Thousands Of Remarkable Megaliths On The Sumba Island
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - On the island of Sumba, in eastern Indonesia there are thousands very intriguing megaliths that have unusual shape. Often referred to as a megalith central, these huge stone tombs are truly impressive.
Construction of megalithic tombs has occurred for hundreds of years on the island of Sumba.
Image credit: Albert Jata - Flickr
Sumba is unique because it’s is a vestige of one of the last surviving megalithic cultures on the planet. What is remarkable is that despite contact with western cultures, Sumba is one of the few places in the world in which megalithic burials are used as a ‘living tradition’ to inter prominent individuals when they die.
Image credit: Goto Komodo
In other words, construction of megalithic tombs it’s still practiced, especially in the Anakalang area.
Image credit: Top Indonesia Holidays
People transport huge blocks of stone that often weigh up to 20 tons and drag them great distances to the mortuary ground to construct mausoleums for the rich and the nobility.
See also:
Mysterious Megaliths Of Russia May Offer Evidence Of An Ancient Advanced Lost Civilization
Mysterious 2000-Year-Old Carved Vishap Stone Monuments Of Armenia
Mystery Of The Giants’ Grave of Coddu Vecchiu
Some tombs are marked with penji, stone memorials with carved crocodiles, turtles and other sea creatures depicted on them to symbolize a noble birth or sources of wealth of the deceased.
Image credit: Xplorea
The age of many of the megaliths is uncertain because radiocarbon dating has not been done. Those who look at these mysterious tombs have the feeling time stands still on the island of Sumba and one can understand why. People still keep this ancient tradition alive.
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Mysterious Grave Of King Valdemar IV Atterdag – Will The 600-Year-Old Historical Puzzle Ever Be Solved?
-
Enigma Of Mount Ararat – Researchers Are Determined To Reveal The Truth To The World
-
Mystery Of The Maya Blue Pigment And Its Unusual Chemical Composition
-
Egyptian Artisans In The Valley Of The Kings Had Permanent Jobs In The Time Of The Pharaohs
-
Three Bronze Age Chariots, Shields, Daggers And Decorated Coffins Unearthed In Northern India
-
Mysterious Inscription On Naxian-Style Sphinx From Dacia Deciphered
-
Ancient Egyptian Capital Tell El-Amarna Mapped Through Satellite Imagery System
-
Ancient Biblical Manuscript M.910 We Are Afraid To Open May Contain A Surprise
-
Riddle Of The Ancient Sarcophagus And Its Strange Properties – Can Science Solve This Mystery?
-
Remarkable Complex Of Early Neolithic Monuments Discovered In Herefordshire, England
-
Mabon Festival And The Autumn Equinox Celebrated By Pagans
-
Ancient Indian Sages Had Highly Advanced Scientific Knowledge Thousands Of Years Ago
-
Silver Jewelry Buried In Leather Purse Discovered In Bulgaria
-
Mysterious Scrolls And Artifacts Discovered Inside Ancient Buddha Statuette
-
Strange Ancient Mechanical Flying Animals – Myths Or Advanced Ancient Technology? – Part 1
-
Vindelev Treasure Re-Writes Ancient History – World’s Oldest Runic Inscription Of God Odin Found On Ancient Gold Pendants
-
Face Of Queen Lady Cao Reconstructed – Unique Look At The First Known Female Ruler In Peru
-
Stone Age Settlement Discovered Underwater In Finland
-
What Was The Agriculture Like In Southeast China In The Late Neolithic?
-
Deciphered Ancient Tablet May Depict Biblical Tower Of Babel – New Evidence
