The Iron Civilization of Matano Lake, South Sulawesi: Paleometallic to Historical Periods

Abstract

Artifacts of funnel axes, which characterize the paleometallic period, were found in Lake Matano. The discovery of several weapons in the form of kris, machetes, knives, daggers (badik) shows that the Matano area is a metalproducing area. In the Nagarakrtagama Manuscript, it is stated that the Majapahit Kingdom imported metal from Matano to make weapons. However, not much archaeological evidence has been found to know the pattern of development of ancient metal processing activities. This study aims to obtain information about the early development of iron age culture in the Lake Matano Region and innovations in the field of archeometallurgy that our ancestors once possessed. Through land and underwater explorations, it is known that there are traces of iron processing. The results of dating analysis show that metal processing in the Lake Matano area was carried out continuously from the 8th to the 18th centuries AD.