| Ref ID: | 22880 |
|---|---|
| Ref Type: | Book Section |
| Authors: | Kirleis, Wiebke Müller, Johannes Kortemeier, Corinna Behling, Hermann Soeghondo, Santoso |
| Title: | The megalithic landscape of central Sulawesi, Indonesia: combining archaeological and palynological investigations |
| Date: | 2012 |
| Source: | Crossing borders: selected papers from the 13th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists |
| Place of Publication: | Singapore |
| Publisher: | NUS Press |
| Abstract: | Central Sulawesi is characterized as both a hot spot of biodiversity as well as a megalithic landscape with a clustered distribution of megalithic sites. One of the main goals of this preliminary evaluation is to untangle the development of societies with monumental constructions in relation to environmental change and diversity. Initial results presented in this paper highlight the research potential of a combined investigation of ecological data and archaeological surveys. The conclusions are based both on pollen data as well as data regarding the spatial distribution and architecture of megalithic kalambas (jars), combined with the interpretation of the few available excavation reports. The palynological investigations concentrate on a comparison of on-site and off-site cores, to identify both the general vegetation dynamics as well as local anthropogenic influences that correspond with the environment. The archaeological considerations are based on spatial analyses and typological comparison of the architectural features of 15 sites (including 93 megaliths) in the Besoa valley and particularly at the Pokekea site. As a result of this work, we assume the existence of one central prehistoric domestic site with ritual activities and an associated spread of smaller hamlets, reflected in the distribution of megaliths for each basin. However, the chronological framework of the development is still uncertain. Anyhow, we offer a terminus ante quem for the erection of kalambas of around AD 830. Hypothetically, an initial opening of the landscape around 50 BC, as indicated by pollen analyses, may be linked to a possible early construction phase of the monuments. However, the combination of both environmental and preliminary archaeological analyses results in the first interpretations of ecological and monumental developments in the central Sulawesian region. |
| Date Created: | 9/24/2013 |
| Editors: | Tjoa-Bonatz, Mai Lin Reinecke, Andreas Bonatz, Dominik |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Page Start: | 199 |
| Page End: | 218 |