360° Tour of The Largest Rock Art Painting at Muna Island

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The massive rock art paintings were reported by the local people in the 1970s. The researchers from The National Research Center of Archaeology then came and performed research and documentation. 

Not long after, Metanduno Cave, located in Liang Kabori village, Lohia Regency, became a tourist site with the most rock art paintings in Muna region. Visitors can easily access this cave from Raha City by using cars.

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Greetings from the sun, boats and various human figures

As you crawl into the cave, on the left side panel you are greeted by images of the sun, boats and various human figures with large hands. Because of its low ceiling cave, visitors can either sit or lie to observe the art.

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Cave filled with paintings

On the middle panel of the cave you can see hundreds of paintings of human figures, boats with human figures on its hull, paddles, and oars, and hunting scenes.

A male bovid at Metanduno Cave, Southeast Sulawesi (2015) by Adhi Agus OktavianaArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization

The biggest rock art painting in Muna island

The figurative animal is depicted in the middle of the cave with a solid brown color. The animal looks like a bovine or a horse. 

Look closely behind the animal's foot... what do you see?

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A hunting scene

On the ceiling, a lively hunting scene was painted on the right panel of the cave. A number of hunters riding horses and accompanied by dogs when hunting the bovines.

A group of warrior riding a horse at Metanduno Cave, Adhi Agus Oktaviana, 2015, From the collection of: Archaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
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The Boat and Human Image, AA Oktaviana, M. Sabri, 2023-03-16, From the collection of: Archaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
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Man riding an horse at Metanduno Cave, Adhi Agus Oktaviana, 2015, From the collection of: Archaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
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The human figure with claw at Metanduno cave, Adhi Agus Oktaviana, 2015, From the collection of: Archaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
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These dynamic representations of human figures are related to the socioeconomic activities in Metanduno Cave, from hunting to the maritime scene.

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The hunters in action

The rock art images portray the hunting activity of various prey, such as deer, anoa, or pigs, by using long sticks. Alternatively, if they rode a horse, they probably used some type of rope to capture the animals.

Check the safety rope system in Bulu Sipong 4 cave (2018) by Ratno SardiArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization

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Climb the stairs to see the world's oldest hunting scene

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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