Kubang Wungu Community’s Cultural Change in Mooring Rope Industry as an Austronesian Maritime Heritage

Endang Widyastuti1*, Nurul Laili2, and Nanang Saptono2

1Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology Research Centre, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia; 2Environmental, Maritime, and Sustainable Culture Archaeology Research Centre, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia; *endangwidyastuti6@gmail.com

Indonesian people are an Austronesian speaking community who originates from the Asian Mainland. the spread of Austronesian peoples known as Out of Taiwan theory. Aside from spreading Austronesian language family, they also introducing agricultural system, animal domestication, and maritime culture. In the maritime sector, Austronesian community known as an excellent sailor who developed shipping technology and navigation. Traces of Austronesian maritime cultural heritage can still be seen in outrigger boats and Bugis-Makassar sailing tradition, also in Samudra ship relief in Borobudur Temple. The mooring rope making tradition becomes a crucial part in Austronesian maritime technology. This explanation highlighting the cultural change phenomenon in Kubang Wungu community. Geographically, Kubang Wungu located in the hinterland. Even so, Kubang Wungu community developed mooring rope industry as form of a change maritime heritage. The result of this study shows that mooring rope industry in Kubang Wungu rooted from traditional wisdom based off natural fiber. During its development, modern technology starts to be implemented, with the use of synthetic material. Furthermore, the changes in economic pattern and pressure from global market. These changes affecting the production system, social relation, and the cultural values that follows. Nevertheless, the shift from traditional technique to the mechanisation and commercial orientation did not fully diminish the local maritime identity. This industry still representing cultural continuity. This change shows a dynamic adaptation process. The community did not fully forsake tradition. They process and adjust it with the modern economy context. This study emphasizes that mooring rope industry in Kubang Wungu is a real example of continuity as well as change of Austronesian maritime heritage in Indonesia.