Wood Coffin Patterns in Manduk Patinna Funerary Site: A Preliminary Study

Fiorenza Lailaa Bierdizy1*, Elba Aulia Maharani Santoso1, Andi Auliyah Lestari Patoppoi1, Falisha Nayla Rani1, Maylita Lintang Cahyani1, Delta Bayu Murti1,2, ToetikKoesbardiati1,2

The field survey done in Manduk Patinna funerary site, Enrekang, Sulawesi Selatan, revealed the findings of unique carving patterns found on the surface within a number of ancient wooden coffins scattered on site. This study aims to explore the similarities between these carving patterns with the patterns often found in Toraja and their implications to aid us in determining the origins and social practices of the ancient Enrekang people. The methods used in this study includes observation based on field data and data characterization based on pre-existing studies. The results showed that certain patterns are only found on a handful of the coffins, and that said patterns have distinctive similarities with the patterns found in Toraja. These findings indicate that the patterns carved on each coffin are done so with intention depending on who will be buried inside them and are not uniformed, showing that certain patterns indicate certain social standing of the deceased. Furthermore, the similarities between Manduk Patinna’s and Toraja’s patterns support the hypothesis that there is indeed a point of contact between these two cultures or a trail of past migration. The results presented in this paper hope to promote the use of these patterns as a tool in helping the process of identification of ancient Enrekang people and their social structure while also welcoming the possibility of tracing their past ancestry through the surviving patterns on Manduk Patinna’s ancient coffins.