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

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