An ancient gardens witnessing the history of Minahasa in megalithic period

ZONAUTARA.com – North Sulawesi Province is one Indonesia’s place that have so many history stuff could so interesting to visit and to be research indeed.

If you from aboard you need an airplane from Jakarta the Indonesia’s capital city to Manado city as destination. It needs about three hours. But, there are some country has direct to Manado city.

Manado is the capital city of North Sulawesi province. If you want to visit North Sulawesi, take the time to visit the Ancient Waruga Park in Sawangan Village, Airmadidi District, North Minahasa Regency.

It only takes about an hour to drive from Manado. Public transportation is also available, you just go to Paal Dua Terminal, and look for Airmadidi route. Get off at Airmadidi Terminal, and continue the trip by a motorcycle taxi.

In this place there are 144 old graves of ancient Minahasan called ‘Waruga’ in form of iron crates from Megalithic period around 20 centuries.

Past time, Waruga was spread in residential areas. But around the 18th century, the Dutch Colonial government gathered Waruga in one place. At the same time, the Dutch ban on burial of bodies in Waruga, because that it could spread various diseases.

The grave of the ancient Minahasa people, Waruga is made of a rectangular hollow stone about one meter high. In Waruga, the dead bodies of are placed in a sitting position. A stone cupola was made to cover Waruga.

Waruga cover looks so heavy is said have been brought from the place of manufacture by carrying it on their head.

In a Waruga has usually used as a place to bury one family. So that in one Waruga can contain up to 12 bodies. The number of bodies in Waruga can be seen from lines inscribed in the cupola.

In the Archaeological Park of Waruga Sawangan, Waruga’s location is neatly arranged, and looks clean and well-maintained. Some old trees that grow around this park strengthen the ancient atmosphere of tourist complex.

When entering the park complex, on the left and right of the road there is a mural depicting of making and use of Waruga as a grave stone for ancient Minahasa.

Almost the Waruga have a measure that describes the social status or work of a person buried during his lifetime. Some cupboards even have carvings showing where the dead body came from.

For example, a carved person shows that the body in Waruga is a ‘dotu’ or leader. Cow carving can tell that the dead man was a hunter during his lifetime.

There are usually unique carvings in Waruga cupola. The fingers of a woman’s hand are made to clench, while the fingers of a man’s hand are made in an interlocking position.

From 144 Waruga in Sawangan Archaeological Park, only 31 could be identified. The oldest Waruga here is said from AD 800.

There is one Waruga in this ancient park that opens its side, so visitors can see the inside.

If you are satisfied to look around Waruga, do not forget to take time to go to the small museum across the parking lot. There are provision things previously placed by the family in Waruga.

Editor: Ronny Adolof Buol