Underwater Archaeological Remains in Matano Lake, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Evidence of Iron Age Civilization
Dublin Core
Title
Underwater Archaeological Remains in Matano Lake, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Evidence of Iron Age Civilization
Description
Matano Lake is a natural freshwater lake located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia that has a depth of roughly 590 m,
making this lake the deepest lake in Southeast Asia. The existence of cultural heritage in land surrounding
Matano Lake was revealed in 1998, based on research conducted by OXIS projects, which found a quantity of
artifacts dated approximately between the 6th and 16th. From 2016 to 2022 The National Research Centre of
Archaeology Indonesia (now the Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional) conducted research in underwater and
terrestrial observation relating to submerged landscapes in the Matano Lake environment. This research reveals
the civilization of the iron age that has been developed since during much of the second millennium CE
regarding mass iron production and iron smelting in Matano Lake. The agency utilized several approaches such
as geography and geology as well as the method to collect primary archaeological data in terrestrial excavation
and geology survey and also underwater observation using SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing
Apparatus) to directly identify archaeological remains on the bottom of the lake.
Based on the survey, literature study, and spatial analysis utilizing ArcGIS, there are five sites
consisting of Sebengkuro, Pulau Ampat, Pontada, Sukoiyo, and Onetengka with various of human cultural
remains such as iron tools , iron slag, pottery, tuyere, wooden poles, ore, charcoal, and fragments of an animal
tooth which were laying on the bottom of the lake in 4 to 20 m. The result of the archaeological remains and
geological analysis reveals that each site has a different type, contour, and period. Furthermore, based on a
literature study, the existence of mass iron production was mentioned in Nagarakrtagama (a Javanese poem in
the 14th century) proving iron production in Matano has been exported from Sulawesi Island to Java Island.
making this lake the deepest lake in Southeast Asia. The existence of cultural heritage in land surrounding
Matano Lake was revealed in 1998, based on research conducted by OXIS projects, which found a quantity of
artifacts dated approximately between the 6th and 16th. From 2016 to 2022 The National Research Centre of
Archaeology Indonesia (now the Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional) conducted research in underwater and
terrestrial observation relating to submerged landscapes in the Matano Lake environment. This research reveals
the civilization of the iron age that has been developed since during much of the second millennium CE
regarding mass iron production and iron smelting in Matano Lake. The agency utilized several approaches such
as geography and geology as well as the method to collect primary archaeological data in terrestrial excavation
and geology survey and also underwater observation using SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing
Apparatus) to directly identify archaeological remains on the bottom of the lake.
Based on the survey, literature study, and spatial analysis utilizing ArcGIS, there are five sites
consisting of Sebengkuro, Pulau Ampat, Pontada, Sukoiyo, and Onetengka with various of human cultural
remains such as iron tools , iron slag, pottery, tuyere, wooden poles, ore, charcoal, and fragments of an animal
tooth which were laying on the bottom of the lake in 4 to 20 m. The result of the archaeological remains and
geological analysis reveals that each site has a different type, contour, and period. Furthermore, based on a
literature study, the existence of mass iron production was mentioned in Nagarakrtagama (a Javanese poem in
the 14th century) proving iron production in Matano has been exported from Sulawesi Island to Java Island.
Creator
Muslim Dimas Khoiru Dhony
Shinatria Adhityatama
R.R. Triwurjani
Dida Yurnaldi
Ahmad Surya Ramadhan
Joko Wahyudiyono
Aldhi Wahyu Pratama
Suryatman
Abdullah Abbas
Alqiz Lukman
David Bulbeck
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Dhony, Muslim Dimas Khoiru, Shinatria Adhityatama, R.R. Triwurjani, Dida Yurnaldi, Ahmad Surya Ramadhan, Joko Wahyudiyono, Aldhi Wahyu Pratama, Suryatman, Abdullah Abbas, Alqiz Lukman, and David Bulbeck. 2023. ‘‘Underwater Archaeological Remains in Matano Lake, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Evidence of Iron Age Civilization.’’ Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Jennifer McKinnon. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1995
Files
Citation
Muslim Dimas Khoiru Dhony et al., “Underwater Archaeological Remains in Matano Lake, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Evidence of Iron Age Civilization,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed January 15, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/1995.