TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies, 5(2) April 2014

AKIN DULI

Shape and Chronology of Wooden Coffins in Mamasa, West Sulawesi, Indonesia

ABSTRACT: Toraja-Mamasa ethnic is one of ethnics that dwell in Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. They have inhabited the region from ancient times until now and have a variety of uniquely cultural forms, and it is interest to study. One form of cultures that characterize the culture of Mamasa is a burial system placed in a limestone hills with wooden coffins. There have been no archaeological experts who examined the wooden coffin in the region; so, the distribution of site, form, layout, dating, and cultural significance is not known scientifically. Therefore, it is necessary to study archeologically to understand the various aspects before it destroyed, and becomes extinct of natural processes such as weathering and damaged by treasure seekers. The research of wooden coffin in Mamasa region, West Sulawesi, Indonesia was conducted by a systematic survey and sampling methods for radiocarbon dating. The study found 21 sites with a dozen pieces of coffins, which consists of boat-shaped or “bangka-bangka”, buffalo-shaped or “tedong-tedong”, horse-shaped or “narang”, round-shaped or “talukun”, and house-shaped tomb or “batutu. Wooden coffin burial sites are always located not far from villages, rice fields or gardens, and located in the south or southwest of the old village. The lay outs of the coffins are always on the sand stone hills with south or west orientation. Differences in shape, layout, and orientation are strongly influenced by factors of trust, cosmology, and social stratification concept. The dating results shows that wooden coffins have been used since 730 ± 50 BP or about 1200 AD (Anno Domini) and keep continue until the 1970’s. KEY WORDS: Wooden coffin, Mamasa community, radiocarbon dating, differences in shapes, trust, cosmology, and social stratification concept.

INTRODUCTION This article describes the results of ​​ Toraja-Mamasa ethnic is one of ethnics that dwell in Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study conducted Province, Indonesia. They have inhabited onwooden October coffins 2010 research in Mamasa in Mamasa, Regency West in a the region from ancient times until now and systematic survey: inventory, documentation, have a variety of uniquely cultural forms, and and sampling for dating. Dating aimed to it is interest to study. One form of cultures determine the age and development of that characterize the culture of Mamasa is a burial system placed in a limestone hills with the method of radiocarbon analysis at Beta Analyticwooden coffinInc. Laboratories, in the area chronologically 4985 S.W. 74 Court by There have been no archaeological Miami, Florida USA (United States of America). wooden coffins. the region; so, the distribution of site, form, OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH experts who examined the wooden coffin in The objectives of the study are to: (1) conduct the survey, looking for wooden tolayout, study dating, archeologically and cultural to understandsignificance the is not variousknown scientifically. aspects before Therefore, it destroyed, it is andnecessary purposes. Through this survey, it can be becomes extinct of natural processes such as recognizedcoffins sites the for numberinventory of andsites documentation and wooden weathering and damaged by treasure seekers.

coffins findings on each site as well as Dr. Akin Duli is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities UNHAS (Hasanuddin University) in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. For academic purposes, he can be reached at: [email protected]

177 AKIN DULI, Shape and Chronology of Wooden Coffins recognize the shape, size, and

(2) taking samples to determine thestate chronology of wooden of coffin wooden in the area; method chronometrically; and (3)coffins, knowing using the radiocarbon meaning that dating causes the differences in shape

Mamasa. and layout of wooden coffins in DISTRIBUTION OF WOODEN COFFIN SITES IN MAMASA The results of archaeological surveys that had been conducted in Mamasa found 21 sites, for example Buntu Balla site (Tedong-tedong Minanga), Orobua, Paladan, Balla “Kalua”, Kopian, Salulo, Minanga, Osango, Kanan-Kanan, Karassik, Peu’, Tatale, Tambun, Salu Lemo, Image 1: Bangka-bangka) on Buntu Balla Site Rambu Saratu, Rampan, Tabang, Sasakan, and Missawa. Here are descriptionsBoat-Shaped Coffin ( of each site (Tangdilintin, 1981; and Duli, there had been eroded that washed away of 1999). the site. A. Buntu Balla Site (Tedong-Tedong There is no sign about who is buried in Minanga). Buntu Balla site is located in Balla Village, Balla District, Mamasa Regency, West names: Nenek Patompo and Nenek Ami, as Sulawesi Province. The site is about three the lastcoffin two found traditional in Buntu leaders Balla site,buried but in two kilometers from the axis road of Polewali- Mamasa or from Balla City. Burial site in Buntu Balla is usually called by locals as Kubur tothe the buffalo-shaped genealogy calculations, coffin, but itthe is ageno longer of the Tedong-tedong Minanga, located on a hill top known which coffins are used. According with coordinates S03°00’01.7”, E119°19’137”, altitude 1.097 meters above sea level. Around customscoffin is aboutof the 860chairman years ago.or the All nobility forms of of the Parengnge’coffins exist Balla on the (personal site are usedcommunication for the burial woods, and the homes of local residents. with Demmatayan, 9/10/2010). theAccording site, there toare the small local rivers, information, fields, gardens, it is The state of Buntu Balla site is now said that the burial site at Buntu Balla is not protected by the government by making original, because the original site is located permanent buildings with thatched roof of on the edge of a cliff in Sariayo River about Mamasa traditional house. There are 18 pieces 100 meters in the north of Buntu Balla site. Transfer of burial sites occurred about 60 tedong-tedong), seven boat-shaped of woodenbangka-bangka coffins, 11 pieces) on the buffalo-shaped site lined up fromcoffins north ( to south by west facing, and there Theyears transfer ago due was to massivemade with flooding the approval that washed of arecoffins two ( boat-shaped and buffalo-shaped theaway chairman a party ofof woodenthe customs, coffins led on by the Nek site. Sallun and Bongga Saratu. After having visited the The samples (MMS 01, MMS 02) for original site, it found that there are no remains radiocarboncoffins that are dating damaged. were taken from the of wooden coffins can be observed, because wooden coffin number six (damaged boat- 178 TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies, 5(2) April 2014 number 15 (damaged buffalo- shaped wooden coffin) and determine the oldest or the shaped wooden coffin), to site. The result of each sample areearliest MMS age 01 of= 280the coffins± 40 BP on the and sample 02 = 380 ± 40 BP respectively. The numbering of timber was ordered from north to south line for the easy of there are many piles of bones anddescription. skulls that Onside are irregular, the coffins, and also found fragments of pottery, and bronze bracelets of shells. B. Orobua Site. The site is located in Orobua Village, Sesena Padang District, Mamasa Image 2: Regency, West Sulawesi Tedong-tedong) on Buntu Balla Site Province. The coordinate of the Buffalo-Shaped Coffin ( site are S02°59’25.5”, E119°24’03.9”, with an altitude of 1,223 meters above sea level. It is intact. A sample was taken from the wooden 200 meters distance from the village in the south. In the north and west side, there are the result is about 730 ± 50 BP. coffinAccording (MMS 03) to thefor localradiocarbon information, dating it withis the south and east side, there are gardens and woods.rice fields, The villages, site is located and Orobua on the River; sandstone and in Parengnge cliffs and there is a new burial site around it. whosaid thatestablished the first the person Orobua buried Village, in the Nenek buffalo- Puangshaped Bongga, coffin is in about 600 (the years first ago. leader) In found: boat-shaped (bangka-bangka), buffalo the east side there is an old Orobua Village (tedong-tedongThere are three) and pieces round of ( woodentalukun), coffin and a with two custom houses: Banua Sura’ as a house-shaped tomb (batutu). Boat-shaped place of custom leaders and Banua Layuk as batutu grave a traditional governmental leader (personal are empty because the bones and skulls have communication with Bongga Tiboyong, beencoffin, moved round-shaped into a new coffin, burrow and (burial stones 12/10/2010). inserted into the hole), while the buffalo- C. Paladan Site. The site is located in Paladan Village, Sesena Padang District, bones and skulls. The orientation of batutu Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi Province. graveshaped is woodennorth-south, coffins while still thecontains boat-shaped a lot of The coordinates of the site are S02°59’53.0”, E119°22’56.2”, with an altitude of 1,324 meters above sea level. The site is located on a onand the round-shaped west side of coffinsbatutu locatedwith east-west on the east hill of sandstone, on the west of the old village side,orientation. whereas buffalo-shaped coffin is located with a distance of 800 meters, rivers and rice

There is also a new burial site around it used The attractive finding is buffalo-shaped byfields the in locals. the north, there is a garden around it. high,coffin 84 hollowed cm hole out diameter, from both 378 ends cm circle, and is and 6-20very large.cm wall The thickness. coffin is 340The cmbuffalo-shaped long, 145 cm bangka-bangka), buffalo and The coffin findings tedong-tedongin the site are boat- and ornaments, while the head and antlers still narangshaped), coffin and a ( batutu grave. Boat-shaped coffin had rotted at the foot portion, had no horse shaped coffins (

179 AKIN DULI, Shape and Chronology of Wooden Coffins

batutu with east-west orientation, 228 cm long, 104 Nek Lento and his wife, Nek Tasi’ Langi’. Both coffincm wide, is located and 130 on cm the high. south The side state of of the is the first indigenous custom leader named 1450 AD (Anno Domini). During 1640 AD, the found can be seen from outside. There is no nobleswere buried and their in boat-shaped families were coffins buried around in a coffin had rotted so that the bones and skulls batutu grave. The last Paladan heroes against the Dutch colonialists, named Demmatande, (MMSdecoration 04) for on dating the coffin, with but the the result surface is about was 390given ± black50 BP. color. The coffin is taken sample On the north side of batutu grave and 1800buried (personal in buffalo-horse communication shaped coffin, with Bongga where Tiboyong,the coffin form14/10/2010). has been known since about When the Dutch came to power in Mamasa traditionalboat-shaped building coffins, ( theretadang are) with buffalo-shaped a north- region in about 1890, the custom of burying southand horses-shaped orientation. The coffin end placed portion in ofMamasa buffalo because the Dutch government banned while the other side of a horse head-shaped is it,the although corpse into the apeople coffin stillhas practicedstarted to it.decrease, facinghead-shaped north. Thecoffin material is facing of to the the horse’s south, head Subsequent burial is replaced by batutu grave type or incorporated into the soil (lianglo’ko’). new. is differentAccording from to the the information coffins body, from and itlocal seems into the soil hole, it happened when the family people, it is said that the horse’s head used isIn notthe ablepast, making coffins aare wooden also often hut incorporatedas a place to to be united and come from the same wood D. Balla’ Kalua’ Site. Balla’ Kalua’ site is it was stolen. In 1980, the head was renewed locatedstore a corpsein Balla coffin. Village, Sangtanetean, Balla andwith matched the body again of the (personal coffin, but communication in about 1970, District, Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi with Demmatayan, 9/10/2010). The sizes of Province. The coordinates of the site are S02°58’07.4”, E119°19’23.0”, with an altitude are 340 cm long, 102 cm wide, and 120 cm of 1,291 meters above sea level. The distance the buffalo-shaped and horse-shaped coffins from Balla’ Kalua’ Village is about 300 meters in the east, located on the top of the hill severalhigh. At motifsthe top of of Mamasa the coffin traditional there is a carving cover, covered with shrubs. On the south side, there (andpa’sura’ the entire). portion of the coffins found Batutu grave found on Paladan Site east and north side, there are gardens of local is similar to the architecture of Mamasa residents.are rice fields Balla’ and Kalua’ small Village rivers; is and a Mamasa on the traditional houses without carving, but given traditional village, which consists of several the black color. On the front and rear side, custom home communities. Batutu grave Findings on the site are two round-shaped orientation is north-south, with a long of 240 talukun) that had been damaged. The cm,there 180 is acm boat-shaped wide, and 288 coffin. cm high. Onside the grave, it used as a place to store the dead coffins ( bodies or skeletons. Batutu grave was taken orientation of the coffin is east-west, with the wassize oftaken the samplefirst coffin for aredating 204 (MMS cm long, 06), 70 the cm especially to compare the age with the other resultdiameter, is the and age 3-4 of cm about wall 580 thickness. ± 40 BP. The While coffin a sample (MMS 05) to find out the dating, means that the age is contemporary with the coffins. The result is 500 ± 50 BP which the sitesecond are coffinfragments cannot of pottery,be measured skulls, since bones, fragmentshas seriously of metal,damaged. and Othercoconut findings shells. around pottery,boat-shaped bone, and jaw round-shaped pig, and tau-tau coffins. (ancestral Other According to the narrative of the local findingsstatues of around wood). the site are fragments of people, it is said that the people who buried at According to information from local people, the site are the traditional chief of Balla’ Kalua’ Village, but they no longer know the names. it is said that the first person buried at that site 180 TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies, 5(2) April 2014

The grave is estimated to be used at that time (narang), and two batutu about 700 years ago (personal communication batutu with Simon, 12/10/2010). located on the south side withgraves. east-west In the first E. Kopian Site. Kopian site is in Kopian orientation; grave, the there second is one batutu horse-shaped grave, there coffin are hamlet, Kariango Village, Tawalian District, Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi Province. located on the south side and two boat-shaped Coordinate of the site is S02°55’51.3”, eight piece of coffins, a boat-shaped coffin is E119°24’03.9”, with an altitude of 1,189 meters above sea level. The site is located on coffins are on the east side. There are also two the summit of a sandstone hill. Distance from boat-shaped coffins and one round-shaped the old village is about 650 meters in the west, east-westcoffin on the and north north-south. side, and two round-shaped coffins on the west side. The orientation is and gardens of local residents. Finding on the of pottery, shells, and jaws of pigs. Around around the site there are streams andtalukun fields,) theOther sites arefindings still used on the as sitea new are burial fragments site by that has been damaged and type of batutu local people; that is a burial of a corpse in the site is a single round-shaped coffin ( ground include the perforated (lokko’ or liang) 54 cm wide, 4-5 cm thick wall with a north- and the building of batutu grave of wood or grave. The sizes of the coffin are 196 cm long, cement. (MMS No.7) for dating, but not selected for analysissouth orientation. because it The is not coffin representative. was taken sample The be measured in more detail, because it is not allowedThe coffins by the found chairman on Minanga of the local site custom. cannot the fragments of pottery, skulls, bones, and the According to their belief, if the rice is in remainssite was burnedof charcoal once. from The wood. other findings are F. Salulo Site. The site is located in objects in the grave, but still allowed to see Bambasola, Lembang Salulo Village, Mamasa andthe rice take fields, photos it directly.is not allowed Samples to touchwere takenthe District, Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi Province. The coordinates of the site are 1 (MMA 09) and the batutu grave 1 (MMS 10) S02°57’43.5”, E119°20’52.4”, with an altitude forclandestinely dating, but of when boat-shaped analysis coffinsin the laboratory, number of 1,145 meters above sea level. The site is the samples are not selected because they are located on the summit of a sands tone hill. new. It can be seen from the color and texture The distance from the old village is about of the wood used that looks freshly. The sizes and gardens around it and Mamasa River in cm wide, and 90 cm high. According to the 400 meters in the north, and there are fields localof the stories, boat-shaped it is said coffin that are the 293 people cm long,who 70 pieces of wood that supposed to come from were buried at the site were the custom leader the south. The findings on the site bangka-are two and their family (personal communication bangka), lay on the west side of batutu grave with Arruanpawa, 15/10/2010). withthe pieces a length of boat-shaped of 183 cm, 50 coffins cm wide, ( and 3-5 H. Osango Site. The site is located in Osango Village, Mamasa District, Mamasa 08) for dating, the result is the age of about Regency, West Sulawesi Province. The 470cm thick. ± 50 BP.The Around coffin was the takensite found sample fragments (MMS coordinates of the site are S02°57’01.1”, of pottery, human bones, and pig’s jaw. E119°21’27.6”, with an altitude of 1,163 G. Minanga Site. The site is located in meters above sea level, lies on the sandstone Minanga, Kariango Village, Tawalian District, cliffs. The distance from the old village is about Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi Province. 400 meters in the west, while in the south, The coordinates of the site are S02°56’13.2”, E119°25’03.8”, with an altitude of 1,220 are gardens of local people around it. there are fields and Mamasa River and there bangka- meters abovebangka-bangka sea level. The), three findings round-shaped on the bangkaThe findings on the site are four woodentedong- site as muchtalukun as nine pieces, five boat-shaped tedongcoffins: one boat-shaped coffin ( coffins ( ) and buffalo-shaped coffin ( coffins ( ), a horse-shaped coffin ) and two round-shaped coffins 181 AKIN DULI, Shape and Chronology of Wooden Coffins

(talukun According to the local information, it is located on). Boat-shaped the south side coffin of the is batutu280 cm grave long, 1 top of a sand stone hill located approximately with63 cm, north-south wide and 133 orientation. cm high. Buffalo-shapedThe coffin is 400said metersthat once in the south,wood coffins but due were to a onlands the cover then moved to its present site in 1982 traditional house-shaped with east-west (personal communication with Simon, orientation.coffin located On under the body the cupola portion, of there Mamasa are some decorative motifs with 240 cm body length, 88 cm wide, and 98 cm high. 12/10/2010).bangka-bangka The findings), two on buffalo-shaped the site are five According to the local information, it pieces oftedong-tedong wooden coffins: one boat-shaped (coffinnarang ( talukun). is gone because it was stolen; a buffalo’s coffinsJ. Other ( Sites. Other), sites a horse-shaped found in Mamasa coffin headis said portion that the is head located portion on the of south the coffin side, are Karassik), and site, a round-shaped Peu’, Tambun coffin 1, Tambun ( 2, while the horse’s head is on the north side Balla’ Peu’, Salu Lemo, Rampan, Tatale, Tabang, (personal communication with Arruanpawa, Sasakan, and Missawa. the left-right of batutu grave 2, with the size THE MEANING OF FORMS DIFFERENCE AND of15/10/2010). each is 205 cmRound-shaped long, 71 cm coffindiameter, found and in THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOODEN COFFIN 189 cm long, 80 cm diameter respectively. IN MAMASA REGION Batutu grave is 357 cm long, 235 cm wide, and 360 cm high; and in the front portion, there Mamasa region is in the valley along Mamasa are several Mamasa motifs carved. The size River,Distribution which extends of wooden longwise coffin from sites north in to of batutu grave 2 is almost equal with batutu south and empties into the Strait of Makassar. grave 1, the difference is in batutu grave 2 have The valley region is located at an altitude no motifs and have a one black color only, and between 800 – 1,400 meters above sea level, both are east-west oriented. which is a very fertile area and suitable for fragment of pottery and pigs. The bodies were the areas are boat-shaped (bangka-bangka), Other findings around the site are a jaw buffalo-shapedagriculture. The ( tedong-tedongforms of coffins), foundhorse-shaped in heroes of a couple of husband and wife named (narang), round-shaped (talukun), and the Pongburied Galunggu in the buffalo-shaped and his wife named coffins Langi’ were type of batutu grave. Kampun. Early use of the site is approximately at the time about 600 years ago. While on the Differences in the form of coffins are custom called Nenek Bangga Seba. In recent Truststrongly based influenced on respect by the for factorsancestors of trust,and times,boat-shaped the nobles coffin were buried buried a first in batutuchairman cosmologysocial stratification, concept, andin particular, the development. to be done (personal communication with Arruanpawa, by the social class aristocracy symbolized 15/10/2010). I. Kanan-kanan Site. Kanan-kanan site is in Mamake Village, Tanduk Kalua District, class,through the the nobles, use of and different relatives. coffins But thein form. status Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi Province. ofWooden each nobleman coffins used is also only different by the high according social to The coordinates of the site are S03°01’30.6”, the roles while still alive, such as the chairman E119°17’56.7”, with an altitude of 990 meters and the servants of government or as a portion above sea level, lies in the lowlands in the of the traditional family. All these roles are arranged with north-south orientation into Batutu grave used by the higher nobility, amiddle Mamasa of ricetraditional fields. Wooden house building. coffins are The symbolized by using differentbangka-bangka coffins.) are used distance from the old village is about 260 by middle nobility, buffalo and horses-shaped meters in the west. Around the site there are boats-shapedtedong-tedong coffin ( and narang) used by the wealthy duke and brave; while round- on the north side. coffins ( talukun) used for lower nobility houses, gardens and fields, and Mamasa River shaped coffin ( 182 AKIN DULI, TAWARIKH: Shape and Chronology of Wooden Coffins in Mamasa International Journal for Historical Studies, 5(2) April 2014

DISTRIBUTION OF SITES OF ERONG COFFIN ON MAMASA DISTRICT 2010

INFORMATION: PROVINCIAL ROADS LOCAL ROADS ALTERNATIVE ROADS RIVER FIELD MOUNTAIN DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

Image 3:

Map of Distribution Sites in Mamasa and the soldiers or servants of the kingdom. communication with Demmatayan and

While ordinary people or simply are buried Bongga Tiboyong, 14/10/2010), provide an into stone holes (liang lo’kok) without wooden explanation that difference in social status

sites determined by the type of the graves and regioncoffin. is one that characterizes the culture of about who is buried in the wooden coffin

Toraja-MamasaThe culture of ethnic wooden that coffin has evolved in Mamasa since High class nobility (tana’ bulaan) buried the beginning along with Tongkonan and coffinsin the batutu used. grave, high-class nobles and courageous heroes or person (tana’ bulaan) in the ritual of Rambu Tukak or Rambu Solo. tedong- Accordingvarious religious to the localrites, community such as those (personal reflected tedong) and horse-shaped (narang). Middle- buried in buffalo-shaped coffin (

183 AKIN DULI, Shape and Chronology of Wooden Coffins

Table 1:

Dating Results of Wooden Coffin in Mamasa Number of Samples Sites Dating Forms MMS 01 Buntu Balla 280±40 BP Boat MMS 02 (Tedong-tedong) 380±40 BP Buffalo MMS 03 Orobua 730±50 BP Buffalo MMS 04 390±50 BP Boat Paladan MMS 05 500±50 BP Batutu MMS 06 Balla’ Kalua’ 580±40 BP Round MMS 08 Salulo 470±50 BP Boat

class nobility (tana’ bassi) that are wealthy representative of the true population, due to the selected sites historically have been (bangka-bangka). The lower class of nobility located in the area that became centers of the (economicallytanak bassi or buried tanak in karurung boat-shaped) that coffinare culture of Mamasa people, both in the past and economically poor buried in round-shaped at the present. talukun). Low social classes were The selection of sites in Mamasa, existed in buried in the ground which made the holes in Balla, Rambu Saratu’, Orobua, Paladan, Tabang, thecoffin cliff ( of the hill (liang lo’kok). Sumarorong, and Missawa. Overall wooden to be the vehicle used their ancestors sailed as 21 sites, take samples for radiocarbon fromWooden the island coffins to the believed other sideby the of peopleMamasa, datingcoffin sites, that bethat analyzed have been in the surveyed laboratory as many as and used as a symbol of the boat spirit for a trip to the nature spirit (puya). Orientation selected sites, i.e. sites that are considered much as seven samples derived from five and west. It is very closely related to beliefs replacement or renovation. andof the social coffin status, is always because placed both facing directions south are oldThe and results the coffin of radiocarbon has not experienced dating in the considered as the direction of the ancestral spirits dwell. The general nobleman is believed found that the oldest age is about 730 ± 50 reside in puya located in the south, while the BP,sample or about of wooden the year coffin 1200 in AD Mamasa, (Anno itDomini was ). nobility that comes from the descendants of Tomanurun (the god of the sky) will return in Mamasa region is in the period of 1200 to their home in the sky – through the west ADThus, and the is earlystill practiced development by local of wooden people tocoffin direction that is believed to be the way to continue in the period surrounding the 1970’s. heaven. Thus, the differences of wooden belief and social systems sourced from the When referred to the earlytedong-tedong use of coffins) alukcoffins todolo in Mamasa teachings are (from greatly ancestral influenced custom by in Mamasa, then, the earliest coffin used is rules) that govern the various aspects of aboat-shaped buffalo-shaped (bangka-bangka coffins ( ), round-shaped Mamasa-Toraja community in the past until (foundtalukun on), Orobua and tomb site. types The othersbatutu coffinsgrave grow like now. later. Clearly, the high nobility were buried Laboratory analyses of the samples, were taken from several sites, showed the age in woodenIt is also coffins closely in related buffalo-shaped to the mythology and was region. Although it is realized that there are offollowed Mamasa later people by another who think form that of coffins.their of the coffin found in several sites in the Nenek Pongkapadang, come been surveyed mainly due to limitations of from Tana Toraja (Toraja Sa’dan) to bring a time,many effort, heritage and sites money. of coffins However, that thehave sites not firstbuffalo ancestor, and dogs (Kruyt, 1923:170; Nooy- Palm, 1979:18 and 110-111; Tangdilintin, have been surveyed are the most significant 184 TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies, 5(2) April 2014

1980:25; Koubi, 1982:23; Duli & Hasanuddin foot or top of limestone hills, not far from the eds., 2003:5-6; and Buijs, 2009:25-26). Later development, when Mamasa people are always placed on the south or southwest of the growing up and become complex, then, it oldvillage village, or field with rice. the Similarly,south or westwooden orientation. coffin is creates a customs union that is somewhat Differences in shape, layout, and different with his native region, Tana Toraja. All burial sites (liang) in Mamasa, both the old and the new one, are based on the type orientation of the coffins are strongly of batutu basedinfluenced on respect by the forfactors ancestors of trust, and social cosmology around it. In later developments, the batutu concept,stratification, in particular and the todevelopment. be done by theTrust grave has grave,become and a placecoffins of are burial often and found symbol social class aristocracy symbolized through of the aristocratic class social status, while only by the high social class, the nobles, and Generally, the form of batutu grave is relatives.different shapeBut the of status coffins. of Wooden each nobleman coffins usedis dividedwooden into coffins two: are batutu not used surak any (engraved) more. used also different according to the roles while still by the high nobility (tana’ bulaan) as found on alive, such as the chairman and the servants of Rambu Saratu’ and Orobua; and batutu bolong government or as a portion of the traditional (black-colored but not carved) is used by the family. All these roles are symbolized by using nobility and the middle low (tana’ bassi) as found on Kopian site. Batutu grave has always The results of radiocarbon dating in the been a partner of tongkonan (banua), namely wooden coffins that look different. batutu sura’ paired with banua sura’ and that the oldest age is 730 ± 50 BP, or about batutu bolong paired with banua bolong. At thesample year of 1200 the woodenAD (Anno coffin Domini in Mamasa). Thus, early found the batutu grave, it is not put arbitrary bodies as well as tongkonan (banua layuk or banua in 1200 AD or even earlier times and is still sura’), it shall be in accordance with customary practiceddevelopment by local of coffins people in continuedMamasa region until is rules and regulations. around the 1970’s.

CONCLUSION 1

Mamasa region is in the valley region along the References Distribution of wooden coffin sites in Mamasa River, with an altitude between 800 Buijs, K. (2009). Kuasa Berkat dari Belantara dan Langit: – 1,400 meters above sea level. The forms of Struktur dan Transformasi Agama Orang Toraja bangka-bangka), di Mamasa, Sulawesi Barat. Makassar: Penerbit buffalo-shaped (tedong-tedong), horse-shaped Ininnawa. coffins found: boat-shaped ( Duli, Akin. (1999). ”Berbentuk-berbentuk Kubur dalam (narang), round-shaped (talukun), and the Sistem Penguburan Orang Toraja: Suatu Studi Etno- tomb-shaped like traditional houses (batutu) Arkeologi”. Paper presented in the Congress and with a variety of sizes made by a kind of uru Scholarly Meeting of Archeology VIII in Yogyakarta, wood (elmerillia celebica dandy). The lay out of Indonesia, on 15-18 February. Duli, Akin & Hasanuddin [eds]. (2003). Toraja: Dulu dan Kini Koubi, J. (1982). Rambu Solo’, ‘Lafume Descend’: La Culte 1 the Acknowledgements:coffins found at Firstly, each asite big thanks is located is appointed at the des Morts. Makassar: Ches les Pustaka Toraja Refleksi. du Sud. Paris: Centre de to the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia and Science Documentation et de Recherchessurl’ Asie du Sud-Est University of Malaysia in Pulau Pinang for the funds in carrying et le Monde Insulinden. Indonesia. Secondly, thanks very much to the chairman of the Kruyt, A.C. (1923). “De Toradja’s van de Sa’dan, customout research as an ofinformants wooden coffin who helpedin Mamasa, in this West study, Sulawesi, especially to Massoeppoe, en Mamasa” in Bijdragen tot de Taal – Demmatayan, Bongga Tiboyong, Mr. Simon, and Arruanpawa. Land en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch Indie, LXIII. Finally, in particular, I would like to thank to all friends who Amsterdam: ‘s-Gravenhange, pp.81-259. helped in this research in Mamasa, West Sulawesi, Indonesia; Nooy-Palm, H. (1979). “The Sa’dan Toraja: A Study of they are Prof. Dr. Stephen Chia, Muhammad Husni, Hasanuddin, Their Social Life and Religion” in Organization, Muhammad Nur, Yohanis, and all the staff of the Institute for Vol.1. The Hague: Nijhoff, KITLV, Archaeology Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. However, Symbols, and Beliefs, all contents and interpretations about this article is solely left Verhandelingen 1 (87). academically to my ownself.

185 AKIN DULI, Shape and Chronology of Wooden Coffins

Personal communication with Demmatayan, on October Personal communication with Arruanpawa, on October 10 and 14, 2010. 15, 2010. Personal communication with Bongga Tiboyong, on Tangdilintin, L.T. (1980). Toraja dan Kebudayaannya. October 12 and 14, 2010. Tana Toraja: Yayasan Lepongan Bulan. Personal communication with Simon, on October 12, Tangdilintin, L.T. (1981). Upacara Pekuburan Adat Toraja. 2010. Tana Toraja: Yayasan Lepongan Bulan.

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