#sulawesi

[weftist]

Took a Sulawesi tablet weaving class and learned a ton about pattern drafting!

We wove a band/day, focusing on a different technique each day.

[reasonsforhope]

Restored coral reefs can grow as fast as healthy reefs after just four years, researchers find

The coral reefs of south Sulawesi are some of the most diverse, colorful and vibrant in the world. At least, they used to be, until they wer

"The coral reefs of south Sulawesi are some of the most diverse, colorful and vibrant in the world. At least, they used to be, until they were decimated by dynamite fishing in the 1990s.

As part of a team of coral reef ecologists based in Indonesia and the UK, we study the reefs around Pulau Bontosua, a small Indonesian island in south Sulawesi...

In many places around the world, damage like this might be described as irreparable. But at Pulau Bontosua, the story is different. Here, efforts by the Mars coral restoration program have brought back the coral and important ecosystem functions, as outlined by our new study, published in Current Biology. We found that within just four years, restored reefs grow at the same rate as nearby healthy reefs.

Speedy recovery

The transplanted corals grow remarkably quickly. Within a year, fragments have developed into proper colonies. After two years, they interlock branches with their neighbors. After just four years, they completely overgrow the reef star structures and restoration sites are barely distinguishable from nearby healthy reefs.

The combined growth of many corals generates a complex limestone (calcium carbonate) framework. This provides a habitat for marine life and protects nearby shorelines from storm damage by absorbing up to 97% of coastal wave energy.

We measured the overall growth of the reef framework by calculating its carbonate budget. That's the balance between limestone production (by calcifying corals and coralline algae) and erosion (by grazing sea urchins and fishes, for example). A healthy reef produces up to 20kg of reef structure per square meter per year, while a degraded reef is shrinking rather than growing as erosion exceeds limestone production. Therefore, overall reef growth gives an indication of reef health.

At Pulau Bontosua, our survey data shows that in the years following restoration, coral cover, coral colony sizes, and carbonate production rates tripled. Within four years, restored reefs were growing at the same speed as healthy reefs, and thereby provided the same important ecosystem functions...

Outcomes of any reef restoration project will depend on environmental conditions, natural coral larvae supply, restoration techniques and the effort invested in maintaining the project. This Indonesian project shows that when conditions are right and efforts are well placed, success is possible. Hopefully, this inspires further global efforts to restore functioning coral reefs and to recreate a climate in which they can thrive."

-via Phys.org, March 11, 2024

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Cave Painting of a Warty Pig from Indonesia, c.43,500 BCE: this is one of the world's oldest known examples of figurative art, and one of the earliest known depictions of an animal

This painting was discovered at Leang Tedongnge, which is a limestone cave located on the island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia. It was created at least 45,500 years ago, and it depicts a Sulawesi warty pig (Sus celebensis) which is a species that still inhabits the forests of Sulawesi today.

Above: a close-up of the pig's face, showing a pair of "spiky" head crests and preorbital facial warts, which are characteristic features of Sus celebensis

The figure measures 136cm long (about 4.5 feet) from tail-to-snout, and it was painted using dark red mineral pigments; a pair of hand stencils also decorate the wall just above the pig's haunches, and the partial figures of at least two other pigs are visible on the wall several meters away.

Above: two additional paintings are located toward the right side of the wall, but only fragments of the pigs' faces and shoulders remain

The caves of Sulawesi contain the world's oldest known examples of figurative art (i.e. artwork that depicts real or recognizable subjects, like animals and human beings). The oldest figurative painting in the world was discovered in a cave known as Leang Karampuang. It dates back to roughly 51,200 years ago, and it depicts a warty pig with three human-like figures. Unfortunately, that painting is much more faded and badly damaged.

Above: this 51,200-year-old painting from Leang Karampuang is currently recognized as the world's oldest known example of figurative art

Warty pigs appear in over 87% of the prehistoric animal paintings that have been documented in Sulawesi. Many of the other paintings depict a small, buffalo-like creature known as an anoa (genus Bubalus) which is a wild bovid that is also endemic to Indonesia. Both animals can still be found on the island of Sulawesi.

Above: anoas depicted in cave paintings from Leang Timpuseng and Leang Bulu' Sipong

The second-oldest figurative painting in the world comes from a cave known as Leang Bulu Sipong, and it dates back to at least 48,000 years ago.

Archaeologists have been aware of Sulawesi's abundant cave art since the 1950's, but dating techniques were not used on the paintings until 2014. For decades, researchers had assumed that the artwork was less than 10,000 years old, but when animal paintings and hand stencils from seven different caves were finally analyzed in 2014, scientists were shocked to discover that some of the artwork was actually created more than 39,000 years ago.

Since then, archaeologists have discovered and analyzed many other cave paintings from Sulawesi (and some from the neighboring island of Borneo) that date back to between 35,000 and 51,200 years ago.

Above: the cave painting from Leang Tedongnge

When the painting at Leang Tedongnge was discovered in 2017, it briefly qualified as the world's oldest example of figurative artwork and the oldest known depiction of an animal, but it has since been surpassed by two other cave paintings from other sites in Sulawesi. It is now recognized as the third-oldest figurative painting in the world.

All of these discoveries firmly contradict the traditional (and deeply eurocentric) beliefs that were once held regarding the origins of artistic expression, as this article explains:

Previously, the oldest known cave art was thought to have first appeared in Europe 40,000 years ago, showcasing abstract symbols. By 35,000 years ago, the art became more sophisticated, showing horses and other animals.

These latest finds from Indonesia have challenged a long-standing belief that artistic expression – and the cognitive leap that may have accompanied it – began in Europe.

It’s now thought that the capability to create figurative art either emerged before Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa and headed for Europe and Asia more than 60,000 years ago, or that it emerged more than once as humans spread around the globe.

According to this article:

The geographic location of the painting is significant. Although experts have long recognized that humans originated in Africa, “Europe was once thought of as a ‘finishing school’ for humanity,” says archaeologist April Nowell, because all the oldest known examples of art and other sophisticated behaviors were found there. But in reality, the pattern of discoveries just reflected the disproportionate amount of archaeological research that was being carried out in Europe, especially in France.

“These new discoveries add to an already rich record of early and varied rock art from [Indonesia and Australia] and underscores the importance of conducting research outside Europe,” Nowell says.

Unfortunately, many of the cave paintings in Sulawesi and other parts of Indonesia are now rapidly crumbling away as a result of climate change. The limestone surfaces of the cave walls are peeling away at an alarming rate, erasing large sections of the paintings in the process. At some sites, patches of artwork measuring 2-3cm wide are now vanishing every few months.

Sources & More Info:

Science Advances: Oldest Cave Art Found in Sulawesi

CNN: A Warty Pig Painted on a Cave Wall 45,500 Years Ago is the World's Oldest Depiction of an Animal

Smithsonian Magazine: A Journey to the Oldest Cave Paintings in the World

Nature: Narrative Cave Art in Indonesia by 51,200 Years Ago

Nature: Pleistocene Cave Art from Sulawesi

Art Net: 45,000-Year-Old Cave Painting of a Pig May be the Oldest Artwork in the World

Art Net: Some of the Oldest and Most Revered Cave Paintings in the World Are Under Extreme Threat Due to Climate Change

[inatungulates]

Sulawesi warty pig Sus celebensis

Observed by roylesafaris, CC BY-NC

[miamaimania]

Tangkoko Reserve, Sulawesi, Indonesia by Arthur Anker ⌘ Yellow land snail ⧗ Time moves differently at this scale

[coffeenuts]

[theoutcastrogue]

Keris (Kris) Daggers

[via Mandarin Mansion, Creative Commons CC BY 4.0]

Bali, Indonesia, late 19th-early 20th century, 56 cm / 66.7 cm sheathed, iron, nickel pamor, wood, silver, glass. "The finely shaped silver hilt represents Ravana, the demon king from the Ramayana, identified by the sword it holds in its right hand. In the epic story, Ravana abducts Sita, prompting Rama to embark on a quest to save her. In Balinese culture, he is not just a villain but also revered for his wisdom, devotion to Shiva, and skills as a musician and ruler. He represents a highly skilled and learned individual who struggles with power and ego."

Banten, Java, Indonesia, 17th (blade, sheath, and hilt) and 20th (selut) century, 51.2 cm / 54.5 cm sheathed, iron, pamor (nickel), wood, brass, traces of silver plating. "The 23 luk (bends) blades is of the strong proportions typically associated with Banten. Its pamor consists of straight and burling elements and includes very bright nickel inclusions. The hilt is in the Rakshasa form, and has a large necklace indicating of its high status in society. The original hardwood sheath with shallow boat-shaped wrangka is typical for early Banten keris. These typically have blades of strong proportions with a broad base and more gradual taper than later kerisses."

Madura, Indonesia, 19th century, 43.4 cm / 45 cm sheathed, iron, copper alloy, wood. "This Madura keris has a rare dapur with double belalai gajah (elephant trunks) at the base. The 31 luk blade has a largely straight forging pattern, suggesting it may have initially been created straight and was then ground to shape. The hilt is carved in the shape of a landhian pulasir (Dutch cuirassier) of the 19th century. The mendak (collar) is angkup randu (widow's embrace). The sheath is entirely made of wood, with a typical Madura style wrankga with sharp corners in its profile."

Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, 17th-18th (blade) and 19th (dress) century, 38.3 cm / 47.7 cm sheathed, iron, brass, wood, silver. "The slender, 13-luk blade is finely forged with a classical steel structure, featuring no nickel pamor. The hardwood hilt is in the classic Yogyakarta version of the nunggak semi style, shaped like a highly stylized figure, slender and upright. The selut (collar) is made of pale yellow metal, possibly báitóng and is of the classic parijoto (swollen rice) type. The scabbard with pèlèt wooden wrangka and silver pendok worked in repousse in a typical Yogya style depicting animals and mountains. The keris of Yogyakarta are distinctively dressed with a more slender, upright hilt than that of the keris of the other main Javanese kraton, Surakarta."

Bugis people, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, 19th century, 35.8 cm / 56.3 cm sheathed, iron, steel, wood, silver, brass. "The blade is an 11 luk (bends) blade of a nice classic shape with wide base that tapers markedly towards the point. It is finely forged with a dark steel edge plate, with layers of brighter steel on top of that, in shades of grey and silver. The hulu (hilt) is made of dark hardwood. Its general shape is an abstract form of the head of Garuda, Vishnu's flying mount. It is carved in great detail with panels of floral elements divided by raised lines. The selut is made of embossed silver sheet. The sarung (sheath) is entirely made of wood, consisting of a fine striped wood wranka, a slender mid section, with the typical wide scabbard endpiece that is common the Buginese sheaths."

Kingdom of Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, 16-17th (blade) and 19th (dress) century, 46.2 cm / 57.6 cm sheathed, iron, pamor, wood, brass, pigments and lacquer, silver, glass. "This keris is notable for its rare 7 luk (bends) blade with sempang dapur, showing a different pamor (pattern) on either side. The facing side has the rare pamor tejo kinurung ("three times lightning") while the reverse has the pamor walung sinunduk ("seated locust"). The scabbard has a kidney-shaped wrankga with paintings on both sides. The facing side shows the portal to the netherworld, the other side a horseman. The gandar (main sheath) has a facing side of striped pèlèt wood, a brass band, and remains of lacquer at the bottom. The reverse is painted yellow. The hilt is of Bebondollan form, made of the prized pèlèt wood. The wewer (collar piece) is made of silver with glass cabochons."