SUMPANG BITA - Pangkep Culture Exploration

A.  HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SUMPANG BITA
Sumpang Bita Prehistoric Park is located at Sumpang Bita Village, Balocci District, Pangkep regency, South Sulawesi Province. In this area, there are two prehistoric caves which are Sumpang Bita cave and Bulu Sumi cave.
Sumpang Bita and Bulu Sumi cave are natural cave formed since ancient time. For the first time, Sumpang Bita cave found on 1931 by Frist and Paul Sarassin from Swiss. But, some say that Sumpang Bita cave found by a local named Lantara Dg Paduni on 1974.
Sumpang means door and Bita is a name of village that is located behind the cave. So, Sumpang Bita was the gate to the Bita’s village.
After Lantara Dg Paduni found this cave, Preservation for Archaelogy Heritage Office of Makassar in collusion with Department of History and Archaelogy of Literature Faculty of Hasanuddin University held an excavation as Sumpang Bita cave and Bulu Sumi cave. Based on excavation result, and also in the framework of preservation of those caves as cultural heritage that needs to be protected and conserved, then an act of structuring  both in the caves and its surroundings is accomplished, such as installing iron-wire fence around, stairs-path making, garden making, information house making and guard post making.
The preservation is carried out upon central government sponsored funding and also from local government of Pangkep such as land allowance for 22 ha. 
Sumpang Bita cave is the largest cave at Pangkep Regency even at South Sulawesi. The cave is facing to the east. It’s oral cavity has 10 meters high, 14 meters wide and 50 meters depth. The inner area is divided into to large rooms and bounded by a middle wall. Room 1 located at the north, containing of rock art painting of jumping big deer facing some negative hand stencil paintings. While at the south room there are rock art painting of Sampan (small boat) below the two deer-hog painting which the heads are in downward position. There are a lot of negative hand stencil paintings in this room. Those are using red paint. There are two negative hand stencils, with forearms and the others are not.
 
The Sampan (small boat) and two deer-hog painting
The jumping big deer and some hand stencil painting
 
The total of negative hand stencils:
§  There are 15 negative hand stencils from the right hand of adults.
§  There are 21 negative hand stencils from the left hand of adults.
§  There are 12 negative hand stencils from the right hand of children.
§  There are 4 negative hand stencils from the left hand of children.
§  There is 1 negative hand stencils was broken.
The total of negative foot stencils:
§  There is 1 negative foot stencils from the right foot of adult.
§  There is 1 negative foot stencils from the left foot of adult.
Based the information of some experts that the color of red symbolizes of braveness, hopes and life. Furthermore, the meaning of negative hand and foot stencil paintings and Sampan painting are a hope for salvation, free from dangerous in life. However, some say that food stencil painting means a prayer for someone who traveled far away to get a salvation. While deer-hog painting is a symbol to get animal easily. Then Sampan painting means a pray to get marine safety or a transportation for spirit to the heaven.
Based on those painting evidences at Sumpang Bita cave, concluded that the cave is a place for ceremony and not a place to get and produce food.
B.  SUMPANG BITA IN FUTURE
In the future, the development of Sumpang Bita is depend on the central government. If the government want to beautify this archeological park, the subordinate will develop the parks, such as add some havens along the stairs so the people can take a rest there when they feel tired to climb the stair.
C.  The bias of sumpang bita as picnic resort
As picnic resort almost every day, Sumpang Bita get so many visitors, off course it will make many advantage. But, beside that many visitors also can cause the bad effect to this archeological park. Sometimes, the visitors did some actions that can make the environment around the cave, spattered the walls, seat, and information board with handwriting. This thing can decrease the beauty of the cave and made it look dirty.
D.  Contribution of sumpang bita toward society
As a Picnic resort, Sumpang Bita has many advantages. One of them is the Contribution of Sumpang Bita toward society. Sumpang Bita could increase the foreign exchange. Based on this situation, absolutely it can make profitable toward the government. Not only that, the historical remains of Sumpang Bita could be a valuable cultural heritage.
E.  HOW TO KEEP SUMPANG BITA
To keep the perfection of this heritage, there must be the preservation of the cave. This preservation is done to make the next generation can enjoy the culture. Based on the observation that we have done directly through interviews with the tour guides in the archeological park. There are some things that we have to do to preserve the cave f Sumpang Bita. Such as:
1.    The keeper of Sumpang Bita should lock the door again when there are no more visitor
2.    For the visitors, please don’t damage the cave! Such as spattered the walls or throw the rubbish anywhere
3.    Keep the cleanliness of Sumpang Bita
4.    Visit the cave of Sumpang Bita. If we visit the cave of Sumpang Bita, it can make the historical heritages will known by the publish. So, it can make Sumpang Bita famous in all ever this country even in the abroad.

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