STONE JAR IN SUMBAWA:

DISTRIBUTION, TYPE, AND TECHNOLOGY

Bagyo Prasetyo

Abstrak. Tempayan Batu di Sumbawa: Distribusi, Tipe, dan Teknologi. Di bagian barat Pulau
Sumbawa terdapat peninggalan megalitik berupa tempayan batu, yang tersebar di beberapa tempat
di Kabupaten dan Kota Bima (Nusa Tenggara Barat). Penelitian yang dilakukan di kawasan ini lebih
difokuskan pada persebaran situs-situs, bentuk-bentuk tempayan maupun teknologi pembuatannya.
Hasil penelitian telah menunjukkan adanya 8 situs yang tersebar di tiga desa meliputi Desa Rora,
Palama, dan Kumbe, dengan jumlah temuan sebanyak 21 buah yang terdiri dari 18 wadah dan 3 tutup
tempayan batu. Berdasarkan tipe morfologi membuktikan adanya beberapa bentuk yang membedakan
dengan tempayan-tempayan batu yang ditemukan di kawasan Lembah Napu, Besoa, Bada di Sulawesi
Tengah, Toraja di Sulawesi Selatan, dan Samosir di Sumatra Utara. Selain itu fakta juga memberikan
adanya bukti-bukti teknologi berupa jejak-jejak pengerjaan pada tempayan batu.

Kata kunci: tempayan batu, persebaran, tipe, teknologi

Abstract. To the west of Sumbawa there are stone vats, a part of megalithic culture, which spread
at several sites in the Regency and City of Bima, Sumbawa Island (West Nusa Tenggara). The study
carried out in this area was more focused on site distribution, shapes of jars, and manufacturing
techniques. Investigation result reveals eight sites dispersed at the villages of Rora, Palama, and
Kumba, where 21 jars are found. The jars consist of 18 bodies and 3 lids. The morphological types
show some stone jars that are different from the types found in other parts of Indonesia, such as Napu,
Besoa, Bada Valley (Central Sulawesi), Toraja (South Sulawesi), and Samosir (North Sumatra). In
term of technology, it shows that stone jars indicated some traces of scratch on it.

Keywords: stone vat, distribution, type, technology

1. Introduction Europe on one side and to the southern Pacific

Megalithic is one of cultural human on the other. That conception however was soon
behavior which spread over the world. abandoned by scholars working in prehistory
Researches on megalithic remains in Indonesia because of contradiction with archaeological
have begun early already and are still going on. facts (Mulia 1981). Perry’s hypothesis (1918)
But until now, the influx of megalithic came to gave another chance of the origin of the
Indonesia is still in dispute. megalithic, that they came to Indonesia from
In 1907, MacMillan Brown commenced ancient Egypt, carried out by people in quest of
early assumption about the derivation of megalithic gold and metal who claimed themselves to be
culture. He has a judgment that megalithic descendants of the “sky-world”. This nebulous
culture embodied traces of a “Caucasian race” theory was not workable because of not have
which had come via the Mediterranean region satisfactory data. According to Heine Geldern’s
and southern Asia. Some scholar concurred with theory distinguished at least two groups among
this idea that the megaliths must be endorsed to the megalithic complexes in Indonesia. First
a “Caucasian race” with emigrated from Asia to called the Older Megalithic Culture indicated

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from Neolithic period and second, described Information on the remains of stone jar
the Younger Megalithic Culture designated in Sumbawa Island was first described by The
during the bronze and early Iron Age (Heine- Office Sub Region of History and Archaeological
Geldern 1945). Heine-Geldern’s find no support Heritage (Bidang Permuseuman, Sejarah dan
among the scholars. They consider them far Kepurbakalaan) West Nusa Tenggara Province.
too effortless and no supporting stratigraphic This report about finding stone jar in Wadu Nocu
evidence has been found (Glover 1979:101), and Wadu Ntari has stimulated further research.
also no carbon dating used (Prasetyo 2006). In Later on, the team of archaeological research from
keeping with that history of research carried out The National Research Center of Archaeology
by foreign scholar, a number of problems arise conducted by Bagyo Prasetyo undertook survey
as to the megalithic development and presence in in island of Sumbawa. The result of survey noted
Indonesia. Topic of discussion will converges on down and made description of megaliths finding
the shape and dispersion one of aspect megalithic in several sites at Rora, Palama, Kumbe, and
culture in island of Sumbawa. Pananae villages in Sumbawa Island especially
According to classification, Indonesian in city and regency of Bima (Prasetyo 2000).
megaliths consist of upright stone (menhir), Based on the report, the paper is presented as an
stone table (dolmen), stone coffin (sarcophagus), effort to offer some insights into the presence
stone statue, stone mortar, stone trough, stone of the Sumbawa’s stone jar in the development
cist, stone jar (stone vat), stone chamber, stone of Megalithic culture history in Indonesia.
terrace, stone cairn, stone seat, cubical stone, The target to be reached addresses the forms,
cup-marked stone. Stone jar is one kind of technology, and distribution of stone jar.
megaliths found in Indonesia and just only four
areas having stone jar within it, i.e. Napu, Besoa, 2. The Problem and Method
and Bada Valley in Central Sulawesi, Samosir The important issues arising from the
in South Sumatra, Toraja in South Sulawesi and megalith findings in Sumbawa Island bring
Sumbawa Island (West Nusa Tenggara). together on the stone jar. Focus arguing put
The earliest reports concerning the emphasize on stone jar as unit analysis which is
stone jar was conducted by Walter Kaudern defined as a cylindrical shaped and has a disc-
in Central Sulawesi at 1938. He found some shaped cover. The presence of stone jars is still
stone jar (kalamba) together with some type requiring explanation i.e. distribution, form,
of megalith such as statue, dolmen and stone style, and technology. For the reason, study of
mortar (Kaudern 1938). Further research in the interrelationship between formal and spatial
Napu, Besoa, and Bada valley continued by properties of stone jars accepts an independent
The National Research Center of Archaeology scaling of each dimension considered. In
and Manado Archaeological Bureau (Prasetyo practice formal descriptions are made by
1994/5; 1995/6, Yuniawati 2000). In the Sumatra analyzing artifact form into a number of discrete
Island, reporting stone jars from Samosir Island attribute systems. But in that case, qualitative
also done by Schnitger (1939) and Simanjuntak attributes apply to derive the typology of stone
(1982, 1996). They found stone jars collectively jars. Qualitative attributes are by definition
with sarcophagus, dolmen, and statue. Stone those properties of artifacts which are already
jar also found in Sumbawa Island, which offers recognized as representing discrete segments of
great potential for understanding Indonesia’s behavior, and accordingly they can be placed on
megalithic culture and fill a lack of stone jar the attribute list without further analysis. By the
distribution in Indonesia. concept of type, Chang refer to a class of objects

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 Bagyo Prasetyo, Stone Jar in Sumbawa: Distribution, Type, and Technology

or phenomena that share common attributes but level. Hinterland zone is the most dominant area
contrast with other types in not sharing their (85%), and notified by the existence of surging
characteristic attributes (1967:79). Types are land in the form of mountains within a range of
designed to reflect the overall appearance of an 400 to 1500 meters, above sea level in altitude,
artifact. Morphological types attempt to define while the seashore zone (only 14% of area) is
broad generalities rather than focusing upon indicated by the existence of alluvial area along
specific traits, simultaneously considering as the beach side and is gradually becoming more
many attributes as possible (Thomas 1979:216). surging as it moves into the hinterland region
In order to space-form relationship can within 0-400 meters range of altitude. The north-
be derived from the spatial position and formal south-eastern part of region is bordered by sea
typology of artifact. The relationship is a direct and gulf of Waworada, Mua, Sape, and some
one: artifacts which are formally close tend cape such as Lagundu, Tenawu, Batu Besar,
strongly toward spatial closeness (Spaulding Ambalawi, Naru, and Rono.
1971:34-35).
4. Distribution Sites of Stone Jar
3. Physiographical Setting Stone jars in Bima investigated in
Bima is one of city and regency located in Donggo district (Bima Regency) and Rasanae
Sumbawa Island (West Nusa Tenggara Province) district (Bima City). Nevertheless the area of
which is found stone jar of megalithic. This area Donggo has more megalithic sites than Rasanae.
is situated between 08º20’ - 08º30’ Southern Most of stone vats usually make from the raw
Latitude and 118º41’ - 118º48’ Longitude material of andesitic or volcanic breccias. This
East (Bima City) and 08º20’ - 08º30’ Southern research that took place in Donggo district has
Latitude and 118º41’ - 118º48’ Longitude East indicated that some megalithic site was found
(Bima Regency). Geographically, Bima area in Rora Villages which is a hinterland area
divided into hinterland and seashore zone within having surging and mountainous characteristic
a range of altitude from 0 -1500 meters above sea and range of altitude about 350 to 500 meters

WEST NUSA TENGGARA

PROVINCE

BIMA REGENCY

LOMBOK

SUMBAWA

BIMA CITY

Map 1. West Nusa Tenggara Province and Island of Sumbawa

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Table 1. Geographic Region of Stone Jar Remains

Table 2. Sites distribution and amount of stone jars in Bima

above sea level. About six stone vats sites were different raw materials and quantities. Most
found at Danau Mango, Madepinga, Dorolombo, of stone jars found in Donggo district (Bima
Kadanga Mandada, Doro Ndano Balanda, and Regency) comprised 16 covers and 3 lids, but
Doro Lahi in the village of Rora. These areas only 3 covers of stone jars established in Rasanae
initiated more natural block stone raw material (Bima City).
such as andesitic and volcanic breccias. The
other one originated at Songgerokupa site in
Palama village which designated by a hinterland 5. The Morphological Type and its
area having surging characteristic and altitude Distribution
about 430 meters above sea level. But in Kumbe Stone jar in Bima is one kind of megaliths
village (district of Rasanae) verified only one which intermittent found in Indonesia. They
stone jar site. This site determined more natural consist of cylindrically shaped and have a disc-
block of andesitic and lied on top of mound. shaped cover. The jars and covers are sometimes
About 18 of stone jars unearthed in carved with decorative patterns. According to
Sumbawa Island and scattered at eight sites with morphological type, stone jar in Bima separated

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 Bagyo Prasetyo, Stone Jar in Sumbawa: Distribution, Type, and Technology

SUMBAWA ISLAND

Legend: area location

Map 2. Distribution area of stone jars in Bima (from google map)

into two types consist of cover and lid form. a.3 Variant A1c
Cover of stone jars has three main types; instead This variant is different from
of it the lid has two main types. variant A1a and A1b, which mouth
has no incision/notch, but has
5.1 Cover of stone jars vertical block ornaments. This form
(1) Cover of stone jars type A indicated at Songgerokupa site.
The cover stone jars indicated a cylindrical b. Subtype A2
longitudinal section, it consist of three kinds The shape is an asymmetrical body
of subtype. characterized with its downward
a. Subtype A1 conical form (the top side is wider
There is an asymmetrical body than the bottom side), upright mouth
characterized with its upward conical form without incision/notch. This form
form the bottom side is wider than derived at Madepinga Site.
the top side, and upright mouth form. c. Subtype A3
This subtype divide into three variant, While subtype A1 and A2 have an
comprise: asymmetrical body, subtype 3 shown a
a.1 Variant A1a symmetrical body (upside and downside
This variant is characterized by part in equal width) with upright mouth
mouth side has no incision/notch. form having incision/notch. This form
The distribution of this form can be only established at Kadanga Mandada
found at Madepinga, Dorokumbe, site.
Dorombolo, and Songgerukopa (2) Cover of stone jar type B
Sites. Type B is cover of stone jars designated by
a.2 Variant A1b rectangular longitudinal section, with two
Variant A1b indicated by mouth has kinds of subtype.
incision/notch. This form can be a. Subtype 1
revealed at Kadanga Mandada sites. This subtype is an asymmetrical body

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characterized with its upward conical

form, and upright mouth form without
incision/notch. This form can be shown
at Doro Ndano Belanda Site.
b. Subtype 2
Different from subtype 1, this subtype
is symmetrical body with upright mouth
form without incision/notch. This form
can be found in Danau Mangu Site.
(3) Cover of stone jar type C
Type C is cover of stone jars assigned by
oval longitudinal section, with:
Figure 1. Cover of stone jar subtype B1 at Doro Ndano
a. Subtype 1 Belanda Site
Characterized by symmetrical body
(upside and downside part in equal
width), mouth having incision/notch.
This form can be found in Danau Mangu
Site.
b. Subtype 2
Subtype 2 distinguished asym-metrical
body (conical upward form), mouth has
no incision/notch. This variant can be
found in Dorokumbe Site.

Figure 2. Cover of stone jar subtype C2 (left side) and

5.2 Lid of Stone Jars variant A1a (right side) at Doro Kumbe
According to lid form, there are two main
types of lid form. Those are: Based on that classification, we can
(1) Lid of stone jar type A note that stone jar with cylindrical and upward
This type characterized with cylindrical conical form is the most popular in Bima region
longitudinal section, having roof in dome/ and especially in Donggo District. The engraved
cap form. This type is decorated with motif on this stone vat is not quite various.
folded ornament and half circle curve. In Besides notch on mouth or vertical block carving
the tip of the hat there is a hole supposed to there are no other applied ornaments. This fact
tie a rope. This type indicated in Kadanga has been differing Bima’s stone jar from those
Mandada and Madepinga sites. found in Toba Lake or Central Sulawesi where
(2) Lid of stone jar type B many variation of ornament is prominent.
Type B illustrated by cylindrical
longitudinal section, having roof in dome/ 6. Man Make of Stone Jars
cap form without ornament on the top. Examination of stone jar making
While down side part is curving and form technology is based on raw materials used.
such a stair with gradual reduction in There are two kinds of raw materials including
diameter upward. This type was found in andesitic and volcanic breccias. Volcanic breccia
Kadanga Mandada Site. is very easy to be processed by picking the
stone contained in it. But such away would not

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 Bagyo Prasetyo, Stone Jar in Sumbawa: Distribution, Type, and Technology

Figure 3. Stone jar from Pokekea Site (Besoa Valley, Central Sulawesi) with mask decorative pattern (left side). Stone
jar from Buntu Pune Site (Toraja, South Sulawesi) (right side)

result in fine product because this raw material The technology for stone jar
contains many small to large size gravels. On manufacturing in that area can be mentioned
the contrary, andesitic raw material needs some as quite simple because of its lack of style and
though workers and instruments in its treatment. ornaments like found in Torajas. This differ
It is notified that an instruments used during those from what has been found in Tomok (North
days have involved metal materials in small to Sumatra) or Besoa and Napu (Central Sulawesi)
large chisel form. Some stone vat indicates some where variation in style and ornaments are more
traces of scratch about 2 to 3 cm in size. Such vat splendid. The existence of abundant stone sources
cap that has been found in Kadanga Mandada or in the form of andesitic or volcanic breccias has
Madepinga sites surely needs persevering on its supported the development or megalithic culture
treatment because its rather complicated work in in this region. Stone blocks have been utilized
forming such notches/incisions. by in place transforming into stone vat or other
So far, no indication on what these stone megalithic facilities without moving them from
jars was functioning in. It is because the content their origin.
of the jars had been fully stirred up or lifted, thus
make it so difficult to find out such containment.
While the stone jar found at Tadulako, Besoa
(Valley Central Sulawesi) was identified to be
functioning as human corpse cover in primary or
secondary graveyard (Yuniawati 2008).

7. Conclusion
Based on the survey that has been taking
place in Donggo District, we can resume that
megalithic remains in Bima area especially in
Donggo and Rasanae District is dominated by
stone jar form. So far there is no indication of
the function the relics has supposed, because the
test-pit that has been taking into it indicates the
existence of some disturbance.

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