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Indications of megalithic culture on the island of bali in Indonesia

  • University of Latvia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperResearchpeer-review

Abstract

There are many ancient cultures in the world where there are no written sources and material evidence as artefacts preserved. Their identification or even revealing of signs is an important impetus for the initiation of further systematic research. In this sense, Indonesia, including the island of Bali, is a very typical example, where the earliest reliable evidence can be dated not earlier than the 4th century CE. Due to the natural conditions, there are few opportunities for the artefacts of natural origin and evidence of human activity to survive. Therefore, studies of stone material by deliberately exploring human actions that resulted in artificially assigned shapes of the stones, treated surfaces and fragments of images still present on the stone surface, can be a valid indication. Taking into consideration historically relevant tools, human knowledge of the properties of stones and their skills to process the surfaces, it is possible to distinguish stones that have been treated before metal tools become available. The study on the island of Bali indicates that there are many stones that in ancient times have been treated using stone tools only, and their shapes are similar to other megalithic cultures known elsewhere in the world. The results of this research demonstrate that the prehistory of Bali has material evidence and systematic contemporary archaeological research would form the basis for further studies of this ancient culture.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMicro and Nano Technologies, Space Technologies and Planetary Science
PublisherInternational Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference
Pages743-748
Number of pages6
Edition6.4
ISBN (Print)9786197408355
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Event18th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference, SGEM 2018 - Vienna, Austria
Duration: 3 Dec 20186 Dec 2018

Publication series

NameInternational Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Surveying Geology and Mining Ecology Management, SGEM
Number6.4
Volume18
ISSN (Print)1314-2704

Conference

Conference18th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference, SGEM 2018
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityVienna
Period3/12/186/12/18

Keywords

  • Menhirs
  • Prehistory
  • Stone processing
  • Stone tools

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