Portraits of Group-like Figures in Maros-Pangkep Rock-art and its Relevance in the Indo-Pacific Context

Najla Khaulah Safinatunnajah* and R. Cecep Eka Permana 

This study uses data consisting of 47 images of human-like figures in groups in the Maros and Pangkep regions, spread across 21 sites. The study was conducted to determine the characteristics of the depiction of human figures in groups in the Maros and Pangkep regions and to examine the relationship between the two based on style, cultural context with other sites in the Southeast Asia and Australian regions. The methods used were formal and contextual analysis. In addition, the age of some motifs has been underpinned by chronometric dating. Specifically, based on the results of formal analysis, it was found that the images of human groups in Maros had simple body shapes, while in Pangkep, the images of human groups were depicted with more complex shapes. Meanwhile, the results of contextual analysis showed that the motifs of human groups in Maros were depicted as secular portraits of daily life, with the motifs located on panels with open spaces. In Pangkep, the dominant character of the human group motifs is depicted as sacred portraits related to certain rituals with a site type in the high-altitude caves. In general, the results of the contextual analysis between the depiction of group human motifs in style and narrative show a connection with the findings of rock paintings of human group motifs at other sites in the Indo-Pacific geographical region. This finding is important to help future rock art research determine how patterns of cognitive development spread from region to region.