Toraja village named a world heritage site
By Hasanuddin Hamid
TANATORAJA, South Sulawesi (JP): Residents of the village of Toraja Ke'te Kesu in Sanggalangi district have never been happier. The traditional village has been nominated as a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Between April 24 and April 26, a team of UNESCO representatives, along with South Sulawesi provincial government officials, completed an appraisal of the village.
The results will be made public in the very near future, said Gunadi, chief of the South and Southeast Sulawesi office of archaeology.
The traditional village, four kilometers from Rantepao, or 20 kilometers from the regency capital of Makale, belongs to the aristocratic Ke'te Kesu family.
Ke'te Kesu is seen as a representation of Tana Toraja's unique cultural heritage.
The "World Heritage" status is awarded to a particular area of invaluable unique cultural and historical value.
Gunadi was optimistic that Ke'te Kesu would be declared a World Heritage site because it meets four of the eight criteria set by UNESCO.
The criteria are that the site is unique in terms of artistic design; is a monumental example of traditional architecture; can preserve its historical and cultural heritage; and has the customary laws to preserve its heritage.
Tana Toraja boasts a traditional system in which each village is provided with a rice barn, unique stone tomb and traditional home industry.
Ke'te Kesu is a representation of Toraja traditional architecture. The peculiar features include Tongkonan houses and a field where burial ceremonies are held. The village is surrounded by paddy fields, coffee and cocoa plantations.
Inhabitants of Ke'te Kesu are buried in the kampong's cemetery where traditional tombs of various designs can be found. Corpses are buried on steep hills where graves are installed 25 meters above ground-level.
The grave-making requires special skills and it can take several months to complete a single one. The meticulously engraved coffin is placed into the grave. Many have been put in the caves and concrete rooms have been built in the hills as family mausoleums.
Coffins aged several hundred years can be found there.
Visitors to the village can also see antiques inherited by the Ke'te Kesu family.