Virtual Tour of Leang Lompoa
Journey to Leang Lompoa and witness thousands of years of history preserved in stunning hand stencils.
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Surrounded by paddy fields
Leang Lompoa is located in the Karst Maros-Pangkep area in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its name originates from the local Bugis-Makassar language, where "lompoa" means "big", thus translating to "Big Cave". Administratively, this cave is found in Kampung Belae, within the Kelurahan Biraeng, Kecamatan Minasatene, Kabupaten Pangkajene dan Kepulauan.
Aerial Video Sulawesi 0245 (2022) by DominicArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
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The entrance of the cave
Upon entering Leang Lompoa, one finds themselves in a space described as resembling a tunnel that curves towards the right. The cave extends approximately 20 meters from its entrance to its end. Shell fragments and lithic materials as archaeological finds can be easily found on the cave grounds.
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The dating of hand stencils in Leang Lompoa
What makes Leang Lompoa exceptionally significant is the wealth of archaeological findings discovered within it. Scientists and researchers have documented more than 100 rock images. Hand stencils' dating results on this ceiling are 28.2 kyr for normal finger stencils and 17.4 kyr for narrowed finger stencils.
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Another dated hand stencil on the ceiling
This normal hand stencil dates back to 27.4 kyr and has the dark red color of hematite. The right hand is depicted from fingertip to palm.
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The grand hand patterns in Leang Lompoa
The most prominent among these are negative hand stencils, essentially ancient handprints left upon the cave walls, totaling over 80 such images. Alongside the hand stencils, images of animals and humans, including both figurative and nonfigurative designs, have also been found. More than 20.hand stencils from three to four fingers twice on a horizontal pattern facing to the left side or inside the cave with one hand stenciled upward.
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Leang Lompoa also possesses a unique feature: a line or grouping of more than 30 hand stencils that all point towards the inside of the cave. These are arranged in lines and, in some instances, stacked in two layers. They display varying colours, from red to dark red or even purplish, and this specific arrangement is noted as being characteristic only of Leang Lompoa.
Alongside the hand stencils, images of animals and humans, including both figurative and nonfigurative designs, have also been found.
These ancient artworks were primarily created using a red pigment. This colour comes from a natural mineral soil called ochre or hematite, which is naturally red or reddish-purple. It is believed that the people from long ago would collect this material, possibly mix it with substances like water or animal fat, and then apply it to the cave walls, perhaps by spraying or blowing the mixture. The durability of these images, lasting for tens of thousands of years, is quite extraordinary.
The discussion of hand stencils at Lompoa Cave (2021) by Dominic and Adhi Agus OktavianaArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Leang Lompoa is recognized as a protected heritage site (cagar budaya). Its historical and archaeological importance is immense, contributing significantly to our understanding of human history and early artistic expression in Indonesia. Due to its protected status, visiting the cave requires special permission from the local government and conservation authorities, including the Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya and the Pemda Maros.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13422/figures/6
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