W. Papuan rock art sees light of day<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
\nOrganization (UNESCO) has launched a definitive reference book on
\nrock art across four areas in West Papua.<\/p>\n
Friday's launch of Rock Art in West Papua by Karina Arifin and
\nPhilippe Delanghe comes as good news for Indonesian archeology
\nand for archeologists around world, particularly those
\nspecializing in rock art.<\/p>\n
The 292-page book features previously unpublished photographs
\nof hand stencils, matutuo, faces and abstract motifs found in
\nBerau Gulf, Bitsyari Bay, Triton Bay and the Baliem Valley.<\/p>\n
Karina, a professor of archeology at the University of
\nIndonesia, said she hoped the book would contribute to the
\ndevelopment of archeology in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
According to Karina, she and Delanghe -- who is a former
\nProgramme Specialist for Culture at UNESCO Jakarta and now holds
\nthe same post at the UNESCO office in Amman, Jordan -- spent only
\none month conducting field research in Papua.<\/p>\n
\"But it took almost 10 years to finish writing the book
\nbecause of additional research,\" she said during the launch.<\/p>\n
Truman Simanjuntak, head of the Indonesian Archeologists
\nAssociation, presented a brief review of Rock Art at the event,
\npraising the authors' work.<\/p>\n
Truman said the book would become fundamental reading for
\nfurther research on rock art in Indonesia, while the Ministry of
\nNational Education's director for culture Edi Sedyawati said it
\nprovided solid research material for use in comparative studies.<\/p>\n
Rock art comes in three main forms: paintings, engravings and
\ncarvings. Primeval tribesmen often created these art forms,
\neither as a medium for a religious service or as a form of self-
\nexpression.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/w-papuan-rock-art-sees-light-of-day-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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