The Maluku Archaeology Office has said that the megalithic artifacts discovered in Halmahera, Tidore, and Moti Islands, North Maluku, could be related to ancestor worship practiced by ancient settlers.
"There is a possibility that the megalithic artifacts discovered in North Maluku are related with the practice of ancestor worship," archaeologist Marlyn Salhuteru stated on Tuesday.
The megalithic artifacts comprise stone altars, stone mortar and pestles, holed and scratched stones, and sacred places marked by a menhir, stone formations, tombs, or large trees, he revealed.
The artifacts were discovered in 15 areas identified as ancient villages in Halmahera, Tidore, and Moti Islands, the archaeologist added.
A 55x50 cm flat stone altar discovered at Gurabunga village in Tidore Island, formerly under the Islamic Tidore Sultanate rule, was used by the ancient people for rituals, Salhuteru said.
"A megalithic network has been discovered in Halmahera, Tidore, and Moti Islands, and we should continue our research to expand our comprehension on megalithic culture and artifacts in North Maluku, as currently academic resources on the topic are scarce," the archaeologist said.
North Maluku has played an essential role in the archipelago's history, as islands in the province served as an ancient culture bridge in the prehistoric era and the base of powerful kingdoms in the early modern era, he explained.
Salhuteru, along with other five archaeologists from the Maluku Archaeology Office, commenced their research on the megalithic artifacts in North Maluku province in 2020.
The research, which proceeded despite the COVID-19 pandemic, was conducted through a literature study, scrutinizing earlier research and academic works, a cartographic study, and focus group discussions, the archaeologist informed.
"We should continue our endeavor to investigate the islands' history as these islands have rich natural and ethnographic resources and hosted great kingdoms in the early modern era," Salhuteru said.
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Editor : Febrianto Budi Anggoro
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