Rock Art Research
THE OUTRIGGER BOAT MOTIFS IN ROCK ART OF SOUTH-EAST SULAWESI: TRACES OF AUSTRONESIAN MARITIME TECHNOLOGY IN INDONESIA
(1)
Yayasan Pusat Kebudayaan Sangia
(2)
Faculty of Humanities, University of Indonesia
(3)
Faculty of Humanities, University of Hasanuddin
(4)
Yayasan Pusat Kebudayaan Sangia
(5)
Yayasan Pusat Kebudayaan Sangia
(6)
Yayasan Pusat Kebudayaan Sangia
(7)
Faculty of Humanities, University of Halu Oleo
(8)
Yayasan Pusat Kebudayaan Sangia
(9)
Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya Wilayah XIX
(10)
Faculty of Humanities, University of Nusa Cendana
(11)
Yayasan Pusat Kebudayaan Sangia
(12)
Faculty of Humanities, University of Halu Oleo
(13)
Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
Abstract
Austronesian dispersal models emphasise maritime capability, yet empirical evidence for early watercraft remains limited. This study uses a material–visual approach, considering rock art as a key dataset for reconstructing pre-Historic maritime technology. A comparative morphological analysis of outrigger boat depictions from North Konawe and Muna Island, Southeast Sulawesi, reveals regional variation in hull form and outrigger architecture. North Konawe images include single and double outrigger configurations drawn in black pigment, whereas Muna Island shows single outrigger boats with curved hulls in reddish-brown pigment. These patterns highlight early Austronesian boat diversity across different mobility environments.