Pagaralam, Megalithic Culture Centre in South Sumatra

In pagaralam of South Sumatra has not only had a beautiful natural landscapes, the Earth is also the place of the besemah megalithic culture. Tropical Forest Hills nestled Bukit Barisan and mount Dempo makes this region rich in rocks. Frozen rocks of andesite type this is often used by pre history to create various works are spectacularly, such as statues, stone, grave stone mortar, dolmen and menhir.

According to Van der Hoop, a researcher in the Netherlands, Pagaralam found 22 area is believed to be the site's environment of megalithic-history. From a variety of the area found artifacts, but the majority of the condition of the artifact has been damaged, and some were still buried and not indentified yet.

Megalithic statues from sites found in Pagaralam distinguished into two types. The first type describe one single figure or likeness to exist, namely in the form of humans or animals. Being the second category describes more than a likeness or plural figure, depicting the human figure with humans or humans with animals.

Beghibu stone is one of the sites found in Pagaralam, precisely in the middle of a rice field in the village of Scolds. According to historical records, the rock beghibu site believed to be the site of the former settlement and place of worship for local people in the past. For local people at this time, the village of Fragrant Old Scolds is the area that historically was considered holy and sacred.

Stone megaliths found in the middle of a rice field formerly used as a ceremonial burial figures of the society died sepuh. When there are elders who died, the community put the offerings in front of the statue, dolmen and menhir,. For the community of old, the death of a person is a thing that is considered sacred. Therefore, it is not surprising if at funerals, people are decorated with clothes and jewelry. It is intended as a form of homage to the bodies that will be put in the grave stones.

According to a note that appears on the site, when there is a death of a person who is considered the community's elders, is pictured wearing traditional clothes and jewelry that is called beghibu. Beghibu is the term for jewelry in the form of earrings with diamonds. Because that's the myth of the ancient site scolds perfume by surrounding society called the beghibu stone there. While in other places, it is still within the Earth besemah Pagaralam, precisely in the village of Tanjung Ato site, there are other megaliths by people called the human snake twirled site.

The site in the form of a statue found in the middle of the rice fields of this legend which tells the story of two lovers who falling in love without marriage, to perform acts that violates customs. Such deeds make a snake wrapped around a pair of lovers and wrath until both of them were killed. 

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