The Cipari Megalithic Site : Tracing the Civiilization of the Stone Age in Kuningan
The Cipari Megalithic Site: Tracing the Civilization of the Stone Age in Kuningan
By,Abah Roy, Head of ASWIN DPC Cirebon City
Located in Kuningan Regency, West Java, the Cipari Megalithic Site stands as a silent witness to human life in the Stone Age. Discovered in 1972 and intensively researched in 1975, the site reveals the traces of civilization that developed from the Neolithic period to the early Bronze Age.
Various archaeological remains in Cipari indicate that the ancient community in this area did not solely rely on hunting and gathering, but had already developed agriculture and animal husbandry. Archaeological evidence, such as stone tools and ceramics, suggests that they had settled permanently, practiced agriculture, and raised cattle and buffalo.
In addition to cultural aspects, the beliefs of the ancient Cipari community are also noteworthy. Stone structures such as menhirs, dolmens, and sarcophagi indicate that they had ancestral worship rituals and a developed burial system. Their beliefs in ancestral spirits and natural forces were integral to their lives, reflecting strong animist and dynamist convictions.
Today, the Cipari Megalithic Site has become a preserved historical heritage and a popular educational tourist destination in Kuningan. Not only does it store the traces of ancient civilization, but it also reminds us of the richness of our ancestors’ culture, which developed long before the modern era.