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Traditional Megalithic Nias houses in state of Collapse


Wednesday September 20, 2006

After the great quake and tsunami on Boxing Day of 2004, followed by another devastating quake on 24 March 2005, until today, the island of Nias, off the coast of North Sumatra, has still not recovered. 

A great loss to anthropology and archaeology will be the unique traditional houses that are today dilapidating, left in disrepair or are on the verge of collapsing due to lack of funds to repair these after the quakes. 

Because of its remote location, the
island of Nias has through centuries survived the onslaught of many civilizations that have come and gone in Indonesia, and has remained the last megalithic culture still existing and alive in the Archipelago. Until recently the people of Nias still built their houses with giant wooden logs, without the use of any nails. Before their conversion to Christianity, Nias islanders believed in ancestor worship, dedicating huge stone structures to the souls of their departed chieftains.  The village of Bawosimataluwo is built on a hill, its main plaza constructed with large stone slabs. As an initiation rite, young men are required to jump barefoot over a high stone wall before they can be declared warriors. 

Today, many of these imposing houses are damaged by the quakes or in disrepair, reports Kompas daily. A number of houses near Gunungsitoli have been taken down by villagers, while at the
village of Siwahili only five remain standing. 

Bezatule Zebua, who owns one of these houses said that repairing his house would be expensive, needing at least some Rp. 7 million. Zebua hopes that the government will assist to preserve these traditional houses, before they disappear completely.