The Function and Meaning of Megalithic Cultural Heritage in Some Sites in Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi

Rosmawati Rosmawati (Departemen Arkeologi, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Akin Duli (Departemen Arkeologi, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Muhammad Nur (Departemen Arkeologi, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Yusriana Yusriana (Departemen Arkeologi, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Erwin Mansyur Ugu Saraka (Departemen Arkeologi, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Khadijah Thahir Muda (Departemen Arkeologi, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Stephen Chia (Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia)
Yunus Sauman Sabin (Department of History, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris)
Zuliskandar Ramli (Institute of the Malay World and Civilization, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)
Francis David Bulbeck (Department of Archaeology and Natural History, The Australian National University)
Adam Brumm (Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University)

Mozaik Humaniora
Vol. 22 No. 1 (2022): MOZAIK HUMANIORA VOL. 22 NO. 1

The Bantaeng megalithic site houses megalithic cultural relics, such as terraces (teras berundak), dakon, lumpang batu, menhir, dolmen, stone altars, circular stone (batu temu gelang), tombs, and fences, including fragments of pottery and foreign ceramics on the surface of the site. In addition, residents on the site also preserves and performs traditional megalithic rituals. This study aims to find out the functions and meanings of these megalithic cultural relics using surveys, inventory studies, and interviews to the local community. The results indicate that the megalithic culture functions both as a sacred medium of ritual, and a secular instrument of daily life. Furthermore, some of the elements of megalithic culture have symbolic meaning which are related to social status, cosmic symbols, agriculture, astrology, and religious symbols.