological formation of researched area comprises Sukamade, Merubetiri, Batu Ampar, and Merubetiri limestone. The result of analysis also shows advanced pottery making technology using spinning wheel and open firing at 400 Celsius degrees.

Development of a Digital Catalog for the Kamal Arjasa Jember Site and Its Use as a Source of Learning the History of the Millennial Generation

History learning is often seen as imaginative and unreal learning for students. Interactive media is needed by educators in cultivating students’ awareness for society through an understanding of historical and cultural values. In the village of Kamal Arjasa, there are many megalithic remains that can be used as a source of learning. The development of a digital catalog based on an android application about Megalithic Sites in Kamal Village, can be an alternative in efforts under preserve historical heritage. This study uses the research and development method with Sutopo’s multimedia product development model. The findings of the study show that, it was identified 43 historical relics had been well cared for and moved at the Duplang Site while 24 historical relics had not been moved (in situ). This data is used for developing digital catalog products. Product trials by experts and early stage trials showed 86% results and student response results showed an applied rate of 92%. Accordingly, the digital catalog of Megalithic sites in Kamal Village is valid or suitable and can be used for learning social studies at SMP/MTs. especially material about Indonesia’s pre-literal period and its influence on the life of the immediate environment.

Megalithic Culture at the Maskuning Kulon Site Pujer Bondowoso

This study examines the megalithic culture at the MaskuningKulon Site, Bondowoso. This site is one of the megalithic sites located in MaskuningKulon Village, Pujer District, Bondowoso Regency. The research objectives were: (i) to make an inventory of the number of archaeological remains of megalithic culture at the Maskuning Kulon Site; (ii) analyzing the distribution, types and functions of the archaeological remains of the megalithic culture; (iii) reconstructing a picture of the religious life/belief system, social, and economy of the supporting communities. This research design uses historical research design with cultural archeology approach. Primary data were collected using field survey techniques; Secondary data were collected using interview techniques and documentary techniques. The interpretation of the data was carried out hermeneutically using form analysis techniques, context analysis, comparisons, and ethnoarchaeological analogies. The results of the study are as follows. First, the total number of megalithic cultural archaeological remains found at the MaskuningKulon Site is 58. Second, there are two kinds of distribution patterns (group close together and single distribution). Typology consists of 1 type. Third, the megalithic community at the Maskuning Kulon site has recognized religion which is oriented towards ancestor worship.Their social life is confirmed to have recognized the pattern of permanent housing in complex social life arrangements: differentiated and stratified, as well as egalitarian in character. They already know and master the technique of making pottery. The subsistence pattern relies on agriculture as the main subsistence, as well as gathering food, trade and it is suspected that agriculture is the supporting subsidence.

Implementation of Examles Non Examples in the Development Site Material in of Megalithic Lore Lindu Central Sulawesi for Student of Tadulako University, Indonesia

This research was conducted student learning outcomes through critical thinking by developing megalithic site material in Lore Lindu, Central Sulawesi. A series of researches are implemented through classroom action research, each of which goes through the stages of planning, action, observation, reflection. Data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative descriptive methods. This research was conducted on students at Tadulako University class A, in semester 1 (one) there were 31 students. The results show that through the development of local culture-based material namely, megalithic sites through the application of examples and non examples, picture media can improve learning outcomes and students think critically in the learning process.

INDONESIA’S OWN ‘PYRAMID’: THE IMAGINED PAST AND NATIONALISM OF GUNUNG PADANG

A narrative commonly found within the discourse of nationalist archaeology is the polemic of ideology at the expense of empiricism. There are many examples of the manipulation of archaeological data in the service of the state’s nationalist or imperialist ideology, and such efforts produce narratives in which archaeology is treated as inherently apolitical. This paper explores the interactions between and within multiple stakeholders –the state, archaeologists, and the media – and their roles in the construction of national myths, and their consequences for local populations. It highlights recent controversies surrounding the re-interpretation of the megalithic site of Gunung Padang in Western Java, Indonesia. The case of Gunung Padang offers an opportunity to observe how national myths are both constructed and contested in recent times. This paper argues that the intersections between archaeology and popular media contributed to a skewed understanding of the past and generated specific categories of acceptable national myths which, in turn, directed nationalistic research.

THE RAJ SABHA AT SILCHANG: DOLMENS AS ADMINISTRATIVE SEATS OF ANCIENT KHOLA KINGDOM IN ASSAM, INDIA

Northeast India is well known for the widespread megalithic structures found in different geographical and cultural contexts. Construction of megaliths is also a living tradition among many of the ethnic communities of this region. The dolmen, a megalithic structure made with a large undressed or roughly shaped stone slab supported by several upright stones at the base, is invariably found in all the megalithic cultural traditions across India. In the northeastern parts of India, dolmens are often constructed as resting and meeting places of a community. This paper presents the association of such dolmens with a traditional Raj Sabha (royal assembly) of the Khola king of the Tiwa community of Assam. The Raj Sabha, even today held annually at the Silchang megalithic site, is a unique tradition of a royal assembly functioning symbolically on a cluster of dolmens, and is significant to understanding the functional variability of the megaliths and the use of megaliths as a seat of power in an archaic society.

Stone grave in Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi

Sangihe Island is one of the leading island in North Sulawesi, from the northern side this island borders Philippines. There are various types of archeological sites found here, including megalithic sites of stone grave. Local people call it lebbing, four-square box shaped by flat stone, some boxes used cover, but some not. The stone graves distributed in many areas, can be found in the southern side of Sangihe Island and also in the smaller islands around. The results show there are two types of stone grave with various variants, the stone grave used andesite stone slabs that shaped by sheeting joint materials that found from the same island area in Tanjung Tatonaha. The finding of many large stone grave in this area can be the evidence of leadership character with mutual cooperation.

Jars of the jungle: A report on newly discovered and documented megalithic jar sites in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Xieng Khouang and neighboring provinces in Central Laos are home to a vast megalithic landscape featuring large stone jars, discs, and imported boulders located in elevated positions. Sites were first noted in the late nineteenth century, with systematic recording commencing in the 1930s. Despite subsequent survey efforts and more recent excavations, many previously noted sites remain unconfirmed and others undiscovered, limiting our understanding of the geographic extent of the jar sites and the culture that created the jars. Here we present the results of a 2019 survey across Xieng Khouang Province which led to the documentation of 15 previously unreported megalithic sites and one potential habitation site. With the inclusion of the survey data, the Lao PDR Government database of jar sites will grow from 83 to 102, with 94 of the sites now geo-located.

The megalitic site in Pandan village Bondowoso as learning sources for historical learning

This research is historical research. This study aims to provide information on how to use megalithic sites as a source of history learning in schools. The results of this study indicate that there is relevance between the Pandan source site and the 2013 curriculum. The site as a source of historical learning can display pictures or videos of megalithic objects at the Sumber Pandan site in Grujugan Regency, Bondowoso Regency in the classroom. Of course this media is very useful to make students more eager to analyze the material taught not only to listen from the teacher’s explanation but also to be able to find out based on the pictures or videos displayed by the teacher so that learning becomes more enjoyable. Another way is to do tourism at the Sumber Pandan site, Grujugan District, Bondowoso Regency, this tourism work is carried out by the teacher by bringing students directly to the Sumber Pandan site environment. This tourism work is one of the methods carried out by teachers in teaching and learning history activities. This tourism work is more focused on presenting historical subject resources by bringing students to subjects that will be studied outside the classroom. This method makes learning creative. On these sites students are free to ask the site sitter or subject teacher for information.

Pottery technology as a revealer of cultural and symbolic shifts: Funerary and ritual practices in the Sion ‘Petit-Chasseur’ megalithic necropolis (3100–1600 BC, Western Switzerland)

Research on the third millennium BC in Western Europe has tried for decades to understand the mechanisms of the large-scale cultural changes that took place during its course. Few studies have focused on technological traditions, although these are key to considering continuities and disruptions. In this article, we used pottery technology to approach the evolution of social and symbolic practices at a major megalithic site in Switzerland: the necropolis of Sion, Petit-Chasseur (Valais). We reconstructed technological traditions for the Valaisian Final Neolithic (3100–2450 BC), the Bell Beaker Culture (2450–2200 BC), and the Early Bronze Age (2200–1600 BC). This was done using the chaîne opératoire approach, analyzing fashioning methods, finishing treatments, and decoration. The sequence of these technological traditions, along with architectural and historical aspects, confirms that significant breaks happened during the use of the site with specific traits coinciding with the emergence of the Bell Beaker Culture and then again with the Early Bronze Age. These findings support the idea that the transition between the Final Neolithic and the latter periods marked an important cultural and symbolic shift in Western Europe and that this shift was, at least in Western Switzerland, linked to several exogenous components.

Interim remarks on newly discovered stelae in the Efrātā and Gǝdǝm woreda, North Shewa

Megalithic sites in the Efrātā and Gǝdǝm woreda, particularly the stelae in Gādilo Medā , were first noted by Ethiopian archaeologists in 1986. Following this, in 1999 an Ethio-French team identified additional megalithic sites in the Maḥal Wanz area. However, archaeological sites described in this article were only recently discovered and prior to their survey by the present author, there was no archaeological research reported. Hence, this paper is based on archaeological prospection undertaken in and around ʾӘrgoṭәlā River as part of the study of megalithic monuments in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia which includes the Efrātā and Gǝdǝm woreda. It is intended to communicate the newly identified stelae and their artistic composition as well as the features of other archaeological sites located nearby. A total of six stelae were identified where three of these stelae are phallic and possess eight symbolic representations. The other three are devoid of special morphological or artistic compositions. Accordingly, the paper highlights the dimensions and the artistic characters of the stelae as well as the material traces and oral tradition associated with other archaeological sites prospected in the area.

Non-market Valuation of Tiya Megalithic World Cultural Heritage of Ethiopia, Application of Travel Cost and Contingent Valuation Methods

The main purpose of this study is to estimate the total economic value of Tiya megalithic world cultural heritage site using non-market valuation methods of Travel Cost Method (TCM) and Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). The study uses Individual Travel Cost Method to estimate the use value and the Double Bounded Contingent Valuation Method to investigate the mean Willingness to Pay for the nonuse value of the Tiya MWCH site. The truncated Poisson regression method (TPRM) was employed to derive the demand function for the use value of Tiya MWCH site and the bivariate probit model were used to estimate the nonuse value of Tiya MWCH site. The regression result showed that travel cost, monthly income, total travel time, sex, family size, household head, purpose of visit, membership in any environmental group and knowledge are important determinants of the recreational demand of the site. The result of the study also showed that the potential annual use value of the Tiya MWCH site was estimated to be 9,615,508.00 ETB per year and the nonuse value (one time contribution of community residents of Tiya town) of the site is 64,494.20 ETB. Finally, we recommend that to maintenances and maximize the benefits that can be derived from the Tiya MWCH site.

Partisipasi Masyarakat Lokal dalam Pengembangan Destinasi Wisata Berkelanjutan: Studi Kasus Situs Gunung Padang Cianjur

Cianjur Regency has a tourist destination that attracts world tourists, namely the Gunung Padang megalithic site. As a cultural destination in the midst of the community, the development of this tourist destination faces human and environmental problems. The purpose of this study is to determine the development of tourism in Gunung Padang which involves the participation of local communities. Through a qualitative descriptive method this study analyzes the forms of community participation in developing tourism with aspects of environmental sustainability in the vicinity. The participation of the local community in the Karyamukti Village in developing the tourism site of Gunung Padang is done by forming a community of lovers of Gunung Padang which is an embryo for the formation of the Tourism Driving Group or Kompepar. It can be concluded that there are positive benefits felt by the local community in the form of opening opportunities to open businesses that can improve the economic level of encouraging people to be more active in doing business and developing tourism in the region. However, the benefits of high mining are still a pressure on environmental sustainability in the region.

MEGALITHIC STONE HERITAGE TRAIL MAPPING FOR RURAL TOURISM USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) IN TAMBUNAN, SABAH

Heritage trail is an important part of rural tourism especially for community development, community participation, for discovering community heritage, and for involvement by community in developing trails to promote the history, natural and the cultural heritage of the area. One of the cultural heritages that are increasingly extinct is the megalithic stoneritual which was a daily practice in the lives of the people in the past. Megalithic stone can be found scattered in rural area of Sabah such as Penampang, Keningau, Kota Belud, Tuaran, Papar, Tenom and Tambunan. The megalithic stone or Menhir was usually used for worshipping the ancestral spirit. The megalithic stone is unique as it has many shapes such as flat, horn, triangle and round. However, this was not practice anymore and the stone is disappearing or broken one by one. Since the numbers of megalithic stones in Sabah are many, it is not feasible for all location of the stones to be gazetted for the preservation of the stones. Therefore, heritage trails is the best solutions that can be used to protect the stones and at the same time get the local community involved. However, in order to make it as one of the rural tourism in the area, several criteria need to be met to attract tourists to participate the heritage trails. These criteria include; accessiability to the megalithic site, near to accommodation, closer to other side attraction, transportation availability andsupport services around the area. Thus, GIS mapping is needed to assists this as it can show the suitability of the heritage trails location by identifying whether all the criteria can be found near the area. The purpose of this study is to show the effectiveness of GIS in analyse the suitability of the heritage trail route and its location for the tourists. In this case,the area of Tobilung village in Tambunan was used as a study area in this paper. Having known all the location for each criteria in the study area using google map, the proximity analysis was then conducted to identify the suitability of the heritage trail location. Based on the result, the heritage trail that features the megalithic stone in Tobilung, Tambunan issuitable for rural tourism as it has most of the criteria required for a tourist especially in terms of accommodation, transportation, places of attraction and services such as food and beverages, accessibility and utilities. This paper presents the significant role that GIS can play in rural tourism development in Tobilung, Tambunan and subsequently enhance the local economy of the village.

Recent Discovery of Megalithic Sites in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra (Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology, Volume 7, 2019)

Recent Discovery of Megalithic Sites in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra (Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology, Volume 7, 2019)