The mysterious megaliths of the Indonesia's Bada Valley

Wu Mingren
Ancient Origins
Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:50 UTC

Bada Valley (also known as Napu Valley) is a megalithic site situated in the Lore Lindu National Park, in the District of Poso, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Although the megaliths have yet to be formally catalogued and documented (as of 2001) several hundred of them have been located in and around the national park. These megaliths are often carved, and 30 of them depict human / human-like forms. Very little is known about these statues.

Difficult Dating of the Megaliths

The megaliths of Bada Valley were first discovered in 1908. Although slightly more than a 100 years has passed since they were first uncovered, it seems that what we know about these objects is still very little. For example, it is not known for certain when these megaliths were made.

Some have speculated that these stones were carved about 5000 years ago. Yet others suggest that they were created at a more recent point of time, i.e. 1000 years ago. Others have also proposed that they are related to a culture that carved megaliths in Laos, Cambodia and other parts of Indonesia 2000 years ago.

Uncertain Creators and Purpose

Neither are the creators of these megaliths known. Although it has been suggested that they were made by a culture that created megaliths in other parts of Southeast Asia, it has also been pointed out that the megaliths in Bada Valley are unique, and therefore could have been made by an entirely different culture. At the moment, no one really knows which culture made them.

The original purpose(s) of these megaliths has / have also been lost, though people have speculated about this as well. Local people, for example, believe that some of the megaliths were once used for ancestor worship. The locals also tell stories about how these megaliths came into being. For instance, there is a megalith they have named Tokala'ea, which is said to have been a rapist who was turned into stone. The deep cuts on this megalith are said to be knife wounds. Another megalith, known as Tadulako, is thought to have once been a village protector. After stealing some rice, however, he was turned to stone.

Others have suggested that they had something to do with human sacrifice. Some also believe that the statues were meant to ward away evil spirits, whilst others claim that the megaliths had supernatural powers, and are able to disappear or move from one place to another.

Characteristics of the Stones

Regardless of their original purpose(s), the stone used to carve these statues are of a type not found anywhere near the area, thus raising the possibility that they were transported from somewhere else. This means that the people who made the statues were likely to have some sort of social organization that enabled them to undertake such a project.

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