The
island of Sumba is well known of its
sandlewood, horses, impressive megalithic
tombs, typical hand woven textile ("ikat"),
and still untouched beautiful beaches. There
are two entering point in to Sumba island
from anywhere in the Lesser Waingapu &
Waikabubak (Tambolaka). These are the people
could enter Sumba for either by flight or
boat. Sumba island covers an area of
11,150 square km which is now populated by
about 350,000 people. Generally the climate
similar to other part of Indonesia where a
dry season (May to November), and a rainy
season (December to April). The island of
Sumba is well known of its sandlewood,
horses, impressive megalithic tombs, typical
hand woven textile ("ikat"), and still
untouched beautiful beaches. There are two
entering point in to Sumba island from
anywhere in the Lesser Waingapu & Waikabubak
(Tambolaka). These are the people could
enter Sumba for either by flight or boat.
Sumba island
has a great and unique position respect to
the Sunda Banda archipelagoes, it is one of
the biggest island on the East Nusa Tenggara
region beside Flores and Timor. It
represents an isolated sliver of probable
continental crust to the south of active
volcanic islands (Sumbawa, Flores ) within
the forearc basin (Fig.1). It is situated to
the north of passage from the Java Trench (subduction
front) to the Timor Through (collision
front).
It does not show still the
effects of strong compression in contrast to
islands of the outer arc system (Savu, Roti,
Timor), while the magmatic units make up a
substantial part of the Late Cretaceous to
Paleogene stratigraphy.
Most Sumbanese are Christian
(Catholic and Protestant), however, and part
of them are still strongly keep their native
and original religion called Marapu. Most
cultural objects are related to the Marapu
religion such as the shape of traditional
houses, ceremonies, or kings' graves and
tombs. The
Customary houses designed in high-peaked
roof to store the heirlooms and store. It is
divided into male and female section, and
generally surrounded by impressive
megalithic tombs. Their famous ceremony are
the wedding and funerals. where they usually
sacrificed animals pigs, buffaloes, cattle,
and horses.
The Megalithic tombs
are made from the hard stone forming the
megalithic shape. This covered by rectangle
flat stone supported by four pillars about
1,5 meters high. The Megalithic tombs are
actually located in the front of their
houses
A primitive Sumbanese art
objects strongly related with a social
functions of Merapu belief. The carved
stones and wood statues are representing the
death, Merapu, and as medium for their
contact. Metal ornaments and jewelry are
usually for wedding ceremonies, and are
related to the social status.