Bada Valley

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
 The Bada Valley Megaliths in central Sulawesi comprise a number of carved megalith figures reminiscent of both Polynesian Moai and Korean "Dol Hareubang" statues. The photo shows Palindo

The Bada Valley Megaliths are located in central Sulawesi just south of the Lore Lindu National Park. They comprise a number of carved megalith figures reminiscent of both Polynesian Moai and Korean "Dol Hareubang" carved statues, and a number of large carved stone vats. The largest and best known carved standing stone in the valley is a statue known as "Palindo" which translates as "The Entertainer" and measures over 4 metres. There are 13 other statues in the Bada Valley, with others in the nearby Besoa and Napu valleys inside the Lore Lidu National Park. Although some development work has been undertaken in recent years access is still difficult to some of the statues. Dating is uncertain, the statues have been variously claimed to be between 5000 and 1000 years old whilst the vats have been dated around 1300 AD.

References:
Sulawesi - The Celebes, Editors T A Volkman and I Caldwell, Periplus Travel Guides, Hong Kong 1992

Journal of a visit to the Bada Valley Megaliths in 1997: http://www.moxon.net/indonesia/bada_valley.html

Visit Bada Valley - a journal: http://lorelindu.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/visit-the-bada-valley-in-lore-lindu-park/

UNSpecial Journal April 2004: http://www.unspecial.org/UNS630/UNS_630_T25.html

The Megalithic Culture of Indonesia, Manchester University: http://www.archive.org/stream/megalithiccultur00perruoft/megalithiccultur00perruoft_djvu.txt

Also see the photos from another nearby valley: Rampi Valley megaliths at: http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showgall&gid=256

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Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
In October and November 2002, with a couple of friends we visited the mountainous valleys of Central and South Sulawesi on the trail of the megalithic stone figures. Here is our photo journal. See the photos from the nearby Rampi Valley statues on this site's photo gallery.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
The apparent markings on the face of Topaturu stone statue are actually shadows caste by over hanging branches from a tree.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
This monumental statue is 375cm long, it was refered to by early 1900's explorers as "the statue that's lying on it's back" in Topaturu, it is still in the same position 100 years later.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
A detail image of the Topaturu stone statue.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
Back view of the megalithic statue in Tinoe. It is one of few which are fine on the back, others are the statues in Loga and Bomba.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
This megalithic statue in Tinoe, near Bakekau in the Bada Valley is considerably smaller compared to some of the others. It stands at approximately 130cm above the ground, facing west.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
A large stone vat on the way to the "statue that's lying on its back" megalithic statue Topaturu.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
The back of the "Palindo" stone monumental statue seems almost fresh from the quarry, the front received far more weathering than the back.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
A close up view of the facial features of the "Palindo" statue.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
"Palindo", this is the largest known megalithic monumental stone figure in Sulawesi. On the right, it measures 440cm from the ground.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
Megalithic stone monument in Loga, Bada Valley

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
This megalithic statue named Loga - meaning relieved heart is just outside the village of Bada and faces 12 to 13 degrees to the west.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
This monkey type figure is in Hamboa; it is more than 40cm above the ground in an open field.

Bada Valley Megaliths submitted by IreneLR
In Bulili, Bada Valley, this megalith was reported by Walter Kaudern in 1921 as "the statue with the partly missing face". It is known as Oboka Megalith.
These are just the most recent 15 photos of Bada Valley Megaliths.
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